The Siena Palio

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Held in the Italian city of Siena on 2nd July and 16th August every year, the much-anticipated Palio di Siena has taken place since 1656.

Representatives from ten of the city’s seventeen wards, or contrade, take part in the race and are dressed in colourful costumes that represent their contrade.

They race on horseback around the Piazza del Campo to the cheers and encouragement of some 50,000 spectators, who often wear the colours of their contrada and sing their local anthems. The winner is the first horse across the finish line, whether or not its rider is still on it – it’s not uncommon for riders to fall from their horses during the 90 seconds that it takes to complete the course.

Preparations for the race are taken seriously and each contrada spends a lot of time and money trying to ensure that they will win. There is also considerable rivalry between the contrade and intense competition for who gets to ride in the race. On the evening before the race the contrade each hold big, outdoor banquets which are ‘rehearsals’ for their victory celebrations, and which are attended by about 25,000 people in total. Banquets are held after the race as well, whether the contrade won on not.

After the horses receive blessings at churches in their contrada, they and the crowds all converge on the Piazza del Campo for the 3 hour pre-race pageant, and the race itself. The pageant includes a parade with people dressed in brightly-coloured medieval costumes, floats, bands, horses and chariots. In the four months before the first Palio in July, each contrada puts on a parade to celebrate their patron saints, and the horses are chosen for the race.

Siena is beautiful, compact city in the hills of Tuscany in the north-west of Italy. The medieval centre of Siena with its many fine buildings and traffic-free winding lanes is a World Heritage Site. To the north of the city is the Chianti region with its spectacular views, vineyards and numerous historic towns, and to the west are nature reserves and the coast.

More about language courses in Siena

Cactus German course locations – fantastic options for all

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Here are our recommendations:

1.The outdoor enthusiast

Located right on the edge of the Black Forest (die Schwarzwald), Freiburg is a great base for any students who like the Great Outdoors. Just a short car ride or train journey out of the city and you’re in the midst of some of Germany’s most stunning scenery, with the option to go hiking, mountain-biking and in the winter, skiing.

2.The culture vulture

There can be no doubt that Berlin holds the title of cultural as well as political capital of Germany. Berlin is a place that has become well-known as one of Europe’s most exciting and vibrant cities. It has a character all of its own, and wherever you go, you’ll find interesting things to explore, whether it’s art galleries, music venues and cafes, museums, theatres or other live performance venues. Berlin is an all-embracing city that celebrates both traditional and more modern forms of culture, and that caters for all tastes.

3.The foodie

There are lots of German and Austrian cities that boast an enviable prowess when it comes to food, but Vienna has got to be one of the best, even if only for its Kaffee and Kuchen! It has also given its name to one of the most famous dishes from that part of the world – the Wienerschnitzel. These days though, Vienna has a reputation not only for good cakes and meat, but in general – it has an astounding range of restaurants and cafes, where you can find food from all over the world.

4.The history buff

Again, there are scores of German cities with an interesting history to explore, but Munich certainly takes some beating. It has formed the backdrop to some of the most pivotal, and in some cases shocking, events in modern history and as a result has more than a few stories to tell. It’s also home to some of the most impressive architecture in Germany, along with a great range of museums and galleries.

5.The party animal

When it comes to party towns, Cologne has developed a reputation as one of the most fun and lively cities in Germany – especially during Karnival in February, when the whole city parties non-stop! Of course, late week-night partying is never a great idea during a language course, but you can certainly let your hair down at the weekend. Cologne has a massive array of pubs and clubs to suit all tastes all year-round, especially in the Rudolfplatz and Heumarkt areas of town.

6.The student on a budget

One of the most affordable options for students wishing to take a German course in Germany is Hamburg. These days the city is known as a lively, vibrant and cosmopolitan place, but it can still offer affordability when it comes to course fees and accommodation, and in fact a current offer provides students with a four week intensive course for the price of three!

Bastille Day: The best places to celebrate La Fête Nationale on 14th July in France

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FRENCH / EN FRANCAIS

Le 14 juillet est le jour de la fête républicaine française symbolisant la Liberté et l’Egalité, et commémorant le passage de la monarchie à la République.

