¡Hola! I am happily writing from la ciudad de Salamanca, España, where I am currently studying abroad for the month of July! Salamanca is an absolutely amazing city. My first impressions came from the beautiful Plaza Mayor and Universidad de Salamanca which light up the electric blue sky as the sun sets every night. My breath was actually taken away as I stepped foot onto the beautiful cobblestone streets for the very first time. I can’t explain it in words you just have to come and experience the magic that is in the air here for yourself!

Life in Salamanca is unlike anything I have every experienced before…it so different than the United States. It stays completely light out and around 100 degrees until almost 10:30 at night when the sun finally sets. The bars and clubs are empty until almost 1 in the morning as dinner is not served until 9, and then shortly after midnight the students begin to flock to the streets. Promoters for night life and student life fill the Plaza Mayor (in photograph above) with deals on drinks and tapas (snacks) so it is very easy to find the best/cheapest student fiesta in town!

My favorite part about Spain has to be siesta. Everyday from 2 to 5 the city stops in its tracks to take a national break from the day for lunch and rest with the family. I get most of my sleep during my siestas because I don’t want to miss a single minute of all that is going on here!

I have been here in Salamanca 10 days now and all I can say is that I am so blessed and truly grateful to be here and living in one of the most beautiful cities in all of Spain. I will be checking in again soon as my experience progresses, as I continue to meet people from all over the world, and I travel more and more through this amazing country. ¡Hasta Luego!

Siobhan Elvin
UMass 2014 – Spanish