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Top 5 Spring festivals in Spain

Fiesta time is upon us! If there’s anywhere that knows how to throw a good party, it’s Spain. These festivals are the perfect pick-me-up after the long winter months, and a great incentive to learn a little Spanish too!

1. Moros y Cristianos, Alicante: 21st-24th April 2015

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Of the 150 or so locations in Spain to celebrate Moros y Cristianos, there is no beating the celebrations that take place in Alcoy, Alicante. The festival dates back to the 16th century and commemorates the Battle of Alcoy in 1276, when the Christian army of Saint George helped defeat the Moorish troops lead by Al-Azraq. In homage to St George, the people of Alcoy made him their patron saint and vowed to hold a festival in his honour each year…and what a festival it is. With 28 armies in mock battle, intricately-made costumes on show, a spectacular procession and breathtaking firework displays, the streets are full and the atmosphere is electric in this fitting tribute to the battle that expelled the Moors from Spain.

Spanish courses in Alicante

2. La Feria de Abril, Seville: 21st-26th April 2015

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Little may need to be said about what is arguably Spain’s biggest fiesta. The solemnity of Semana Santa the week preceding Easter is cast aside as the vibrant Andalucian city of Seville erupts into the much-anticipated April Fair, a week-long party of flamenco dancing, horse shows, bullfighting and more. This is Spanish fiesta at its best. The only problem is what to see and how to reserve enough energy to stay up all night and join the locals at what they do best – party, party, party!

Spanish courses in Seville

3. Patios de Cordoba: 4th-17th May 2015

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Exploring a city’s streets is one thing, but knocking on somebody’s door and entering through heavy wooden doors that are kept closed for 50 weeks of the year is a real privilege. And this is what Patios de Cordoba grants you – the chance to enter into the cool shade of private homes and feast your eyes on their patios which have been lovingly adorned throughout the year with all manner of flowers, plants and decorations. Lemon trees, geraniums, roses, carnations, fountains – the list is endless, but the colour and scent won’t fail to impress, and nor will the chance to enter hidden corners of Andalucia away from the rush of modern life.

Spanish courses in Cordoba

4. Horse Fair, Jerez: 10th-17th May 2015

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You don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy Spain’s best horse fair, the Feria de Caballo in Jerez. Taking place in its famous sherry-producing town, Jerez de la Frontera, could be incentive enough. Or maybe you’ll be won over by the sight of impeccably-dressed locals riding through the streets and ladies dressed in bright flamenco dresses, ready to wow the crowds with their Sevillanas dance displays. But most of all you can’t help but be impressed by the supreme skill and care taken to train and groom the horses that star in this annual show. If there is one performance not to miss, it’s the Dancing Andalusian Horses – a true equestrian ballet, fully choreographed, accompanied by traditional Spanish music and costume. You’ll swear you didn’t know horses could do that type of thing…

Spanish courses in Seville

Spanish courses in Marbella

5. San Isidro, Madrid: 15th May 2015

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If you want to experience the most quintessential of Spanish traditions then head for Madrid during its San Isidro festival. Not only is this the world’s most important bullfighting festival, it is also an excuse for flamboyant Spanish fiesta in the form of music, dancing, fairs and what is known as a romeria, or pilgrimage, to the shrine of Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro. Las Ventas bullring plays host to the much-anticipated bullfights, concerts are held in the beautiful Plaza Mayor to concerts, and Vistillas Park is transformed into an open-air dance hall. Book tickets to specific events in advance, or just turn up and soak up the exhilarating atmosphere.

Spanish courses in Madrid

Cactus offers Spanish courses in many locations across Spain as well in countries throughout Central and South America.

Cactus Worldwide Blog: April 2014 – Focus on Spring Ideas

Focus On: Spring Ideas

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Hello, and welcome to the April 2014 edition of the Cactus Worldwide blog for our foreign language courses abroad! My name is Ollie, and I am the Product Manager for our agency – Cactus Worldwide. Our team of experienced course advisors are here every day to discuss options with you and help set up a varied range of unique language-learning experiences, all over the globe, throughout the year, for all of our wonderful students.