Histoire:

A Paris, le mardi 14 juillet 1789, des émeutiers prennent d’assaut la prison de la Bastille qui est le symbole du pouvoir absolutiste. Leur objectif est de s’emparer des armes pour pouvoir affronter les troupes du Roi. Ce jour marque le début de la Révolution française, la constitution de nouvelles règles de fonctionnement et l’instauration de nouvelles valeurs, définies dans la Déclaration des droits de l’homme. Comme ce jour a été très sanglant pour le peuple français, c’est le jour de la Fédération du 14 juillet 1790 qui est officiellement célébré, et non pas la prise de la Bastille.

Jour de fête nationale: feux, bals et défilés

Partout en France et pour tous c’est jour de fête nationale. De somptueux défilés militaires sont organisés, avec défilés motorisés, aériens et à pied, sauts de parachutistes et fanfares militaires. D’innombrables feux d’artifice sont tirés les 13 et 14 juillet, et des bals populaires et des concerts animent les villes en effervescence jusqu’au bout de la nuit ! Chaque année, flonflons, pétards, cocardes tricolores, danse et musette accompagnent l’ambiance festive, bon enfant et féérique du 14 juillet. C’est une expérience unique à vivre !

Voici 3 des villes qui offrent un spectacle fabuleux à cette occasion:

Paris:

La plus importante parade militaire se déroule à Paris. Les principaux corps d’armées sont présents, et les militaires défilent en grande tenue sous les yeux du président de la république et de la foule. Brandissant fièrement le drapeau de la nation, le cortège descend le long des Champs Elysées, de la Place de l’Étoile jusqu’à la Concorde.

L’impressionnant feu d’artifice de Paris est un de ceux qui nécessitent le plus de moyens financiers et humains en France. Tiré au pied de la tour Eiffel, on peut l’admirer depuis le Champ de Mars ou la Place du Trocadéro.

Lyon:

Un bal des pompiers est généralement organisé dans toutes les villes de France. A Lyon, pour 2010, les sapeurs pompiers de Gerland transformeront leur caserne en un club géant, avec une plage de sable à l’extérieur. Sur la Place de la Croix Rousse, une véritable station balnéaire prendra place, où danse, musique, transats, boissons et pétanque seront au programme. Sur les quais de Saône, 3 scènes différentes constitueront le grand bal populaire. Le feu d’artifice grandiose de Lyon partira depuis la colline de Fourvière.

Carcassonne, à une heure de Toulouse:

Chaque année, un exceptionnel et époustouflant feu d’artifice de renommée internationale embrase les légendaires remparts de la cité médiévale. Pendant 25 minutes, plus de 700 000 personnes assistent à ce spectacle inouï de lumières et de couleurs qui enflamment le ciel. C’est un des meilleurs feux d’artifices au monde !

ENGLISH / EN ANGLAIS

On the 14th of July, French Republican day is celebrated to commemorate the transition from the monarchy to the First Republic, and to symbolize la Liberté et l’Egalité (Liberty and Equality) won by the people.

History:

In Paris, on Tuesday, the 14th of July 1789, rioters stormed the prison of Bastille, a symbol of the absolutist power. Their objective was to take possession of the weapons to be able to face the King’s troops. This day marked the beginning of the French Revolution, the constitution of new rules of functioning, and the establishment of new values defined in the Déclaration des droits de l’homme (Human rights statement). Given that this day was very bloody for the French people, we officially celebrate the 14 July 1790 Fête de la Fédération, and not the storming of the Bastille.

Bastille Day: pyrotechnics, balls and parades

Everywhere in France and for everyone, this is a national day of celebration. Sumptuous march-pasts are organized with flypasts, motorised and walking parades, parachute jumps and military bands. There are many firework displays on 13th and 14th July, and cities across France celebrate with balls and concerts throughout the night! Every year, brass bands, firecrackers, dance and accordion music go with the festive, friendly and enchanting atmosphere of the Bastille Day. It is a unique event to experience!

Here are 3 cities offering a fabulous show for this occasion:

Paris:

The greatest march-past takes place in Paris. The main army corps are present, and impeccably uniformed servicemen parade before both the President of the Republic and the crowd. Whilst proudly brandishing the national flag, the procession goes down Les Champs Elysées, from La Place de l’Etoile to La Concorde. The impressive fireworks display of Paris requires the utmost financial and human resources. Fired at the bottom of the Eiffel tower, it can be watched from Le Champ de Mars or La Place du Trocadéro.

