Estilo de Vida Avis

Jane Vickery 2026.02.02

     

I travelled from Australia in September to spend a week at Estilo de Vida prior to catching up with family in the UK. I was looking for an immersion experience to help improve my spanish and engage with the local community. I was not disappointed! Alejo, the owner of Estilo de Vida, put much thought into preparing our daily spanish classes to help me prepare for DELE B1..un monton! He also sent me all of the resources so that I can continue to use them. However the learning/immersion did not stop there. Conversations whilst exploring the beautiful region of Las Viadas, lunch in local restaurants, socialising with Alejo's friends, going food shopping to name but a few. Alejo's home is charming and comfortable, set in a small but beautiful village I cannot recommend highly enough!

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2022.09.18

¡Qué gozada de semana, querida amiga! La he disfrutado por lo menos tanto como tú. Muchas gracias por tu actitud alegre y positiva. Ha sabes dónde tienes tu casa en España.

Rosie Smith 2025.12.22

     

What an amazing week I spent with Alejo! He thought of everything and took care of everything. The lessons, the food and the excursions all far exceeded my expectations. He kindly invited me to his village fiesta in Bakio. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. We visited the wonderful medieval town of Frias and everyday we had a great lunch, I particularly remember the one in Valpuesta, where the Monastary is of great his significance. Alejo was so kind and thoughtful, I really couldn’t have been looked after any better. The lessons and the Spanish immersion have improved my grammar and confidence in speaking immensely , and Alejo has lots of fun exercises , articles and videos to keep it interesting. Thank you, Alejo. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Estilo de Vida to anyone looking for a great immersion week.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.11.10

Rosie! Muchísimas gracias por tu comentario, me alegra en el alma. Un fuerte abrazo hasta Norwich. Ya sabes que aquí tienes tu casa.

Mary Doyle 2025.11.29

     

I have just returned home following a two-week unique experience in the beautiful Valle de Tobalina. Alejo’s Estilo de Vida immersion course is just that, unique. His dedication to ensuring that my stay was a rich one was to me very evident. Not only were the classroom lessons well thought-out, structured and presented through various means, but the opportunity for less formal practice was constantly available outside the classroom thanks to Alejo’s lively and passionate interest in the world of ideas and the ways of the world, his desire to communicate these ideas, his sense of humour, and not least thanks too to his patience in engaging with my level of Spanish and facilitating flow in the course of these conversations. He also ensured that I met and had opportunities to converse with his many friends who were so welcoming. I have to mention the extent to which I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon trips during which he was tireless in his efforts and enthusiasm in bringing me every day to visit so many wonderful locations of interest which I will never forget: local rural ways of life, places of cultural, artistic, historic and archeological interest, beautiful old towns and villages, delightful local restaurants, invigorating treks in the countryside. A true immersion experience, highly recommended!

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.11.29

¡Disfruté tanto tu compañía, Mary! El aprendizaje fue realmente compartido, ocurrió en ambos sentidos. Tu presencia fue un verdadero regalo, por eso me alegra tanto leer tu reseña.
Querida amiga, esta es tu casa. Y si no, iré a Kerry a visitarte.

Susan Friend 2025.10.14

     

Alejo's passion for language learning and the people and culture of his area shined though every day in the week I spent with him. Along with two other students, we studied hard and were treated to outstanding lunches and activities every afternoon. He seems to know everyone! We visited friends of his who are artists, farmers and musicians, and we toured historic buildings and attended fiestas. A fascinating and active week, for sure!

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.10.27

Muchas gracias, Susan. Celebro que lo disfrutases. Ya sebes dónde tienes tu casa en España.

felipe 2025.10.02

     

J'ai passé une semaine avec ESTILO DE VIDA pour améliorer mon espagnol. J'ai beaucoup appris sur la langue ainsi que sur la culture et le mode de vie de cette région d'Espagne. C'est un programme d'immersion qui vaut vraiment la peine d'autant que le professeur Alejo est très attentionné et très généreux.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.10.03

Muchas gracias, Philippe. Me alegra mucho saber que disfrutaste, como yo lo hice con tu recíproca generosidad y excelente disposición para aprender y enseñar, especialmente sobre los aspectos energéticos del interior de la casa (biogeología). Estoy seguro de que la vida nos deparará nuevos encuentros. Ánimo y mucha suerte con la relación de hermandad entre la Bayona de Galicia y tu St. Hilaire de Chaleons en Bretaña. Tú alto nivel en español es sin duda un lujo para esa relación. Un fuerte abrazo desde esta, tu casa.

