Sorry! I couldn't go to the class the last week. I wish a happy Winter Solstice and a very happy New Year to all you.

Úbeda

Looking for a cheap destination? Like arab-hispanic monuments? ...and the most important... Do you like olives?
If you just said “YES” to this questions, then, my friend, you would enjoy Úbeda.

Cheap prices? Úbeda is a small city located in Jaen (Andalucia), according to the big demand that we have in tourism and our policy of offering you the best products made in the South of Spain, we can afford keep our taxes and prices low, so, don’t let the economic crisis keep you in your own house on holidays, we give an economic alternative to that!

Arab-Hispanic monuments? Yes!, but not only that, we are proud to announce that Úbeda has been declares Human Heritage thanks to the quantity (and quality) of Muslim, Mudéjar, and renaissance buildings that you can find in Úbeda. Come here and get lost in what has been named as “one of the Iberoamerican's more innovative urbanism”.

Do you like olives? Well... if we haven’t convinced you yet, the local gastronomy will do, sadly, we can't tell you more about that, you need to come and taste by yourself...

This holidays, visit us and get lost in the Úbeda hills!

(Its an Spanish saying, we don’t want you to get hurt or anything)

Valleruela de Pedraza or How I started to love the countryside

The first time I visited Valleruela de Predaza I said to myself “Boy, this is going to be a long trip”, I mean, what else can you think when you arrive at a small town that don’t even have a road to it, the car went through the woods for fifteen minutes before we realize we were in the town, no joke.

After unpacking it was about lunch time, so me decided to go to a bar (not really a bar, we decided to go to THE ONLY bar you can find in Valleruela) in order to have something to eat, and, well, right there is where my expectations changed.
The food we had was awesome, the home-made meal we had almost make us cry, and not only that. In such a small town like Valleruela, everybody knows each other, so it didn’t take more than twenty minutes until somebody asked us who we were and what were we doing there.
The friend that dragged us there, explained that we were going to help his grandfather for a week, fixing his big old house.
Obviously, every one knew my friend's grandfather, so after knowing that, everyone in town turned super friendly with us.

So, what seemed to be a trip to earn a bit of money working in a small town where there's absolutely nothing was in fact a trip were we earned a bit of money working in a small town where there was absolutely nothing BUT nice people and awesome food.

We all made friends really fast there, and everyday we stayed, after working, someone invited us to have lunch in his house, or take us to another small town near Valleruela to show us something.
My friends and I agree that that was one of the biggest surprises we ever have, we are even thinking about returning!

Navarre

Visit Navarre, “land of diversity”

It’s probably that when you hear Navarre, you think in bulls, festival and Sanfermines. But Navarre is not only Pamplona with its popular festival. It’s much more than that. Although Navarre is a small region with less than 650,000 population, it is true that is a land of diversity as the government of Navarre advertises.

When you go to the north, you can visit the Pyrenees. Apart from its stunning scenery, the Pyrenees are the best place in Navarre to practice outdoor sports. If you are there at winter you can ski along its amazing slopes or you can relax and enjoy the landscape while you’re practising cross-country skiing. If you decide to go on summer, don’t worry, it’s also a good decision. It’s obvious that you won’t be able to ski, but you can enjoy with other sports as funny as ski. You can do rafting, canyoning, bungee jumping and almost all the extreme sports that you can imagine.

After that, you can go around 100 km to the south, and you can visit Pamplona, the capital of Navarre. It is the most popular part of the region and a lot of tourists like you arrive every day, especially from the 6^th July to the 14^th where Sanfermines take place, to visit it. The first thing that you see when you are near Pamplona are its impressive walls which were built between the 16^th Century and the 18^th Century. Once you are in, you can visit Baluarte, one of the biggest exhibition and conference centre in Spain, or the gothic cathedral. Also, you must visit the Estafeta Street, the street where bulls run during Sanfermines and where you can try tasty “pintxos” (similar to tapas) the rest of the year.