Lyon:

A Firemen’s ball (Bal des pompiers) is generally organised in every French town. In Lyon, for 2010, the fire-fighters of Gerland will turn their fire station into a giant club, with a sandy beach outside. On La Place de la Croix Rousse, a real seaside resort will take place, where dance, music, deckchairs, drinks and petanque are planned. On the quays at Saône, 3 different stages will host the big popular ball. The spectacular fireworks of Lyon will be fired from the Fourvière Hill.

Carcassonne, only one hour from Toulouse:

Every year, an outstanding fireworks display, well-known all over the world, sets ablaze the ancient ramparts of the medieval city. For 25 minutes, more than 700,000 people attend this extraordinary show of lights and colors setting fire to the sky. This is one of the best firework displays in the world!

If you can time your visit to France to coincide with 14th July, you will be treated to one of the best celebrations in the French calendar. Experience it from the inside by taking a language course in France; Cactus offers French courses in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, as well as many other fantastic locations across the country.

Alternatively, why not take a language course to brush up on your French before you go? Daytime, evening and weekend French courses are available in the UK, and weekend and evening courses in the US and Canada.

Learn Italian away from the tourist trail this year

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Not only can Italy offer fantastic food, endlessly quaffable wines and some of the most fascinating historical sites in Europe, it is also home to a massively varied array of natural scenery. Whether it’s mountains, rolling hills or sandy beaches that you love, there’ll be a region to suit your tastes.

Whilst Rome, Florence and Venice have long topped the list for visitor numbers, there are plenty of other beautiful towns and cities to visit that will give you a fantastic insight into the real Italy. The great thing about these lesser-known places is that they aren’t as busy, they’re more affordable, and they’re perfect for practising your Italian.

Here’s a selection of some locations that tend to be missed off the international tourist trail.

1. Island of Elba

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Located off the coast of Tuscany, 20 km from the coastal town of Piombino, Elba is the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia. The island is probably most famous for being the place to which Napoleon was first exiled, albeit for a mere 300 days. There are certainly worse places to be exiled, though… the island boasts some stunning beaches, clear blue waters, and endless options for outdoor pursuits like mountain trekking and kayaking.

2. Orvieto

Orvieto is a medieval town in the region of Umbria that enjoys one of the most dramatic settings of any in Italy. imageIt perches high on a cliff in the middle of stunning Umbrian landscape, and shows off its magnificent gothic cathedral for miles around. Other features of note are the labyrinth of caves and tunnels that lie beneath the town’s cobbled streets, the Etruscan ruins that sit within the city, and the remnants of a wall that enclosed Orvieto more than 2000 years ago.

3. Tropea

A small, coastal town in the region of Calabria.image, Tropea is one of Italy’s real hidden gems. It has always been popular amongst Italian tourists, but remains relatively unknown internationally. It is home to some of the nicest beaches in Italy and is surrounded by shimmering blue waters that you simply wont be able to resist.

4. Viareggio

Viareggio is the southernmost Italian Riviera-style resort on Italy’s Mediterranean coast, and as such boasts the usual plethora of entertainment venues and eateries – in particular, seafood restaurants. It’s the largest beach town in Tuscany, but for a beach resort has the rare characteristic of being very rich in art, culture and history too. It’s also known for hosting one of Italy’s best carnevale. This really is a town with something for everyone.

5. Cagliari

Despite being the capital of Sardinia, Cagliari still appears to be somewhat overlooked by image foreign tourists. The city has an interesting history and there are certainly sites to see, but a lot of Calgliari’s charm lies in its pace of life, its laid back atmosphere and its (largely seafood inspired) cuisine. It is also home to some of the most breathtaking beaches and waters outside of the Caribbean…

10 reasons to visit Colombia

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In the past it has sometimes been in the limelight for the wrong reasons, but these days its tourist industry is thriving, and rightly so.

Here are ten great reasons to take a Spanish course in this amazing country.

1. ‘High-quality’ Spanish and friendly people

Colombia is said to have one of the highest standards of Spanish in all the Latin-American countries. It is therefore unlikely to throw up too many problems when it comes to comprehension, as might be experienced in countries where the Spanish spoken has a very different accent, or lots of ‘local’ words and phrases. It is also home to some of the friendliest people in the Spanish-speaking world, who will do their utmost to make you feel at home.

