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Get Educated! |
This newsletter is edited by Neil, the original Educated Traveler. Who is Neil? Neil is the spirit of discovery that lives within every traveler who wants to educate herself or himself about the world. He's also the little leaping guy in
our logo.
This month, Neil travels to Espana and offers some helpful tips and information on people, places and things that should not be missed when visiting Madrid. |
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Manzanares River Restored |
 Running through central Spain and cutting directly through Madrid is the Manzanares River.
Described by Spanish writers as "little more than a trickle" in some areas and an "apprenticing stream", the river has often been an object of ridicule - until now.
Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon has big plans for the river - plans that "will transform Madrid and place the river Manzanares at the center of city life". The project is scheduled to begin this year and includes
improving water flow and creating a beautiful location for people to congregate. Public spaces totaling over 820 hectares, or approximately 2026 acres, will be created. Within this area will be nine pedestrian walkways over the river, 42
kilometers of walking trails, 32 km of cycling paths, six designated quiet areas built specifically for the elderly, and 11 playgrounds. On a warm day, locals and tourists will be able to relax in the shade of 25,000 trees, or bask in the
sun on a new riverside beach. A pier is also being built and rowboat rentals will be available there.
Ruiz-Gallardon says, "it's a fascinating project, an example of urban planning that will last for centuries". The first phase of the project is slated for completion by 2011, with total cost estimated at 250 million
euros. |
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What's Hot, Really Hot, in Madrid |
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Check out Neil's top 10 places and things to see, do and explore in Madrid.
Send your own favorites to
Neil@EducationalTravel.com.
10. To save on meals, order the "Menu del Dia" where offered. It's a prix-fixe lunch which typically includes three courses and a drink, and often costs much less than ordering a la carte.
9. Discover Madrid from the top of the Faro de Moncloa, a 100 meter-high observation tower. For about one euro, you'll experience stunning views of the entire city and the Guadarrama Mountains.
8. Escape the bustle of the city and wander through
Real Jardin Botanico. This Royal Botanical Garden was originally created to teach botany and to discover and classify new plant species. The garden features over 30,000 plants from five
continents.
7. Spend an evening in La Latina. Madrilenos come to this district to socialize, eat and be seen! Enjoy a late dinner and watch the historic streets come alive. It's a great place to get an authentic feel for the culture
and lifestyle in Madrid. La Latina is located in the very center of Madrid and has its own stop on the Metro.
6. Don't leave Madrid without trying the fish and other Galician specialties at Maceiras, located at C/ Huertas (centro) 66.
5. La Pedriza - City dwellers visit this national park on weekends to enjoy beautiful mountain scenery, numerous hiking trails, hundreds of rock climbing routes, and flowing streams.
4. Visit the 19th century
Museo Cerralbo. Once home to the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo, the architecture is simply breathtaking. Explore rooms filled with exquisite furniture, tapestries, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and even armory. Beautifully
landscaped gardens surround the museum. To get there, take the Metro to Plaza de Espana or Ventura Rodriguez.
3. Located not far from Puerta del Sol is
Maestro Churrero. From a chocoholic's perspective, it just so happens to have the best chocolate in the world! The chocolate is served hot and is similar to hot chocolate, only thicker. Pair it with a pastry for dipping and
you may never leave Madrid!
2. Plaza Olavide is a lovely square off the tourist track in north-central Madrid. The plaza has a laid-back atmosphere and numerous restaurants, outdoor cafes, terrace bars, bookshops, art galleries, and museums.
1. If you're in Madrid during the summer, take a boat ride in the man-made lake within Retiro Park. |
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CONTEST: Where in the World is Neil? |
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In each newsletter Neil will be in a different location somewhere on an NETC program. If you recognize the city he's in, email the name of the city to:
Neil@EducationalTravel.com for a chance to win a leather travel journal personally inscribed by Neil. Each day for the next three days, we will randomly select a winner from among the correct answers received that day.
Hint:
This city is the hometown of Franz Kafka.
Congratulations to September's winners who correctly identified Neil's location as Seville, Spain, Penelope Walker (MA), Cynthia Collins (MI) and Walter Hopkins (NY)! Neil was standing in front of the Plaza de
Espaņa. |
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November 2008 |
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Inside: |
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Tom Alsop's Aventura Cultural in Madrid |
Tom Alsop is a popular workshop presenter around the country, and Director of the
Aventura Cultural Spanish Teacher Immersion Programs in Madrid and Guadalajara.
"This past summer I was able to lead a group of American Spanish teachers in
Aventura Cultural in Madrid, Spain. The NETC-sponsored program was a huge success! Each American teacher teams up with a teacher from Madrid to explore and practice Spanish. The day begins with a thirty-minute mini-methods course.
Our classroom consists of the benches along Conde Peņalver Street and Juan Bravo. We do a break-the-ice routine before going off on our daily routes, recorridos. The recorridos take us through the neighborhoods of Salamanca
and Chamberi; teachers visit famous monuments and museums. Weekends find us in Segovia, Salamanca and Toledo. Special activities include a night of tapas, flamenco, cultural presentations, paella night, and an awards night.
"The goal is for the teachers to interact and learn about the culture of Madrid, while improving their Spanish skills. Madrid is our teaching/learning lab. Teachers experience the sights and sounds of Madrid in real context - the streets
are our classrooms!
"I invite you to view some of the pictures and glance at some of the teacher comments at the end of the article. Join us in the summer of 2009. Discover firsthand what traveling with NETC means, and be part of an interactive learning
experience you will never forget!
"Thanks to NETC, Estudio Sampere in Madrid and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, for their encouragement and support!"
-Tom Alsop
Tom is a former high school Spanish teacher at Ben Davis HS, Indianapolis, IN. He now teaches Spanish at Butler University. Tom has directed fifteen Spanish teacher immersion programs and traveled with more than thirty student groups to
Spain and Mexico. Tom is a past IFLTA Teacher of the Year, Indiana AATSP, Ben Davis HS and Wayne Township Teacher of the Year. Tom was awarded the prestigious ACTFL Nelson Brooks Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Culture. He is an
accomplished author of over 220 books/videos/poster sets for teachers; Teacher's Discovery has produced a special brand for Tom's books. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Spanish Honor Society as Director of
Technology. |
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Be Our Guest in Madrid! |
NETC International Teacher Conventions are a great opportunity for teachers to discover new locations, meet and share travel tips with other Group Leaders, and interact with NETC staff. We travel to different locations each year -
in November 2009, we're holding a convention in Madrid.
Teachers find NETC conventions to be memorable and valuable experiences, but don't just take our word for it...
"NETC Teacher Conventions provide an opportunity to meet key NETC personnel and tour guides, as well as exchange travel tips with other instructors. Good facilities, great food, excellent tours and fun people made it a fabulous
weekend."
-Betsy Yates, 2008 Barcelona Convention |
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