Finally, before you leave Navarre, you have to make a stop at the south. It is the driest part of Navarre but it is an interesting part to see. You can visit Tudela, the 2^nd largest city of Navarre. It’s a city really different from Pamplona with much more Islamic influences. Also, only if you don’t go in summer, you can visit Bardenas Reales, a semi-desert region that reaches temperatures of 48 degrees in July, quite similar to the Monument Valley in Arizona.

Come and visit Navarre, you’ll love it.

RELAXING IN A EUROPEAN CAPITAL IS POSSIBLE:

DARE TO DISCOVER VADUZ!

        Vaduz is a pint-sized town of Liechtenstein, the tiny country which is lost on the map between Switzerland and Austria and is generally known as a tax heaven. It is a city with little presence in european history and with a slight strategic economic and social level position. However, it is an enchanted place with magic where the time seems to stop. Its hypnotic and lush vegetation shape the most vividly green countryside perhaps you have ever seen in an European capital.

Visiting Vaduz, you cannot miss its beautiful medieval castle, constructed as a fortress as early as the 12^th century. Walking along the paths that lead you to the hill on which it stands is an experience you will never forget. Ones on the top, you will discover a great view of the city and discern in the distance the Red House, a gabled-stairs tower built in the 19^th century.

     

But, undoubtedly, it is in its own streets where the charm hides. In fact, I have to admit I lost my heart walking amongst people and their stunning little houses and shops. It is a delightful experience that will allow you the chance to go shopping, dine and explore the relaxation thanks to a long part of the city is pedestrianized and closed to cars.

Surely, Vaduz will be enough for a weekend trip, and, otherwise, you can always visit its Philatelic Museum, its Sky Museum or go in search of the wonders that surround the city, finding out its landscape and its unspoilt flora and fauna.

WHERE TO GO?

I may sound odd, but I believe that Spain has a huge variety of places,besides of the touristy and overcrowded sites that nobody knows.
The more I travel, the clearer it seems to me that the truth of a place is in the tiny details of everyday life not in its most glorius statues or scenery. I love the simpler things. I have allways tryed to avoid escorted tours. I am the kind of traveller that I like somewhere off the beaten track.
Last August, I went on a four-day city break to the region of Teruel, in a very picturesque town called Calaceite and also Vallderobres and Beceite.
I wasn't sure what to expect from an ancient town where the locals live in the same houses as their ancestors did many years ago, but as soon as I arrived I felt like I was in a medieval time. I wandered around the beautiful ancient walled city trying to imagine what life must have been like in those days.The magic of the place was the fact that I was the only foreigner person there, even in the main tourist season.It may be the reason why the local people was so pleasant to me.
My accomodation was once a cave dwelling for a family and their livestock. The owner had rebuilding the site preserving the original stones and distribution with very comfortable taste style.
The region of Beceite is as astounding as any other mountains in the Pyrenees.You have plenty of routes to do for hiking around. There, you can go to "Los Puertos" with two rivers: Ulldemó and Matarraña, where you can take a bath in deep pools. It is a beautiflul and tranquil countryside to be.
This area has a huge natural interest, not only in the spectacular of the mountains, but for the ecological, animal and greenforest value.
I really enjoy Teruel and I could happily re-visit for another short stay to see more of it.

BILBAO

Bilbao is the capital of Vizcaya in the Basque Country, Spain. It is the most turistic city of the region which continues constantly evolving. Today, Bilbao can be proud of  having the Guggenheim Museum designed by architect Frank Gehry, a contemporary and timeless subway system designed by Sir Norman Foster, an airport from the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and one  community center, “La Alhóndiga”, designed by Philippe Starck .

The Guggenheim Museum is the main attraction of the city. This impressive museum opened its doors in 1997. Since then, it has been hailed by audience and critics, becoming one of the most important structures of contemporary architecture in the world.