2. Superb festivals and carnivals

Colombia has a lot of carnivals and festivals that celebrate the country’s unique culture: the Carnival of Barranquilla, declared a World Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Black and White People Carnival in Pasto, The International Coffee Queen Festival, Wayuu Festival, and The International Festival of Colombian Plains are just a few to mention.

3. Great coffee

Colombia has the best mild coffee in the world. If you’re an especially avid coffee-drinker, you can actually visit coffee farms in the country’s coffee region to see how they make this famous export!

4. La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

In the north of the country lies the La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It’s the highest snowcapped range close to the sea in the world, peaking at 5.575 metres above sea level, and is home to The Lost City, built by Tayronas hundreds of years ago.

5. Varied geography and climate

Speaking of mountains, Colombia is also one of the countries where the Andes Mountains begin. For this reason, the country has a very varied geography and climate. It has beautiful Andean forests and plateaus, volcanoes and snowcapped mountains, deserts, vast plains and the Amazon jungle in the south.

6. The Guajira Peninsula

The Guajira peninsula at the northern end of South America has a very unique landscape in that the desert and sea are side by side. This part of the country is inhabited by the Wayuu people, one of Colombia’s largest ethnic groups, but is also famous for the flamingos that live there. 

7. Biodiversity

Colombia is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world. It has 1.865 bird species, 471 mammal species, 715 amphibious species, 524 reptile species, 1.357 freshwater fish species, 3.019 kinds of diurnal butterflies, 41.000 sorted plant species out of 250.000 presently known. In addition, it has some stunning natural parks like the Snowcapped Mountains Park, Purace Park, and Malpelo Island, a flora and fauna sanctuary, Tayrona Park, the Archeological Park of San Agustín, Archeological Park of Tierradentro, Cocuy Park, and El Tuparro Park in the Colombian jungle.

8. Attractive colonial towns

The country has several colonial towns with very attractive architecture, including Mompós, Popayan, Barichara and Villa de Leyva, as well as Cartagena with its International Film Festival and Hay Festival of literature.

9. Beaches and islands

Colombia has two Oceans lapping at its shores – the Atlantic and Pacific, which gives it some truly spectacular coastline and beaches. There are also some really beautiful islands that you can take a boat to, including San Andrés y Providence, Gorgona, Malpelo and Rosario islands.

10. A fantastic capital city – Bogota

Colombia’s capital, Bogota, is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in South America. It offers theatres, restaurants and bars a-plenty and has a huge range of other places to visit in your free time, including museums, parks and some amazing cathedrals and churches. Every two years, it also hosts the biggest theatre festival outside of Edinburgh…

Cactus offers a range of Spanish, and Spanish and activity courses, in Bogota, Cartagena, Leticia and Medellin

Visit Italy this August and enjoy the ‘Ferragosto’

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Its origins date back to Roman times, when 15th August marked the middle of the summer and the end of the hard labour in the fields. Later however, the Catholic Church adopted this date as commemoration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and it’s then that it became officially known as Assumption Day.

Although Italy remains a very religious country, these days Ferragosta seems more to be seen as a time for rest and relaxation than for mass religious celebration. If you find yourself in an Italian city during Ferragosta you’ll see way more tourists than Italians, and if you head to the beach, lakes or mountains you’re likely to encounter many more people than usual.

Despite the feeling of relaxation, Italian people are always up for a good celebration, and as to be expected, Ferragosto is no exception. Some of the city-based shops and restaurants might be shut, but you are unlikely to find yourself with nothing to do, especially if you head to one of these places:

Rome

Every year, Rome plays host to the Gran Ballo di Ferragosto – an event that involves the whole of Rome, from the centre to the suburbs, bringing music to the entire city. There’s a different dance in each square, from tango to rock, hip-hop to samba, and a huge concert is held in the Parco Archeologico of Teatro Marcello.

Siena

On 16th August ever year, the people of Siena hold the second Palio of the year in the central square. A competitive and adrenalin-filled event that will get you fired up with the locals!

Alghero

Spending Ferragosto in Alghero will give you the best of both worlds – relaxation by the beach with the Italian city-dwellers, and one of the best fireworks displays around in the evening.

Sorrento

Sorrento is another coastal place that provides the perfect destination for Ferragosto. As well as relaxing by the beach, you’ll be able to watch the traditional procession of the Assumption and the spectacular fireworks that follow it. On 14th and 15th August all Sorrento’s clubs and bars organise evenings outdoors on the beach for dancing in the moonlight, and there are traditional bonfires held there too.