This month’s blog offers a quick update on some of the great special offers currently available to book via the Cactus website, and also offers some European destination ideas for brushing up your language skills over the next few months.

If you have any questions about anything you read here, please feel free to contact me directly via oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

1. Get twice as much for your money on selected dates in Ibiza!

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Special offer Spanish Course in Ibiza with Cactus Worldwide & Instituto de Idiomas Ibiza

Beyond her globally recognised reputation as a hedonistic ‘party island’, the destination of Ibiza has far more to offer a visitor than nightlife and club culture alone. Stunning beaches, beautiful green spaces and laid-back, friendly people make this a great choice for anyone looking to brush up their Spanish somewhere away from the mainland.

Affordable accommodation and flights from most international airports make this choice an easier one on the wallet as well, not to mention that fantastic new special offer we have for you on selected dates! If you book 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks of Spanish in Ibiza Town, for a start either on May 12th, or September 29th 2014, then you will receive twice as much for your money – that’s 2 weeks for the price of 1; 4 weeks for the price of 2; 6 weeks for the price of 3; or 8 weeks for the price of 4! The offer applies to the school’s essential General Course of 20 lessons per week (4 lessons per day) in international groups with a maximum of 8 students – all course materials and registration fees are included in the prices you see on our website, and classes are available for students of all levels. There are also huge savings to be had for the same start dates on the school’s Intensive Course of 30 lessons per week, for any students who want to push themselves that bit harder, and spend a bit more time in the classroom – you can see the info here!

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Independent, family-run, Instituto de Idiomas Ibiza is fully air-conditioned and equipped with computers, learning materials and free Wi-Fi, and is centrally located just moments from the coast on Avinguda D’Ignasi Wallis (https://goo.gl/maps/6J4ZC). Its medium size gives the school a welcoming and intimate atmosphere where all students quickly get to know one another, and there is always a great mix of ages, nationalities, and abilities in attendance – so a perfect choice for groups, couples, or solo travellers alike!

2. 5 weeks of French classes for the price of 4 on the French Riviera!

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5 weeks of French for the price of 4 in Nice with Cactus Worldwide & France Langue

This is a ‘Happy Birthday’ offer for our partners in Nice, on the French Riviera. This city centre school, owned and operated by quality small chain France Langue, turns 20 years of age this year – and to celebrate they are offering a free week of French classes for any students who are able to attend the school for a month or more, any time in 2014!

The offer applies to both the General Course (20 lessons per week), offering a saving of almost £200; and the Intensive Course (30 lessons per week), with a huge saving of £275 on the course fees, which are inclusive of all registration fees and course materials. Classes here take place in groups with an average size of 10, and occur in the morning or afternoon dependent on your level, and the time of year (outside of the summer season, most classes take place in the morning, when the school is quieter). The lessons focus on improving comprehension, grammar awareness, and all four vital skillsets of speaking, listening, reading and writing; and for students opting for the intensive course option, additional classes take place in the afternoons which focus on conversation skills, writing skills and understanding phonetics.

The best thing about this school is the huge range of activities and excursions available to students throughout the year, and this makes it a superb choice for solo or first-time travellers. Many students combine their French studies with sports sessions, cookery or culture classes, as well as taking advantage of the extensive social programme scheduled by their experienced team (20 years’ experience that is!). You can view the programme here, and check out the special offers on our website here. Profitez-en!

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3. Great value German courses all year round at the Fremdsprachenforum in historic Cologne

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Learn German in Cologne with Cactus Worldwide & Fremdsprachenforum

Have you ever been to Cologne (Köln)? If not, perhaps now is the time as this is another historic, must-visit European destination that is increasingly well served by affordable flights from a range of international airports. The medieval city spreads out on either side of the River Rhine in North-West Germany, and hosts some of the most incredible modern architecture in the country, as well as the famous Kölner Dom, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cathedral is Germany’s most-visited cultural attraction, with approximately 20,000 visitors every single day! Plenty of quality shopping opportunities and a vibrant nightlife (more than 70 nightclubs and late-night bars) neatly round the city off as one of the key places to visit in order to discover Germany’s past, present and future.