The Old Quarter of Bilbao is commonly known as "the 7 streets" or, in Basque "Zazpi Kaleak" since these were the seven streets that formed the original medieval village. Nowadays, it is still the most lively and picturesque area of the town. The narrow streets are mostly pedestrian and full of bars offering tasty snacks, or as they are called in Bilbao, “pintxos”, and other Basque food and drinks.

Next to the bridge that links the Old Town with the Ensanche, is the oldest theater in Bilbao, the Arriaga Theatre. It was named in honor of the composer Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, known as the "Spanish Mozart,".  Although today the Teatro Arriaga is still in use, many of the theatrical life of the city takes place in the "Palacio Euskalduna".

"La Alhóndiga" is one of the most representative buildings of Bilbao, it was for many years the wine store in town. But it has recently been converted into a cultural and entertainment center with a variety of offerings: exhibitions, concerts, films, children's activities, gym, library, bars, restaurants, etc.

The Bilbao Metro system was designed by architect Sir Norman Foster. It was built mainly of concrete, steel and glas. Despite its modern appearance, it was designed in 1988. Although during your stay in Bilbao it is possible to walk everywhere, it is advisable to make a subway ride even if only to see it. A very good option is to use the subway to get to the town of Getxo, where “El Puente Colgante”is. It is the only monument of the Basque Country declarated a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Do not miss the opportunity to visit this amazing city full of monumets, good food and good people, I assure you it is worth it and you will no regret it 

Strasbourg, a hidden corner in France

Strasbourg is a small city in the east of France which, despite being one of the principal venues of the EU, very few people really knows. I visited it three years ago, and I probably wouldn´t have gone in my entire life if my sister hadn´t gone there to study for a year. Before she went, I knew very little about that city, just that the European Parliament was there, but  it definitely became one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited.

The thing about Strasbourg is that it doesn´t look like a French city at all. Practically on the German frontier, it´s more like a typical, small, German town, with those thin, colored buildings with wooden boards on the façade.  There is one special area called “The Petite France” where all the houses are white and brown. And, to top it all, the entire city is full of canals, which makes Strasbourg a delightful city to see by walk (or by bike, the best way to see it).

Maybe, the bad side of the city is that it´s extremely calm the whole year, except the Music Day celebrated in June, probably the most important celebration in Strasbourg, when the streets are full of street musicians, and the city literally wakes up. But, in my opinion, the best time to visit it is, of course, in December; the city is specially beautiful and it has one of the most famous Christmas markets in Europe, which is well-worth a visit.

In conclusion, if you´re looking to a new and non-typical place no know, I recommend you to visit Strasbourg. It may be a very small city, but you can take advantage of its privileged situation and go and see other villages in the region such us Colmar, or even go to Germany. Also, if you want, you can finish your trip in Paris, two-and-half hours by train from Strasbourg. 

You get in love with Florence as you lose yourself in its streets

Watch out! Attento! If you set a foot in this wonderful Italian city, it will cost you remembering it forever as you leave it behind. It is beautiful, fantastic and so medieval - if you like this kind of cities, Florence is the adequate for you -.

The truth is that Italy is full of history everywhere, so that Florence and the Medici family were one of the key points in Italian history. For this and other things you have to visit it. You can smeel the history out from the streets yet, and you will want to miss yourself there constantly.

The part of the old town is highly recommended, all full of the typical ‘Roman road’ and cathedrals everywhere. It is important to go off season, not in summer for example as the streets are crammed with people, and so you can enjoy the city at its best: the ‘Piazza del Duomo’ (the concentric part of the city) with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campanile, the most famous arquitechtures of the city; ‘Piazza della Signoria’ is the most lively zone and is not recommend to be missed, such as the ‘Ponte Vecchio’, full of romance and unmissable.

Once in the new town, the modern part of the city, you cannot leave without visiting the Medici gardens, and of course the 'David' of Michelangello. I recommend you all of that, fellow travelers, and of course do not forget to visit Italy at its best.

