After recently posting a blog post about the 10 Reasons to Study Abroad in Salamanca, I came across an article in Spanish, called “11 Razones por las que nunca deberas viajar a Salamanca,” (11 Reasons why you should never visit Salamanca).
Here’s another perspective, written by Clara Roberts, and posted on the Matador Network. The article is in Spanish, so if you’re considering studying abroad, take a look and test out your current Spanish skills! (If you’re curious, you can also take our Spanish Test!)
And if you feel like you’re missing something, heres my own translation. Just a few more reasons to love Salamanca.
10 Reasons why you should never visit Salamanca
It has the most spectacular Plaza Mayor in all of Spain. Maybe you thought that Madrid or Segovias plazas were better? You’re better off not visiting Salamanca then, or the Plaza Mayor that youre accustomed to will end up looking boring and ugly.
It is so easy to feel as if you’ve traveled back in time in Salamanca. And who, in their right mind, would want that? Who would want to turn the corner and find themselves in the Middle Ages? Or stop under the Roman Bridge and feel like they’ve traveled back to Roman times? The streets of Salamanca are like a doorway to medieval times, more effective than any time machine. So, for God’s sake, don’t come to Salamanca, you wouldn’t want to end up accidentally burnt by witchcraft.
You’re at a high risk of seeing the best sunset of your life, because almost the entire historical center of Salamanca is made of Villamayor Stone, a material which, under the light of dusk acquires a golden radiance which converts the city into a true work of art. And the worst of all is that you can relax and contemplate life, from the ancient, enormous and calming bridge, which has been in place since Roman times. After all this, what other sunset could compare? Its better to die without seeing it.
What an unnecessary amount of religious buildings in Salamanca! And were in the middle of the 21st century! Why spend hours admiring the Cathedral, with its impossible repertoire of statues and gargoyles, when you can see the images on Google?
And speaking of gargoyles, they’ll never leave you alone. Even in the entrance of McDonald’s and many other fast food restaurants, these monsters stick their heads out of the stone columns. Unless you want to be followed around by gargoyles, don’t come to Salamanca!
Obviously no one would be interested in finding the secret hiding spots throughout the city, which represent many favorite moments of Spanish literature. From the exact place where Lazarillo de Tormes learned his first lesson, or the garden where Calisto and Melibea secretly met it’s all too romantic.
There’s too much folklore! Many traditional stories are floating around in the atmosphere of Salamanca! What do you mean there’s a cave, which even today remains covered because it is still said that the Devil lives there? What do you mean there are many enchanted statues and evil, malicious skulls hidden in the maze of the city’s architecture? No one wants to hear these things! We are modern and we choose cynicism and the television.
A city without crime? An authentic city in which you can go out at any hour and feel as safe as in the kitchen of your house? Nah, you would really miss looking over your shoulder. And on top of it all, you may lose practice.
Get to know a city which has been one of the centers of university life in the Western world since the Middle Ages, and which houses the oldest university in Spain and the fourth oldest in Europe? Who would want to discover the city brimming with libraries, filled with ancient manuscripts, scrolls, and books about everything, even witchcraft? The first university attended by Galileo? And you can actually visit all of these sights? Oh, no! It’s too much history together! Viewed in this way, Salamanca seems really dull.
And furthermore, the nightlife never stops! What would you expect from a city with hundreds of bars and clubs to choose from, which radiates with youth coming from all over the world and who speak so many languages, and on top of all that, these international students are always up for socializing? To complete the list of problems, there are no specific days to go out. Actually it’s an option every single night of the week! And even during the day! Without a doubt, Salamanca is not a good place to relax
And since the article promised 11 Reasons, but left us with only 10… heres my own 11th reason never to visit!
If you come to Salamanca and study in Mester, you may never want to leave. But who would want to study here? Who would want to take advantage of this stunningly beautiful and historical city, and learn the worlds 2nd most spoken language? Who would want to take courses in Spanish language, or a wide variety of electives, taught by fun-loving staff? Who would want to participate in conversation classes, and discuss anything and everything with peers from around the world? Why would anyone wantto participate in guided tours, tapas tours, cooking and dance classes? Who would attend excursions to various Spanish cities on weekends? Who wants to make great friends and lifelong memories? Who would want to take the plunge and come study at Mester?
I know I did, and Im here to answer your questions about taking the leap of faith and signing up for a course at Mester Academy in Salamanca! Contact me with questions!
Que tengas un buen día,
Teresa