Rissa de la Paz 2025.09.25

     

We’ve just spent a richly immersive week with Alejo – catapulted not only into the language but the landscape, the culture, the cuisine and above all, the web of friendships that he has nurtured at Las Merindades. The passion and energy that Alejo radiates are infectious. They’re the hallmark of his presence as a host, teacher and guide. However, it’s important to emphasize his responsiveness and adaptability to the needs and the interests of his guests. This applied to how he approached our language sessions: alert to the gaps in our knowledge or confidence and finding ways to build a scaffold for our learning – but always with patience and humour. Equally, it determined what ‘adventures’ he invited us to take part in during the week. On discovering my husband’s interest in human evolution, Alejo arranged a visit to the museum of human evolution at Burgos and a guided tour of the fascinating archaeological deposits at Atapuerca. We prepared for the trip by watching with Alejo a video interview in Spanish with one of the lead investigators of the project. The pay-off was that on the day of the visit to Atapuerca, we were able to understand a remarkable amount of the fascinating presentation offered by the on-site guide, which was conducted completely in Spanish, with no pause or rewind button to hand! One of the precious aspects of the trip was a sense of being invited into Alejo’s ever widening network of friendships. We loved being part of the collective conversation at a lively informal lunch in a local bar/restaurant at Cereceda, a weekly gathering of locals from nearby towns and villages; we shared stories and banter over delicious meals with several of his friends – but we also debated about ways of seeing and understanding our world. Rich conversations that opened heart and mind – and all at whatever level of Spanish we were able to muster, encouraged in the knowledge that this was all part of this glorious immersive adventure. Vaya Estilo de Vida!

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.09.26

Es una enorme alegría leer vuestra valoración tan cuidada y bien escrita, queridos Rissa y Jonathan. Fue un honor y un placer poder serviroa, y descubrir tantas cosas interesantes sobre la evolución con un autor de la talla de Jonathan Silvertown. Sigo leyendo con avidez y disfrutando el libro que me regalo,: A la Mesa con Darwin, ¡fascinante! Vuestra alegría, salud y humildad ha calado en el ADN de esta casa, que es la vuestra. Hasta pronto, amigos.

Karen Buglass 2025.09.18

     

Alejo has an unparalleled passion for language that is evident in every one of his classes. His knowledge of the area and his friendships with many locals permitted us to visit places of natural beauty, historic sites, and local festivals, and to speak directly with local artisans. Restaurant lunches always offered regional specialties and good conversation—in Spanish! Alejo’s home is charming and comfortable and his village a great place for fresh air and scenic strolls.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida

Muchas gracias, querida amiga. Fue un placer estar a vuestra disposición para ayudaros con vuestro espalol, y celebro que lo disfrutarais. También yo aprendí de vosotras y confío en seguir haciéndolo por mucho tiempo. Aquí tenéis vuestra casa en España. Un fuerte abrazo desde Las Viadas (centro urbano :-)) hasta Washington.

