I have the opportunity to study spanish for two months (hoping I'll be able to stay on longer, though). I would need to leave in a few weeks and have been researching, researching where best to study. So here are my questions. I really need some guidance.

1) I have become totally intrigued with the Northern Coast, Cantabria, Austuria, San Sebastion (is there too much Basque spoken to be a good place to learn Spanish?). I can find very little first hand, personalized information on these areas. Everything is Madrid, BCN, Granada, and the southern coast. Does anyone have any thoughts on studying in the north, Santander for example? Quality of life? I'm really excited about the outdoors opportunities there.

2) I read all of these wonderful posts and feel like if I wasn't in Madrid or Barcelona, etc that I would be missing out somehow. But my goal isn't really to meet fantastic english speakers (not until later, anyway) but to be forced to use spanish. Am I looking at his wrong? I don't want to be too isolated either, just focused.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I spent a semester in Leon, which is in the north although northwest instead of northeast where you're looking. But I can firmly say that I don't feel like I missed out on anything because I wasn't in Madrid, Barcelona, etc. In fact, I would say just the opposite.

I think from my point of view, I got to spend time in an area that I otherwise probably wouldn't go. I spent a lot of time in the towns and cities near Leon and in Asturias as well. I love Madrid and have come back again and again for shorter periods of time. But I really enjoyed my experience in the north.

En fin, my advice would be that if you are passionate about spending time in the north, you should definitely do it.

Anne

The north has a lot to be said for it - and you certainly won't be "missing out" by not being in Barcelona or Madrid. San Sebastian is one of my favourite places. It is just beautiful - and the food is fabulous. We stayed in Bilbao last year and although I found their accent harder to understand than in more southerly areas, there was no problem re: Basque. You will speak Spanish there. Some of the scenery is amazing - coast, mountains, country - what more could you want?

Hey Trayls, I am a Madrid nut but have visited over 60 cities in every region of Spain during my travels and I actually prefer the north to the south.

Elizabeth is right, San Sebasti�n is indeed one of the most beautiful places on earth :l:

You will not miss out but get to Madrid and BCN to see them during your time in Spain.

I also agree that the Basque language will not be a problem as it is spoken very little up there and when Basques do speak it, it is usually in a home setting.

You may even go through your 2 months without even hearing Basque at all.

Saludos,
jer...

In early May 1999, Irene and I drove from Santiago de Compostela to Bilbao, mostly along the coast but also through the Picos de Europa. It was incredibly beautiful, and contrary to what many andaluces had told me, I found the northerners to be very personable (probably because they don't have tourists year-round like they do down south).

I give my vote to the north. I get all the hot dry weather I want in New Mexico, and actually enjoy the change to cool and damp once in a while!

Not to mention the northern beaches, the most beautiful and unspoiled in Spain (pre-prestige of course ). Just have to be able to handle the colder waters.

Saludos,
jer...

Thank you all so much for the feedback. I am so excited to get started on this.

Jer, I just love this board, thank you so much!

I vote for the north as well. The south is Spain is amazing, but so is the north.

Of the cities you mentioned, I would recommend Santander for studying Spanish. It is true that San Sebasti�n is stunning, but the beaches in and around Santander are beautiful in their own right and should not be overlooked. In fact, I love the entire north coast: la concha in San Sebasti�n, la fabada and la sidra in Asturias, and of course the R�as Altas in Galicia.

Of course, you plan on spending 2 months learnig Spanish, so I would assume you're quite serious about learning it. Each region has its accent; and in some cases slight gramatical variations. The accent in Santander is quite easily understood, and the Cantabrians preserve the proper use of the compound tenses, unlike many of their Asturian neighbors. With regards to the Basque region, it is true that Basque is not often spoken on the streets, but Basque do have a much more marked accent when they speak Spanish; additionaly, the Basque tend to misuse the condtional tense instead of using the imperfect sunjunctive.

Madrid and Barcelona are great cities, but there is much more to Spain than these two giants. I would suggest that it is easier to adpat onself to a Spanish lifestyle away from the hordes of English speaking tourists who flock to the big cities.