If shopping is your passion and no trip to Italy is complete without picking up a Gucci bag or some Fiorelli shoes, August possibly isn’t the best time for you to go. If you want to experience Italy at its chilled-out best though, there’s no better time to visit…

Italian study destinations: Alghero

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Some people might think that a town where the local dialect spoken is native to another country wouldn’t be the best place to learn a language. But for those who don’t know, each region of Italy has its own dialect significantly different to the next. Some are so different that even other Italians do not understand. However as Italian is spoken throughout the country and taught in all schools, wherever you choose to study you can be sure that you will be understood.

Alghero is one of the main tourist destinations in the north west of the island of Sardinia and for good reason. It has an attractive historic centre with fantastic views from the old town walls out across the Mediterranean. It is also within reach of some of the most incredible beaches this side of the Caribbean. But if you do as I did and choose to go at the end of September, after one of the hottest and driest summers in recent years, you will find out that going to Sardinia doesn’t always mean sun and sand. It can also mean drizzle and showers. Something which the English understand very well.

I spent my mornings in class studying hard, and my afternoons on the beach looking at the grey clouds loom overhead wondering how much longer I had to work on my tan. I think it was the first time I’ve ever been on a beach with an umbrella in my bag.

Fortunately I was there to learn the language as well and the school was fantastic. There were only 3 rooms and a patio where lessons also took place when the sun was shining. Being in such a small school meant that the classes were small too which was perfect for conversation and having the opportunity to ask questions to the teachers. However my favourite lesson had to be when we were taken to the local market and discussed recipes with the old ladies working there. They loved chatting and explaining everything to us (plus they gave us a great discount).

One of the best parts of the holiday was staying in a shared apartment. It was the first time I had shared a house with anyone since playing drinking games until dawn and waking up next to half eaten burgers at university. This time I behaved a little better and enjoyed sharing a coffee in the morning with my fellow housemates without the added complication of a throbbing headache. Good job too as from the moment I woke up I had to speak Italian, something my dehydrated brain cells would have found much too difficult a task to do a decent standard.

Overall I must say that my first language holiday abroad was a complete success. I discovered the beautiful town of Alghero, I met other students from all over Europe and my Italian improved. It’s just a shame that my tan didn’t.

More about Italian courses in Italy

Visit Valencia this July and experience the fantastic Feria de Julio

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The festival includes a huge range of activities including dance, arts, food, parades and plenty of music – it attracts some world-famous acts, which this year include Anastasia and James Taylor. Many of the concerts are held in the open air, in venues such as the Jardín de Real, the city parks and the impressive bullring.

One of the most anticipated spectacles is the ‘Batalla de las Flores’ (Battle of the Flowers), which takes place every year on the last Sunday of the feria. During the proceedings, beautiful women parade through the streets throwing flowers into the crowd, and in turn have flowers thrown back at them.

Taking a Spanish course during the festival will not only give you plenty of performaces to enjoy, it will also give you a really unique insight into Spanish culture and tradition. Accommodation can be really hard to come by during this time, but taking a course in Valencia will assure you lodgings – proivided you book far enough in advance.

Currently, Cactus offers a range of Spanish courses in Valenica at various different levels.  Included in the course options are: General Spanish, Intensive Spanish, Spanish and Culture, Business Spanish, Teacher Refresher Spanish, Spanish and Gastronomy and Spanish and Work Experience. For full course listings or to book, please visit www.cactuslanguage.com.

Why Edinburgh is the place to be this August

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Throughout August, Edinburgh is transformed into a hub of entertainment, where parades, shows, plays and a variety of other performances occur every single day. There is actually not just one festival, but several that take place simultaneously.

The initial festival, known as the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) was established in a post-war effort to “provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit”, but since then lots of other organisations and theatrical companies have set up their own festivals to run alongside it, the biggest of which is known as the ‘Edinburgh Festival Fringe’.

The Edinburgh festival (the Fringe festival especially) has proved an important platform for many of today’s best known performers, comedians in particular, and has propelled many ‘unknowns’ to stardom.

Edinburgh is a lively city that is brimming with entertainment at the best of times, but August really is a fantastic time to visit, or study in the city. It will ensure that you get not just a taste, but an in depth insight into the UK arts and culture scene.