Our colleagues at the Fremdsprachenforum on Lindenstrasse (Claudia & Chantal) run a true family-feel school close to the city centre, completely independent, and incredibly welcoming to students of all ages, abilities and nationalities. The school prides itself on providing the highest quality teaching possible, and at affordable prices, meaning you can take a General Course of 20 lessons per week here for as little as £88! A Combined Course which provides 20 group lessons per week, plus 5 private lessons, is also a bargain at £193 for one week; or a full-on crash course of 25 private lessons in one week is just £483 – a perfect solution for any student who needs to learn as much as they can, as quickly as possible. Long-term students, for example, can spend a month in Cologne, take 20 lessons per week, and stay with a host family in the city for a total of £820, which is excellent value. All the course listings are available to view on our website here.

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I hope this selection has been of interest, and may have given you some money-saving ideas for the summer months up ahead…

Any Qs at all, as always, please feel free to contact me directly and I’d be happy to help.

Happy planning 😉

Best Wishes,

Ollie

Oliver Donovan

Agency Product Manager

Email: oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com

Top 5 Spring festivals in Italy

Easter Week, Rome & Florence: 29th March-1st April

If you can be in Italy during Easter Week you will be treated to splendid traditions, poignant rituals and abundant food as Lent reaches its end. While Easter Mass is held across the country in every church, it’s the one led by the Pope at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome that tops the agenda. He also blesses the Via Crucis on Good Friday, where a huge cross is lit with burning torches near the Colosseum. Alternatively, head for Florence where the Scoppio del Carro, or explosion of the cart, provides a spectacular display of fireworks and parades in medieval costume on Easter morning. Wherever you are, Easter Monday, or La Pasquetta, is a day of festivity, fun and social gatherings – to say nothing of fine food and wine, which goes without saying.

Italian courses in Rome

Festa di San Marco, Venice: 11th-12th May

All you romantics out there, head for Venice on 25th April. As well as being Liberation Day in Italy, celebrating the anniversary of Italy’s liberation by the Allies in WWII, it is also the feast day of Venice’s patron saint, San Marco. And it is during this Festa de San Marco that Venetian men traditionally present the woman they love with a red rosebud, or bocolo. Enjoy the parades in St Mark’s Square and woo your beloved in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities – guys, this one will win you brownie points with your loved one.

Italian courses in Venice

Sagra del Pesce, Camogli: 12th May

It would be impossible to talk of festivals in Italy without bringing up food at some point. The Sagra del Pesce (Fish Feast) Festival in Camogli, just south of Genoa, is a must for anyone who likes fish as, every year on the second Sunday of May, this small and pretty fishing village perched on the Italian Riviera hosts a massive, jovial and free feast of freshly caught fish. And it really does have to be seen to be believed. For the entire day, fishermen swap their nets for aprons and devote the day to frying their produce in a giant saucepan that’s 5 metres wide (that’s over 16 feet) with a 7 metre handle – possibly even more impressive than the fish that comes out of it. Whatever the case, it’s fish for everyone – it’s delicious, and it’s free!

Italian courses in Genoa

Infiorata di Noto, Sicily: 12th May-20th June

Spring is a time for flowers, and there’s nowhere better to get your fill of colour and scent than in the picturesque Baroque town of Noto in southeast Sicily. On the third weekend in May the pavements of Noto are covered with intricate ‘carpets’ of flower petals that form stunning mosaic patterns and pictures. Local artists go to town with their designs which are all made out the most natural materials possible – in addition to flower petals, they use earth, wood cuttings, seeds and more. The artists begin their creations on Friday, for all to enjoy over the weekend, and then on Monday children are let loose with delight to run through the flowers and destroy the designs. But, at least for one weekend, locals and visitors to Noto look down rather than up, as usually it is the beautiful balconies overhead that catch the eye, not the pavement underfoot.