Catherine Costigan 2025.08.24

     

Acabo de terminar un curso de inmersión de español de 2 semanas en Estilo de Vida. Compartí cada semana con una estudiante de otro país y también con una chica española que estaba aprendiendo a ser profesora/anfitriona. Fue mucho más que aprender español (4 horas de clases formales al día), fue una inmersión TOTAL. Alejo, nuestro anfitrión y profesor, tenía una energía alucinante. Compartimos su hermosa casa y su vida como si fuéramos sus amigos. El está muy orgulloso de su lugar y nos llevaba con gusto a los increíbles pueblos de Las Merindades cada día, explicándonos su historia, cultura, la vida local, etc. Visitamos monasterios, iglesias, ermitas, museos, muchos lugares preciosos para bañarnos, hicimos senderismo, fuimos a conciertos y comimos como reyes. Fue un privilegio experimentar la vida en Las Merindades. Las 2 semanas fueron intensas, no vacaciones!!!, pero sin duda valió la pena hacerlo. Gracias, Alejo por tu gran esfuerzo.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.08.30

¡Catherine, tesoro! Muchísimas gracias por tu reseña. Me ha encantado leerla. Pero ¿quién ha dicho que unas vacaciones no pueden ser intensas? :-) Aquí la intensidad nace del propio silencio y contagia a todo lo que desde él brota. Así, la intensidad se entrega sin el menor esfuerzo, como mero cumplimiento de un estilo de vida.
Pasaré a visitarte por Nerja, puedes contar con ello.
Un abrazo, querida amiga.

Muriel Van Daele 2025.08.19

     

Acabo de pasar una semana de inmersión en español en Estilo de Vida. Esta semana ha sido mucho más de lo que podía imaginar. No sólo cursos de español dos veces al día con un profesor muy atento e implicado, sino también excursiones diarias por la magnífica región de Las Merindades. Sin olvidar la deliciosa comida casera en casa y la exquisita comida en los restaurantes todos los días. Y por si fuera poco, la excelente compañía de otra alumna, además de Alejo y una buena amiga suya. Gracias, Alejo, por todo. Ha sido una experiencia inolvidable.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.08.19

Muchas gracias a ti, querida Muriel. Tu sonriente serenidad ha sido una fuente de aprendizaje para mí. Ha hecho todo fácil y armonioso. Espero volver a verte en Bretaña o aquí, en esta tu casa. Un fuerte abrazo.

Thérése D 2025.08.01

     

Deux semaines formidableS !!!! Mon mari et moi sommes débutants en espagnol, et nous venons de passer 15 jours à LAS VIADAS. Ce séjour accompagné d’Alejo ,passionné et bienveillant, a été pour nous une véritable immersion, à la fois linguistique, humaine et culturelle. C’est beaucoup plus qu'une école d'espagnol. A savoir que j’aime randonner , Alejo a su nous concocter des randos hors des sentiers battus ,pour découvrir cette magnifique région "Castilla y Léon région très riche en histoire et culture. La randonnée, c’est aussi une excellente école qui rend l’apprentissage de la langue plus vivante et facile ! Deux semaines, passées trop vite, enseignement de qualité et bien adapté ,de magnifiques rencontres ,de très belles visites à la découverte du patrimoine de la région., de bons restaurants , baignades dans l'Èbre, tout ça accompagné de la bonne humeur d’Alejo. Je recommande vivement . Un grand Merci Alejo pour ton acceuil .Thérése et Didier

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.08.01

¡Qué alegría leerte, querida Thérèse! El buen humor que compartimos es el lenguaje universal del equilibrio, y con él todo fluye de manera serena y hermosa. ¡Brindemos por el buen humor, la gracia que nos une. También muchas gracias especiales para Didier por su ayuda con la instalación eléctrica. Esta es vuestra casa. ¡Os visitaré en invierno en Gif sur Yvette! :-)

Sander 2025.07.07

     

Una semana mágica con Alejo y su Estilo de Vida en Las Viadas Mucho más que una escuela de español: es la pasión de Alejo, su amor por el idioma, sus estudiantes, la gente local y la naturaleza. Clases por la mañana, aventuras por la tarde: caminatas, baños en el Ebro, iglesias, comida deliciosa y encuentros inolvidables. Estilo de Vida es un inmersIon por excelencia, es una forma de vivir, una filosofía que Alejo encarna con autenticidad y generosidad. Haber formado parte de su mundo, aunque solo fuera por una semana, fue un verdadero privilegio. ¡Gracias, Alejo, por compartir tu estilo de vida con nosotros! ¡Volveremos!

