10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/golearnto en-us On a 3 day trip to Barcelona, I discovered more about Spanish food that goes way beyond paella and tapas. The cuisine of Spain really does have an identity of its own. I took a fun, 'hands-on cooking course' in Barcelona that was not only a culinary but also a cultural experience. We learnt from passionate Spanish chefs who are keen to impart their extensive knowledge and I have returned home with a new skill that will stay with me long after the holiday is over and one I can show off to my friends! In the UK you can pretty much buy any food you like whether it is in season or not, in Spain at the famous Boqueria market where the sights and smells hit you all at once, you are taught the importance of using only seasonal produce, how to identify the freshest ingredients and if you have a specific interest in Spanish hams, cheeses, seafood or wines then your friendly and knowledgable chef is on hand to answer any questions - even my basic and rather embarassing one of 'why is th... Barcelona, Spain GoLearnTo Mon, 12 May 2008 08:21:41 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/golearnto/experience/1432 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1432 As a single woman traveling alone, I can honestly tell you that it is difficult to go to restaurants and sit alone, walk along the beach without having men come up to you thinking you are available, and have to endure the endless questions like “Where is your partner?” and so on……. So, I decided to do something different this time, I came across this great language school on the internet, I had seen a romantic film ‘Only You’ about one woman’s destiny to meet her future husband in Italy, so I decided that this was the right place to be. The school was fantastic and very professional. Put it this way, I know more than ‘ciao’ now! Also, we had excursions to Pompeii and Naples too, which really opened my mind and got the culture vulture out of me. The great thing was that I actually got the chance to make new friends and, instead of going out to eat alone, I had a blast with my new language friends. Then, of course there were the men (still are, actually)!... Sorrento, Italy GoLearnTo Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:06:39 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/golearnto/experience/1365 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1365 A few years ago, I was offered a job based in Palma, Majorca. I loved the city, had visited several times and started to dream of siestas and lying by the pool after work grazing on delicious Spanish food. Only one thing stood in the way – my grasp of Spanish wasn’t particularly good so I decided to take a Spanish language course in Spain. In preparation, I listened to Michel Thomas learn Spanish CD’s which, once you get past his annoying voice and get used to his unique style of teaching where one student always gets it wrong and the other is the top of the class then they are pretty good teaching aids. I felt quite confident on my first day in Malaga. I should have said I was a complete beginner not a beginner, my confidence was misplaced and after the first hour in class I felt close to tears. I felt like the stupid one from the Michel Thomas CD’s – no one told me they were only going to speak to me in Spanish… how was I supposed to know what they were saying and... Málaga, Spain GoLearnTo Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:58:26 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/golearnto/experience/1364 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1364