Italian courses in Taormina

Festival dei Due Mondi, Spoleto: 28th June-14th July

The pretty hill town of Spoleto in southern Umbria plays host to the Festival dei Due Mondi, one of Italy’s most famous performing arts festivals. So-called as its founder, composer Gian Carlo Menotti, hoped to bring together the old and new worlds of Europe and America, it is a packed programme of music, opera, theatre, art and sculpture, and each year draws in first-class artists from around the world. As can be expected, Spoleto gets very busy during the festival, but Orvieto is about 90 minutes away and makes a perfect place to escape the crowds whilst still staying within easy distance of the festivities.

Italian courses in Orvieto

Top 5 French course destinations this spring

Cactus offers locations within France and Canada where you can take a French course, but these are our pick of the top five for springtime study.

1. Paris

As one of the world’s most iconic cities, Paris is a hugely popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, as is the case with any such city, the prices reflect its popularity and throughout the summer they are especially high. Spending time in Paris during the spring is therefore a much better idea – the weather will be warm, the trees and parks will be nice and green, there’ll be far fewer crowds and best of all, you won’t have to pay through the nose. A light spring evening, a large glass of wine and a prime people-watching spot on a café terrace…what more could you want at the end of a day of French lessons?

More on French courses in Paris

2. Annecy

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Annecy has got to be one of France’s most picturesque towns, with its turquoise lake and stunning mountain backdrop. In the summer Annecy attracts thousands of visitors who come to swim in the lake or hike in the surrounding countryside, and in the winter it’s a great base for skiers and snowboarders, so the spring is one of the less busy (and therefore less expensive) times of year. By April most of the low lying snow will have melted, making hiking and biking possible, but anyone who fancies spending a day or two on the slopes might be lucky and still get a few days in higher up in the mountains.

More on French courses in Annecy

3. Tours

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A beautiful city located in the heart of France’s chateaux-filled Loire Valley, Tours is known as the “garden of France”. Despite its attractive surroundings, the title actually comes from the large number of parks in the city, and what better place to watch the seasons change and the green return than here? Outside of lessons you’ll be able to experience all that this historic city has to offer, and visit the pretty surrounding area with its fairytale castles and endless vineyards.

More on French courses in Tours

4. Nice

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Located on France’s up-market Riviera, Nice has long been a favourite with holidaymakers from all over Europe. Its unique blue waters and lovely climate make it a great place to relax and un-wind, but often there are lots of other people with the same idea! To enjoy the weather and surroundings without the crowds, the best time to go is probably April or May, when you get the best of both worlds. If you take a course a French course in May, you’ll be able to enjoy ‘La Fête de Mai’, which takes place every Sunday in the month and includes a series of free events, and refreshments featuring locally produced food.

More on French courses in Nice

5. Bordeaux

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It’s great to visit Bordeaux in the spring time. The vineyards surrounding the city are full of colour, the weather is pleasant and as it’s still within term time, you’ll get a really authentic experience of life in this lively university city. You’ll also get chance to explore all the usual tourist sites, but without the crowds and the queues, and you’ll probably also benefit from cheaper air or rail fares when you book your travel there and back. Events taking place in the city include the Escale du Livre, a well-known book fair that is held around the Place Renaudel in March, and the Bordeaux Spring Fair which is held from late April to early May on central Place de Quinconces – in close proximity to both of our French schools in Bordeaux.

More on French courses in Bordeaux

Please visit the Cactus Language website for full listings of French courses and to book.

March 2009: New season, new start with Cactus Language

With spring almost upon us, why not take an evening course to prepare for your summer holiday? Read more to find out about the common misconceptions surrounding this type of course, and why they really are a great way to study…

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