PS. If you decide to look at some other cities for your studies, then consider Valladolid, Burgos, or my favorite city outside of Castilla, Zaragoza.

Saludos

shawn2, jejejeje, I knew you would not be able to leave a post without mentioning the "V word"

Saludos,
jer...

I totally agree with shawn2! The smaller cities of the north are a perfect place to really, seriously study Spanish( without the tourists! and other English speakers). In addition, the north is magnificently beautiful: The Picos de Europa, the Cantabrian coastline, etc. You cannot go wrong. I am so envious! Enjoy planning for this fabulous experience :cheers: !

Jer,

I tried not to mention the "v" word, but the bottle of Ribera del Duero beside me caused a slip up. It could be worse, I could have Don Sim�n nearby. Who knows what kinds of thoughts would come to my mind with the famed tetra-brik staring me down.

In the meantime, I'll try not to drink and post. I guess I'll stick to singing and dancing Jotas and dreaming of lechazo and cocido.

Slaudos
:cheers:

Trayls,

You're right on target when you ask about quality of life; the answer is, in the mid-sized Spanish northern cities is where you're likely to find a higher standard of living (at least in my opinion), so if that, and total immersion in the language, is what you're looking for, in Santander, Oviedo, Leon, etc....you can't go wrong.
The only thing you might want to consider is; I don't know what your age range is, but in smallish places or non-college cities, specially if you're a certain age (past 25 I'd say), you might find more difficulties getting to know and becoming friends with people, since the groups of friends tend to be more established and less "open" to new members than, let’s say in Madrid..
One last comment. Having spent 10 years vacationing in the Basque Country, in Zarauz, unlike Jer and Shawn I have heard lots of people speak Euskera in the streets; however, many times, upon entering a shop, for instance, and saying hola in Spanish, the people have been so kind to instantly switch to Spanish . (Also, at least if you are Spanish, one must prepare oneself to enter some bar when going out for ‘pintxos’ and have the waiter give you the dirtiest look you can imagine ....but that’s another story)
San Sebastian is indeed amazingly beautiful! :l:

P.S.: Hey Shawn, �muchos saludos! Gee!, you dancing “joticas aragonesas”, that should be quite a sight, he, he!

quote:

originally posted by shawn2:
[qb] It could be worse, I could have Don Sim�n nearby. Who knows what kinds of thoughts would come to my mind with the famed tetra-brik staring me down. [/qb]

And it could have even been worse than that Shawn2, you could have the famous 'El Tio de la Bota' vineyards nearby... If I'm not mistaken, those come from the famous wine-making region of Spain known as 'bota-landia'.

I've actually heard that their tetra-briks are made from the processed card-board boxes that are used to ship American Oak Barrels in that age Rioja wines...so you know that's got to be high quality stock!
:cheers:

[For those wondering what shawn and I are drinking...Don Sim�n and El T�o de la Bota wines are very, very, very low quality and cheap wines in Spain that are packaged and sold in tetra-brik boxes as opposed to in bottles. So now you should know what 'not' to buy! ]

In 1987, I remember a place called "Bodegas de La Paz" on Guzman El Bueno near Donoso Cortes. It sold some really raw "tinto" for 27 pesetas/liter. It was pre-tetrabrik (bring your own bottle). (The 100 pesetas/liter tinto was actually pretty good!)

Pim,

I love hearing Jotas, every town within Castilla, Le�n, and Arag�n seems to have a slightly different version, all the versions are great. As a matter of fact, I may be the only non-Spaniard to have a couple of cds by the Nuevo Mester de Juglar�a in my collection. I love the sounds of the dulzaina y the flauta, too bad I have no musical talent. I'll just have to hum in the shower and dream of Spain.

I think most Americans think that Spain only offers flamenco y sevillanas, how wrong they are!

Saludos,

I may be biased toward watching beautiful Spanish ladies dance jotas, but the chalapas who dance the chotis are amazing as well.

Jer, this has been a "v" free post