Pueblo Inglés bookended by Madrid

Plaza Mayor, beware of pickpockets!
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Nobody cared who I was or what I was doing - didn't have customs and my passport wasn't even checked! A far cry from NZ or Aussie.

Navigated the metro no problems to somewhere near my hostel. The directions from the metro to the hostel were a little difficult to follow but in the end I found it! The hostel had a beautiful tiled courtyard in the middle but apart from that was noisy and the bathrooms were being refurbished :(

After settling in and cleaning up, I walked to the Plaza Mayor for a first look then to a paella/flamenco restaurant to meet the other 'Anglos' who would be joining me for the next week (see below.) After lunch we had a beer at the Plaza de Santa Ana, which is one of seemingly hundreds of lovely squares full of eateries and drinkeries.

Some of the team on Caimada night.
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To finish up the day I walked to the Puerta del Sol to get a few essentials then crashed into bed (not that I got much sleep.)

[A word about Pueblo Inglés. Easiest to read what has already been written www.puebloingles.com but essentially you take a group of 20 English-speaking volunteers, and 20 Spaniards who want to improve their English, put them into an old abandoned village which has been done up as a hotel, then add food, wine, conversation and activities. Result is a very intense bonding experience with an amazing group of people, and much improved English for the Spaniards (by the end of the week the Anglos can only speak Spanglish.)]

Miguel Angel (programme director) and Eduardo (chef) - paella on fiesta night.
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So Friday morning I braved the metro with all my junk (FYI: not a good idea during rush hour in Madrid. I'm sure someone tried to pickpocket me and loads of people yelled at me.) I met up with all the Anglos and some of the Spaniards (some drove) for the 4 hour bus ride to Valdelavilla (near Soria, in Castilla y Leon.) The Anglos included Americans, Canadians, English, Aussies and one other kiwi (Mikey Lynch who I was at law school with!!)

I won't spell out the entire week but basically most days would go like this: breakfast at 9am - a compulsory part of the programme where you sit 2 Anglos and 2 Spaniards to a table, talking talking talking, as for every meal - then from 10am to 1pm you have three one-to-ones, which mean you are placed with a Spaniard and you just chat with them for an hour. At 1pm there was usually a two-to-two, which is similar but you are given somewhat controversial subjects to discuss.

Me and Mikey the kiwis.
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At 2pm a three-course lunch accompanied by red wine. After lunch you have siesta time (or, for me, usually more talking...) then at 5pm you meet up for group activities (creating an invention, that sort of thing). From 6pm-8pm you have two more one-to-ones, or rehearsal if you are on theatre that night. From 8pm-9pm is theatre hour, where there are skits or Anglo presentations. 9pm is dinner, another three-course meal with red wine and then afterwards you go to the bar, or to bed (but you are encouraged to stay and chat at least a little while.)

At Vallejos, an abandoned village we walked to one day.
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There are variations; one night we have a Caimada, which is a ritual from Galicia in northern Spain to ward off evil spirits. Another night there is a fiesta where the Spaniards all show us up with their superior dancing skills. One night during theatre hour I sang 'Don't Dream It's Over' accompanied by Pedro who was great on guitar.

Anyway by Friday we are all completely exhausted and teary, but it's amazing. It's a highly intense programme which is difficult to explain but I would recommend it to anyone - all you have to do is get to Madrid and from there everything is taken care of.

Vallejos (not sure why I'm incapable of turning photos the right way up!)
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Saturday back in Madrid I felt a bit out of it so didn't do much of the planned sightseeing. I hung out with Fraser, a Canadian guy from the programme and we just walked around and soaked up the atmosphere. Madrid in the weekend is a buzzing place to be.

Around 6pm I caught my train to Alicante, to move on to the next stage of my adventure....