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Michel de Jonge 2025.07.05

     

A true adventure Our week in las viadas was a fantastic journey into Spanish language, in all space and time. Alejo is at the same time our perfect host, professor and guide. Alejo composes a balanced week programme from a great variety of ingredients he juggles with the student in mind. This counts for the profound tailor made language lessons as well as for his ability to meet the regions fabulous history, nature and people, all flavored with a daily episode of Alejo and friends. A true adventure!

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allison fish 2025.06.23

     

My family spent the last week at Estilo de Vida and my daughter (6 years old) described it as her 'best vacation ever!' Alejo.is the perfect host and has boundless energy. Alejo's school is so much more than language study, it is also a full cultural and gastronomic immersion into local life. I learned so much about linguistic theory and about the history of the Burgos region. My daughter was able to meet and play with local children, as well as expand her horizons. In short, it was a great way to learn Spanish and about Spain together as a family. If anyone is thinking about taking their family with young kids - I fully recommend Estilo de Vida and I'd be happy to speak with you and answer any questions.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.06.23

¡Muchísimas gracias Allison, Brad, Asha! Fue un honor y una inmensa alegría recibiros en casa. Los australianos sois gente encantadora. ¡Con vosotros aprendí tanto y sobre tantas cosas! Ojalá sigamos viéndonos aquí o en Brisbane y pueda seguir creciendo con Asha. Aquí tenéis vuestra casa.

Gretchen Hopkins 2025.04.30

recommande

My husband and I just completed two weeks in the spanish immersion school, Estilo de Vida. It is based in the small Pueblo, Las Viadas, in Burgos, Spain. We lived and studied in the beautiful old stone house of Alejo, our host, teacher and guide. It was effective learning to have an excellent teacher who had a comprehensive curriculum that he designed. He teaches beginning to advanced spanish. It was very helpful to us that Alejo spoke fluent English. Each day included two-and-a-half hours of intensive instruction in the morning. Many different learning resources were used: comprehensive grammar lessons, practice exercises, educational videos, and other class activities kept the learning engaging. Many evenings we continued lessons for another hour or two. On the last day, Alejo gave us a PDF with all the content we had studied, including live links to innumerable resources. Alejo had activities planned for us every afternoon. He drove us around the beautiful countryside through historic pueblos. We visited many historic churches, ruins of a beautiful old monastery, a castle, hermitages, natural caves, local industry, festivities and more. Alejo made all necessary reservations. We also met some of his friends who were willing to share their talents and crafts. As much as possible he and others used spanish we could comprehend, and we were encouraged to speak as much as we could. We were treated to much culture, history and beauty and kindness. We are interested in hiking and trekking, so Alejo took us on some great trails through beautiful areas to natural points of interest. Even though we had some days of spring rain, it didn’t dampen our spirits or our adventures. The rain enhanced the brilliance of the the flowers, the green fields, and trees. This review would not be complete without commenting on the food. Alejo made us a hot hearty healthy breakfast every morning. Every afternoon around 3 o’clock, he had a reservation at a different restaurant. We ate some amazing local food and were treated to our choice of beverages. We usually weren’t hungry in the evenings, but dinner was always offered. Everything was included: transportation, the little cafés or bars we stopped at for coffee or a drink and snack, all the meals, and the entry fees to all locations. That, combined with the education, accommodations, and transportation, we felt the whole two weeks in “Estilo de Vida” was an amazing value as well as an experience of a lifetime!

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2025.05.13

Muchas gracias, queridos Gretchen y Peter. Fue un verdadero placer compartir dos semanas con vosotros y aprender de vuestro estilo de vida nómada con base en Alaska. Es un lujo poder enriquecerse con tanta diversidad. Ojalá volvamos a encontrarnos, aquí o en Anchorage. Para lo que queráis, estoy a vuestra disposición. GRACIAS.