Farsi prendere da Firenze! Let Florence catch you out!

Invitation to the blog

I've just sent invitations out to you all to be 'authors' of the blog. This means that you can post directly onto the blog with any ideas, questions or comments. I will also ask you to post your next wrirting homework as a new independent post, rather than a response.

If you didn't get the email, please tell me in a comment to this post, with your email address. Or send me an email to driscoll.eli@gmail.com, and I'll make sure I resend you an invitation.

A reminder about your oral projects

If you have missed the classes in which we have spoken about this-

The idea is for you to choose something you feel strongly about, for example a law or custom that you think should be changed, a practice that you think should be banned, something currently illegal that you think should be legalised.

The keywords in choosing and preparing your presentation are: structured, discursive and personal.

The structure of your presentation should be clear, and should aid your listeners in understanding the points you are making. I recommend dividing the presentation into three sections.

Your presentation should lead to discussion. A topic which interests and engages listeners is often one about which there are a variety of opinions- it shouldn't be purely descriptive.

It's important for you listeners to understand why your topic is important to you- make them see why you care about the topic. It's especially powerful if you have some direct personal experience to refer to, but it's also valid for you to explain simply how you came to be interested in the subject, for example.

Try to include some background, so that your listeners can put the topic in an appropriate context.

A strong way to finish is to give some recommendations about the future.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you all have to talk about!

Important dates

On Wednesday 10 December we will be doing a grammar, vocabulary and listening progress test. The grammar and vocabulary will come from what we have covered in class and for homework, from your classbook and workbook.

On the 15th and the 17th we are going to do your oral presentations.

Classwork/Homework

Today we looked at using adverbs to increase descriptive force when writing or speaking, referring to the workbook homework (page 9). We also looked at some English sayings (classbook page 14) and language we can use to explain meaning (page 15). To consolidate this you should do page 8 in your workbook.

I also asked the class to think of three possible ideas for your first speaking assignment: 'something I feel strongly about'.

Your writing homework

I have read and commented on all of the submitted homework. Please have a look, and ask me about anything you don't understand- but before you just ask me 'which prepositions did I get wrong?' - try to work it out for yourself! You will learn more this way.

I have assessed and given a mark to all of you, but I haven't posted it on the blog. You can ask me to in a comment, email me at driscoll.eli@gmail.com or speak to me about it in class.

Writing a short article: homework for week ending 16/11/2015

In class yesterday we looked at how some short articles were written, and generated some opening sentences based on the headlines on the worksheet. For homework I would like you to post, on this blog, one or more articles based on the headlines on the worksheet, which I will put at the end of this post.

The articles should contain:

• an opening sentence that gives the key information somebody might be interested to know after having read the headline- for example: who? what? where? why?
• 1-3 follow up sentences giving further key information and/or background information about the story
• a quote to finish- something that somebody involved in the incident said about the events

You should write 90-110 words. If you write too much or too little your editor at the newspaper will be angry!

You should think about tenses: the first sentence will probably be either in the present continuous, present perfect or past simple. The rest will depend on your story.

Feel free to use the sentences we wrote in class as a starting point.

Please write a least one story for me to be able to give you a mark. If you write more, I can focus your marks on your best one(s)!

Don't forget to include the headline at the top of the story!

The Headlines:

1. POLICE QUIZ ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP
2. NUDISTS SEEK MORE SUPPORT
3. MINISTER BACKS CANNABIS PLANS
4. FASCIST PARTY IN POWER BID
5. NEW CALLS TO HALT FUR TRADE
6. POLICE AND DEMONSTRATORS CLASH IN CAPITAL
7. BOXING BAN PLEA
8. GREENPEACE FOIL WHALERS

Follow me on Twitter: driscool@e_d_driscoll for retweets of interesting stuff to read and watch

ISBN numbers for the books you need to buy:

                                                                                                                                                          St bk      9788490364161

                                Wk bk      9781107690585