Learn to Speak Spanish - Total Immersion

• Certified instructors
• 8 night stay in a rural house
• 7 nights accommodations along the Camino de Santiago
• Full breakfast each day
• Full-time bilingual program director
• Two sightseeing tours led by licensed local guides Leon and Burgos
• Transportation within Spain
• Visits to the Prado Museum, Cathedrals in Leon and Burgos, Pantheon of Kings in Leon
• Two dinners (arrival and farewell)
• 30 Spanish Lessons 2 hours each
• Brown Bag lunches along the Camino 
• One cooking class
• All the practice time in the world!

Air fare is not included 

Daily Overview: 
Each day begins with new vocabulary words.  These words are practiced together until you are comfortable and then we take them on the road.  There are visits to the market, the bakery, the laundry and the hair dresser.  We visit the pharmacy as well as the post office.  Each day brings new opportunities to use your vocabulary, make new friends and learn to speak Spanish!

Itinerary
Day 1  Arrival in Madrid 
After clearing customs you are greeted by your bilingual Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay.
Madrid Orientation tour:  Travel back intime to Spain's Golden Age, when painters such as Goya and Velazques ruled and the Royal Court reigned.  Become acquainted with the center of Iberia and its biggest draw - the friendly madrileños who inhabit the cafes, tascas and flea markets that pack the city. You will visit the workd renowned Prado Museum, filled with works collected by the Spanish Monarchy.

Day 2 Madrid
Your sightseeing adventure begins with a panaramic tour of Spain's capital city.  At the puerta del Sol, the center of Madrid, you'll pass through one of the nine arched gateways leading to the Plaza Mayor, the Renaissance hub of the city.

Day 3 Madrid - Leon
Transfer to Leon after breakfast.  We say good-bye to Madrid and travel 250 kms north to the region of Castilla and Leon.  Today you arrive in a village where very few people if any speak English.The house you will be living in for the next eight days is a 200 year old farmhouse which has be maintained in its original structure and updated to include modern comforts. It is here that you will learn to use Spanish as your second language.  There is very limited exposure to spoken English and you are expected to make your best effort after each day's lesson to communicate with the locals.

Day 4 Language School
The day begins with a hearty breakfast and an overview of what the next few days will offer.  Our school lies in the mesetas of Leon, 1 km from the Camino de Santiago and just 30 kms from the city of Leon.  Spanish lessons begin with an assesment and review of what you already know and we are off and speaking!  Later today you meet some of the neighbors so that you can begin practicing right away.

Day 5-9 Language School
Everyday students discuss cultural differences between life in the US and Spain.  We call this
"Uniendo Mundos" ™ which means uniting worlds.  Amazingly enough, we do this all in Spanish and you have understood everything.  Students will learn about Spanish Festivals and events, phrases for specific situations and will acquire the skills and confidence needed to speak Spanish.  There are several visits to other cities which will expose the students to the regional variations.  Spain is divided into seventeen distinct autonomies and each one has its own wonderful "flavor".

Day 10  Free Day!
We give you a rest day today.  You can use it to review, say Adios to the wonderful new friends you've made in town and pack your bags because tomorrow we take this classroom on the Camino! 

Day 11 Shuttle to el Bierzo
The moment has arrived and we begin our journey along the legendary Camino de Santiago.  With your new confidence in using Spanish, this walk along one of Spain's most beautiful regions will be more meaningful to you because now you can speak Spanish!  Our 7 day walk begins on the border of Galicia.  Our daily walks are 11 to 16 miles per day along marked footpaths. This tour guarantees the Compostela, the diploma awarded to pilgrims as we will walk the required last 100 kms of the Camino.  The accommodations include small hotels and family run inns which promise a high standard of quality and service.

Day 12  El Bierzo - Cebreiro
Our walk begins in the Bierzo today and we make our way up to O'Cebreiro a beautiful little hamlet of Celtic houses and a church which holds the Chalice of a miracle dating back the 14th century.  The scenery today will take your breath away.
Today's walk: 13.2 kms (8.2 miles)

Day 13 O'Cebreiro - Sarria
There are two long days on our journey and today is one of them. There are two stages on this route and you have a choice. Walk the first part leaving Cebreiro or the second part into Sarria. We attempt to keep this journey as authentic as possible, and our van is never far behind. Rolling hills, winding roads a pleasant walk. 
Today's walk  38.5 kms  16- 23 miles 

Day 14 Sarria - Portomarin
Our destination Portomarín, a town rebuilt stone by stone exactly as it was in 993A.D. Today the roads will take us through lush green forests and primitive farms still worked as they were a thousand years ago. Tonight we dine with our friend and host Mario and watch wide-eyed as he offers his special quiemada a tradition of Galicia, which conjures up tales of witches and spirits. Today's walk: 21.5 kms   13 miles

Day 15 Portomarin - Palas de Rei
Our journey to Palas del Rei is marked by cruceiros and many historical remnants along the way. This area is one of the most important to art historians throughout the world because of its’ abundance of Romanesque architecture. A small detour takes us to Vilar de Donas where we visit the tombs of the Knights of Santiago. When we arrive in Palas de Rei, our shuttle awaits to take us to our accommodations for this evening, a traditional, magical, pazo owned by the same family for 300 years. Our hosts are incredible cooks and attention to detail is evident everywhere. Prepare to dine as Kings and Queens.
Today's walk:  23.9 kms     14.8 miles

Day 16 Arzua - Santiago
An exciting day awaits us as we awaken with the knowledge that today we begin our final walk to reach our destination. Walking through eucalyptus forests we ascend the Monte de Gozo where, from the top of the mountain we see Santiago de Compostela. We enter the city and continue to follow the familiar yellow arrows that have guided us for many days until we see the cathedral before us. A guided visit with our art historian to the Cathedral and the afternoon is yours to explore the many ruas of this beautiful city.
Today's walk: 38.4 kms  16-23 miles

Days 17  Santiago
Today is yours to enjoy this city, visit the many museums, shop the silver shops, or just relax.Tonight we meet for our farewell dinner and our celebration of a journey you'll remember always!

Day 18 Departures  Adios and Buen Camino!