Eva Bremen 2024.11.10

     

Wir haben eine sehr eindrucksvolle und intensive Woche im August mit Alejo verbracht. Von Beginn an war er unser Freund, Lehrer, Reiseführer und Gastgeber in seinem Haus. Wir haben so viele wunderbare Orte gesehen, Natur wie Kultur erlebt und dabei ganz selbstverständlich die spanische Sprache geübt. Dabei hat Alejo in seinem Unterricht einen umfassenden Überblick über die Grammatik und Verwendung des Spanischen gegeben sowie ausführliches Material zum Wiederholen und Üben geschickt. Danke für eine unvergessliche Woche! Eva und Joachim

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.11.12

¡Eva, qué sorpresa tan grata leer tu reseña! Joachim y tú fuisteis unos estudiantes y visitantes modélicos, lo hicisteis todo muy fácil. Yo también disfruté mucho con vuestra alegría. Además, al visitar a Jane & Jane en Perth habéis abierto una idea fantástica, muy bonita: una comunidad de acogida en viajes entre estudiantes de Estilo de Vida. En fin: fue un lujo teneros. Ya sabéis que esta es vuestra casa. ¡E iré a Bremen a visitaros! :-)

Jeff Edwards 2024.08.13

     

We just spent a week at Alejo's magical Estilo de Vida Spanish language immersion school, and you must go! From the moment we got off the plane, Alejo made us feel like old friends. And the immersion in Spanish language and culture began immediately. Our first surprise was the location of his school. We had previously visited Catalonia and Andalucia, but were not familiar with the Borgos region. The beauty of the farms, mountains, rivers and wild forest make it our favorite region we've visited. As a bonus, foreign tourism is minimal and we were often the only non-Spanish people at attractions and restaurants. On the ride from the airport to his home, Alejo worked in experiences. We stopped by a family that sells the locally popular morcilla, as well as a Romanesque hermitage from the early 13th century with sweeping views of the valley. We could go on and on about all we saw and did. We swam in rivers and lakes, ate at family restaurants, attended an organ and violin concert in a medieval church, hiked in the mountains, visited local artists, and explored historical sites. The focus of our stay was the Spanish language. Alejo has a true passion for language and how it works. We learned so much; both in class and in conversation throughout the day. We also learned so much about Spanish culture and history. Thank you so much for all you did for us Alejo! We hope to return and continue our learning at your wonderful school and home.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.08.14

Queridos Kathy y Jeff: fue un honor recibir a dos profesores de NY, aprender de vuestra paciencia y disponibilidad para dejaros llevar por el propio aprendizaje y compartir la aventura de sumergirnos juntos en las entrañas del leuguaje. La alegría es el mejor indicador de que estamos cumpliendo con nuestro cometido. Vuestra sonrisa permanente es un verdadero regalo. Esta es vuestra casa, amigos.

Marie Thérèse TELLECHEA 2024.07.29

     

Serge y yo tuvimos el gran placer de vivir una semana de “inmersión en español” en ESTILO DE VIDA en Viadas. Fantástico ! Tanto en lo que respecta a la calidad de la formación como al programa "descubrimiento de lugares de la región "Castilla y León, ocio, encuentros"... También el gran placer de estar acompañados por personas "en inmersión" como nosotros: Philipp, Mike, sin Olvídate de Carmen (profesora). Un programa rico y variado. Un estado de ánimo digno de "Estilo de Vida". Gracias Alejo por tu profesionalismo, tu humanismo, tu creatividad, tu gran amabilidad.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.08.02

Oh, muchísimas gracias, Marie-Thérèse! La pasada fue una semana especial, de celebración de nuestra amistad, aprovechando el fantástico festival de música en Frías. Fue la primera vez que tenía a cuatro personas en casa y --aunque todos habíais estado ya en Estilo de Vida- estaba un poco nervioso; pero vuestra actitud hizo que todo fuese fácil. Es una verdadera suerte que los clientes sean también buenos amigos, y sentir vuestro cariño y buen humor. Gracias por vuestra valiosísima aportación, en especial por las clases de baile... y por vuestra alegría inagotable! Aquí tenéis vuestra casa, bien lo sabéis.

