I read about these folks in TravelBuzz, I think or OMNI -

http://www.vausys.com/englishtown/


and I applied and was accepted to go over in September. Anyone kmow anything further on these folks???

I am doing the program in Valdelavilla June 27 to July 6. Flying DL BE FLL-JFK-MAD on 6/23. It should be an excellent experiance communicating in English only while living in a 13th Century Castle in the wine country N. of Madrid (Soria area). Feel free to contact me with any questions.

edited to add "we are extremely fortunate in being in the Jun 27th-Jul 6th program. Why you ask? Because the Running of the Bulls starts on July 6th and Pamplona is only about an hour away."
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MRKEY

[This message has been edited by MRKEY (edited 05-22-2003).]

I'd like to hear how it goes!

I just got back from the May 16th-23rd session and it was fabulous!
E-mail me if you want more info. I've been to 3 of their programs. You won't regret it!
Anita


[This message has been edited by ati2d (edited 05-27-2003).]

I applied and was accepted for August but just can't scrape up the plane fare. I am hoping to go next year.

Please post here when you return and thanks in advance.

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There are days when it takes all you've got just to keep up with the losers.

Robert Orben.

ati2d,

A friend of mine wants to e-mail you about your experiences, but you don't have an address in your profile. If you don't want to publish it, please send it to me privately. The envelope link above this post works.

Thanks!

I just sent you an e-mail.
Anita

me too anita - please email me!!!!

DONE

Wow, this looks interesting! Especially with room & board paid up while the program is on. Could combine with an FF award and possibly even tack on another European city. Would also be interested in finding out more.

[This message has been edited by RustyC (edited 05-30-2003).]

Got it - thank you!

I sent you an e-mail
Anita

Anita..Have you been to Valdelavilla? Thanks in advance as I am leaving 6/23 . It should be fantastic !

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MRKEY

Seguramente pasaras bien en Espana!

I lived in Madrid for several years and am very familiar with the language programs that hey offer there as many of my collegues were forced to attend some of these classes as a way of "perfecting" their spanish...I specifically remember those people being very good, at least from what I had heard around the office...

Espero que tengas un buen viaje!

This is a copy of an e-mail I sent to someone else who had some questions:
Hi,
I'd be happy to answer any questions.
I just got home from Spain Monday. It was a fabulous trip. I went with my friend Laura & her daughter, Sara, who is 24 years old. Sara had her birthday in Gredos & everyone signed a card for her & they had a cake for her. It was also really cool because 2 Spanish participants & 2 "Anglos" that I had met last summer in Valdelavilla were at this program.
The hotel is beautiful. Jacuzzi tubs, marble & stone everywhere. The pool wasn't finished yet. There's a river you can walk to. The town of Barco de Avila is about a mile down the road. One day everyone walked into town. There's an old castle there & a church you can go into. On Monday mornings they have an open air market there & you can get some good bargains. But you will need to find someone with a car to be able to have time to shop.
The weather was sunny & warm everyday. I wish I had brought more light-weight clothes. It's stork nesting season, so there were huge stork nests with chicks in them everywhere!
The group had a good level of knowledge of English. Better than the other 2 groups I had in Valdelavilla. Just remember that you're not there to teach but to help them get accustomed to hearing & understanding English at our pace. But don't be afraid to correct them.
We had some real partyers in our group. A few nights they stayed up until 2, 3, and even 6am. (I didn't......)
The food was fine, but like I told the director, I wasn't there for the food. Any way, they give you a choice to substitute, so it was ok. Just don't expect gourmet.
Best advice.....relax, have fun, don't be too shy to get into the program & participate. It's all in good fun. Now some of my other friends want to go with me the next time I go! My husband & I are going again in August & tagging on a week in Mallorca.
I'm 50yrs old. I'm a secretary in a medical office.
I went the first time with my husband, the second time alone, and the third time with a girlfriend. There were many women (and men) traveling alone. The first 2 times I went to Valdelavilla. It's a beautiful place, but has lots of stairs and no elevators. The vulture sanctuary is incredible to see. Gredos does have an elevator and has more level terrain. It's hard to compare the two places because they are so different. Being in Valdelavilla seems to transport you back in time. And because you share the houses with several other people it's more like a community.
Expect your first couple of days to be like being on 20 blind dates! (ha ha) But seriously, the conversations seem go smoothly and the Spaniards (and "Anglos") that are there are very interesting & WANT to be there. There have been people there from England, Canada, Hungary, Cuba, Australia, & of course the USA, at my sessions.
As you can probably tell, I had a great time & met many people who have become my friends. In fact, the last time we went, my friends & I stayed at a Spanish woman's home that I had met last summer. She was so gracious.
Anyway, if you think of any more questions, just let me know.
Anita