Back to school ......

.......and it's great! I didn't give much thought to how I would react to all this. Now I'm plunged in the midst of studying Spanish in a school in the heart of Sevilla I have to admit it feels completely surreal - and wonderful - what a privilege and amazing experience! School is 09.30 - 13.30 Monday to Friday with 2 breaks - the first taken up with a much needed boost of caffeine in the bar downstairs followed by a spot of sunshine on the school's roof terrace - from where we can see across to the cathedral and down to the hustle and bustle of the streets below. A small friendly school, excellent tutors and some interesting classmates - American, Italian, German, Danish, Portuguese ....... I seem to be the sole English student but a max of 10 students at any one time. This is surely going to be real challenge - the entire lesson is delivered in Spanish and I'm not that conversant with the language yet - that's why I'm here!!! Should be very interesting .......................


As I walk to school each morning Sevilla is only just waking up and by the time I return, most of the shops have closed again and workshops hidden behind closed doors for siesta time (makes light on the purse!). Everything comes to life again in the evening and tonight we stumbled across a couple of workshops with the most exquisite pieces of work in the making - and some completed pieces of stunningly beautiful stained glass. Optimistically, I enquired if any of the pieces were 'se vende' (for sale) sadly to be told they were not - though I guess such items in hand baggage might create a challenge at check-in at the airport! Then there were the silversmiths busy restoring and creating some amazing pieces of work - commissions from the local churches. There's such buzz in this area with its old town character and sizzling nightlife.