Phil Brookes 2024.07.08

     

This was a brilliant week of Spanish immersion that my wife and I went to. In the mornings we did classes of Spanish; afterwards we were brought to various sights, cities and towns that were all beautiful. Our teacher who brought us around every day knew many locals and they all seemed to be delighted when we joined the conversation - even with our sketchy Spanish accents - and they were some lovely and friendly people! Our teacher was an absolute source of energy and there was never a dull moment - unless we asked for it, to recover ;) We brought our dogs with us, and exploring the local farms and towns on dog walks in the morning was a real pleasure, and the area transformed into a real treasure at sunset. Thanks very much for a fantastic week of discovering Las Viadas from a perspective that otherwise we would have never had access to.

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.07.08

Estupendo, Phil, me encanta ver que habéis disfrutado la semana y que las lecciones os han gustado. Sois una pareja que muy bonita, inteligente y amable. Os deseo toda la suerte del mundo, y ya sabéis dónde me tenéis para cualquier consulta sobre el español. Esta es vuestra casa, amigos.

Ronald Crause 2024.05.17

     

A truly wonderfull life experience… Well I have just spent two weeks with Alejo and I must admit the experience met with all my expectations. Before signing up Alejo gave me the details of 3 Australians that had in recent years stayed with him. Talking with them was very useful as I garnered valuable insights that aligned with my experience and expectations. Many of the previous reviewers have outlined in some detail the program so I do not think I need to include it here as it is also detailed on the website. However it is important to say that Alejo is able to adapt the program according to specific needs and requirements of the person during their stay. Moreover as I said to Alejo on several occasions he is a man full of surprises so that when you think you have already seen and leant a lot he is able to still offer new “ cosas” to make it interesting , challenging and enjoyable. Studying with Alejo has increased my confidence and understanding of Spanish and has also given me an interest in further studying English grammar particularly as it relates and overlaps so much with Spanish.We had many conversations concerning the features of both languages. Before I joined him Alejo suggested I complete the Spanish course called “LanguageTransfer” on Soundcloud. This was very beneficial as his approach is similar to that taught on LanguageTransfer so it was easy for me to adapt to his teaching style. Alejo offers a totally unique experience and as he is a very generous and open person hence the relationship that one develops with him is unique and precious as well. Whilst with him, Alejo also encouraged me to engage with his many friends which I took full advantage of and had satisfying discussions practicing my Spanish with them. There needs to be a mention of the fabulous “almuerzos” we enjoyed every day. They were truly satisfying, varied and memorable. We also did a lot of great walks both short and long as the area offers excellent scenery,forests and places to enjoy great vistas. All in all a very a valuable life experience and highly recommended if you want to go on the “journey “ with Alejo and enjoy his unique offerings.
Date de l'expérience: 29 April, 2024

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.05.19

Thank you, Ron! As you very well know, I enjoyed your weeks here at least as much as you, and learnt so much from you. Thanks for your detailed review highlighting the unique and personalized approach that I strive to offer. I'm so glad you enjoyed the program, language insights, and memorable moments. You have a friend here.

jean knights 2024.04.29

     

My adventure in Las Merindades! This area is a treasure of natural beauty: rivers, mountains, ancient tracks and waterfalls weave through the landscape. Roman and gothic structures amidst Catholic iconography make its rich history visible. Friends greeted me warmly and with interest. These included a painter, a notable sculptor, a radio presenter and many others. The food in the restaurants Alejo took me to was delicious and the restaurateurs welcoming. Days are divided between excursions and lessons. Alejo is passionate in his teaching of spoken Spanish and its grammatical structures. I learnt a great deal. This is definitely an immersion in the language, art, culture and rhythms of the country. A very rich way of learning and improving Spanish .

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Réponse de Estilo de Vida 2024.04.29

¡Gracias, querida Jean! Comparto plenamente lo que dices. Para mí fue una semana riquísima, también aprendí mucho con las conversaciones que tuvieron lugar entre la palabra y la escucha. Fue un honor recibir tu presencia. Esta es tu casa -¡nos quedan tantas cosas por descubrir!