More information on English courses in Edinburgh

More information on the Edinburgh Festival

Learning Arabic in Morocco and the UK: Cactus staff review

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Why are you learning Arabic? This is a question I have been asked quite often since I started studying Arabic in Brighton last July. What are the reasons for someone to want to learn a foreign language? As a foreign language teacher, I have come across many different reasons as to why people want to learn to speak in a different language to theirs. I have learnt several languages before and this time I have been given the chance to learn one more. I have learnt English, German, a bit of Italian and French. This time I wanted to go for something that made my brain work in a complete different way and that’s how I ended up taking an Arabic course with Cactus.

I started at Level 1 on a 10-week Arabic evening course in Brighton, and I was one of those “complete beginners” with no previous knowledge at all. The only words I knew were those that are used in Spanish such as Insh’Allah (in Spanish “ojalá”), “almohada”, “aljibe” and a few more.

The first lessons were a bit of a challenge as I found myself in a class with a few students that had some sort of knowledge as they had relatives or friends or knew people from Arabic-speaking countries. I have to say this was a bit demotivating as I felt I really knew nothing. It was hard to guess meanings as I could have done with German, being similar to English, French or Italian. I was absolutely lost and I did not take it very seriously. I did, however, enrol on the Level 2 course and it was then when my love for this language started. I bought different books to the one used in class and also did a bit of self-study a couple of days per week to really learn the alphabet and get familiar with the writing.

The lessons then became more and more interesting, not only the language aspects but also the cultural ones. My teacher is very familiar with the different dialects and different cultural issues all across the Arab world.image

Arabic is a fascinating language and the writing has some sort of magical effect; it feels more like painting than writing. No wonder it´s one of the main decorative components in the Arab world.

In Level 3 we moved away from the alphabet, writing, basic vocabulary and conversations, and we started to go deeper into different grammatical structures. Arabic is not so complicated when it comes to verb tenses; it´s complicated when you want to speak and write properly and use the cases and different ways of building plurals. Let´s keep in mind I am talking about Modern Standard Arabic – I won’t even start talking about the many differences when it comes to colloquial Arabic. It was during this term in Level 3 that all the revolutionary movements started and this made me want to learn more and more about this language and culture.

Although many people kept telling me that the Arabic I was learning was not useful, because no one speaks like that if you travel to any Arabic-speaking country, I still wanted to go somewhere to learn a bit more and put into practice what I had learnt – and so I did.

imageThis Easter I decided to do a 1-week intensive course in one of Cactus schools. My destination was Rabat, in Morocco. I could have chosen Egypt but I had already been to Morocco and found it a fascinating country. I have to say it has been one of the most amazing experiences I have had when it comes to learning a language. The learning environment at the school was excellent, my teacher was highly qualified and very motivating, and we were encouraged to speak Arabic at all times, even at a very basic level. This course gave me the confidence to speak and made me realise it is absolutely necessary to go to the country where the language is spoken to really make an improvement.

imageEven though I had learnt quite a lot during these 3 terms in the UK, it was all stored in my head but never used. In Morocco in a matter of a few days I was having short conversations to taxi drivers, waiters and people at the “souks” and this made me feel really good. They could understand me and I could understand them; even if I wasn’t saying everything properly or using the right verb form, I made myself understood. Isn´t that what the aim of learning a language is after all? COMMUNICATION.

I cannot describe how grateful people were that I was making the effort to speak to them in Arabic and it made such a big difference to the way they treated me everywhere I went. Although I have to say hospitality is part of their everyday life.

I can´t say that in a week I learnt a lot more than I knew already but I definitely learnt to put things together and to actually use them. Now is time to move on to the next level and keep on learning more and maybe next year I can go back and do a more advanced course.

Rabat is such a good place to spend some time. It´s probably the best place in Morocco to live if you come from a western country. It is the perfect combination of tradition and modernity; people are very laid back and time seems not to matter much. Days actually seem longer when you are in Morocco.

imageThere are beautiful places to visit such as the Kasbah of the Oudaya, the Hassan Mosque and its Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Royal Palace the remarkable Andalusian Gardens in the new city quarters. The ruins of Chellah are not to be missed either.



Cactus runs part-time and evening language courses in 24 languages and 41 locations across the UK, and in 6 locations across the US and Canada. These are the ideal way to brush up on a language before you travel abroad, whether for work or pleasure.

Cactus also offers language immersion holidays in more than 30 languages, in 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide.