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THE COURSE > THE PROGRAMS > LANGUAGE VACATIONS > MEXICO > SPANISH + DISCOVER MEXICO
If you have a
little extra time to spend in Mexico learning Spanish, we have a
program designed specially for you!
Spanish &
Discover Central Mexico is a program offering you the possibility of
being in touch with the Spanish language all day long with the
help of professionally trained teachers. In the morning, you
will have individualized Spanish lessons, while in the afternoon
you will be able to choose from 16 cultural and tourist programs
which will allow you to discover Central Mexico.
INTRODUCTION
This
program, lasting 2, 3 or 4 weeks, offers complete flexibility!
Morning Spanish lessons are personalized: one-on-one or two-on-one,
whatever you want. You will not only learn Spanish during class,
but also during the meals that you will enjoy with your
instructors and the other guests.
Then, in the afternoon, you will be able to choose from 16
instructor-assisted tourist and cultural programs so you can
continue practicing your Spanish in a more relaxed way, but with
professional help. For some of the programs, your instructor
will be the guide, while other programs will get the support of
professional guides accredited by the INAH, the Mexican
Institute of Archaeology and History, an independent government
agency.
Just as in our traditional programs, we will prepare a Spanish
language course fitting your needs, which will enable you to
achieve fast progress.
This program is a real Spanish language and Mexican cultural
immersion experience, making it possible not only to learn
Spanish in a relaxing and comfortable environment, but also to
know more about Mexico, its society, culture and history!
EXCURSIONS
In the afternoon you can
choose from 16 cultural programs. Private transportation is
included, and in case the duration of the program requires it,
we will also provide you with the meals at no additional cost.
Most cultural programs take place in the afternoon. However, the
programs may sometimes take place in the morning for reasons
beyond our control such as traffic or weather conditions. In
that case, your morning class will be replaced in afternoon. In
the case of a full-day program, the lost morning class can be
replaced the following day in the afternoon at no surcharge.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #1: Cuernavaca, Downtown and Cathedral
Cuernavaca's cathedral
is the only one in Mexico (and probably in Latin America)
NOT located on the main square and the third oldest in the
Americas. Cuernavaca's downtown includes its main square -called
Zocalo-, Netzahualcoyotl Street, its Government Palace and
the Ocampo Theatre among other interesting sites. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #2: Cuernavaca, Palacio de Cortés and Cuauhnahuac
Museum
Palacio de Cortés was the summer residence of the
Spanish conquistador
Hernán Cortés.
It's the only monument in Mexico named after a Spanish
conquistador. Cuauhnahuac Museum offers a good overview of
Mexican history. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #3: Cuernavaca, Muros Museum
Muros is a privately-owned
museum, with paintings and murals by
Frida Kahlo
and
Diego Riviera.
The murals in the museum were abandoned when the
Casino de la Selva
Hotel,
on whose walls they were painted, closed its doors 20 years
ago. However, when Costco bought the premises to open their
store, Costco had the murals restored and built an art
museum around them. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #4: Cuernavaca, López Mateos Marketplace
Although
supermarkets and hypermarkets have been common since the
late eighties, the Cuernavaca market still is the place
where most Mexicans buy their groceries and personal care
products. The market offers the visitor a colorful view of
fruits, vegetables, flowers and an insight to Mexican daily
life.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #5: Cuernavaca, city of contrasting neighborhoods
This program will take you
Cuernavaca’s most remarkable neighborhoods. Even before the
Spanish colonization (1492), Cuernavaca was already a resort
city for the richer inhabitants of Mexico City (then
Technochtilán). Nowadays, the more fortunate citizens of the
Mexican Capital have their houses built in luxury land
developments with Golf Courts such as
Tabachines. On other hand, Cuernavaca is also the
capital of Morelos and attracts unskilled workers from the
surrounding towns, most of whom live in less fortunate
neighborhoods... |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #6: Tepoztlan
Tepoztlan, located at a half-hour drive from Cuernavaca,
is famous for the remains of a temple built on top of the
nearby Tepozteco Mountain and a 16th-century convent. In pre-hispanic
times, Tepoztlan was considered the valley of the gods,
which is logical after seeing the wonderful mountain views
surrounding this little town.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #7: Cooking traditional Mexican dishes with Doña
Hermelinda
You will
daily enjoy the food she prepares, but this activity will
show you HOW she prepares it! Doña Hermelinda also runs her
own little front-of-the-house restaurant on Sundays. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #8: Tlayacapan
Tlayacapan is located approximately 45 minutes away from
Cuernavaca and has over 26 colonial chapels and a great
Augustinian former monastery. It is also the place where
pottery is still manufactured by craftsmen.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #9: Cuautla
Cuautla is the second
most important city in the state of Morelos. Although not
the nicest city, it has its own historic value as the
hometown of revolutionary
Emiliano Zapata. It also has a nice downtown and offers
visitors an insight view of Mexican daily life.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #10: Hacienda de Vista Hermosa and Xochicalco
Pyramids
Hacienda de Vista Hermosa is nowadays a hotel, but it
maintains its past glamour as the one of the biggest
“haciendas” (estates) of Colonial Mexico. Built and owned by
the sons of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Hacienda
de Vista Hermosa is located at a mere 20-minute ride from
Cuernavaca. The pyramids at the ancient city of
Xochicalco,
founded in AD 650, offer fantastic views as well. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #11: Workshop - An insight to Mexican culture
Unlike the
British, French and Dutch, the Spaniards who colonized
Mexico and Latin America did mix with the native population.
Proof is the fact that 80% of the Mexican population is
considered mestizo, resulting in a unique culture...
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #12: Workshop - Understanding today’s Mexico through
its history
Mexico's
history is complex. The pre-hispanic period (1888 BC – AD
1521) is a history of several civilizations, some of which
waged war on the others. The Spanish colonial period (1521 –
1810) is confusing, as both Spaniards and Mexicans have
their own point of view about history. Mexico’s recent
history (1810 - 2008) is somewhat troubled, as governments
have used and manipulated history in their own benefit...
Despite the foregoing, this workshop will clarify many
things and help you understand why Mexico is what it is... |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #13: Taxco (full-day program)
Taxco,
famous for its beautiful colonial architecture and narrow
cobbled streets, is a former colonial silver-mining center
in the neighboring state of Guerrero.
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #14: Teotihuacán Pyramids (full-day program)
A must-see for people visiting
central Mexico.
Teothihuacán was the
largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and its
influence spread throughout Mesoamerica. Evidence of
Teotihuacan presence can be seen at numerous sites in
Veracruz and the Maya region. Teotihuacán was made a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1987. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #15: Mexico City (full-day program)
Mexico City, the world’s biggest metropolis, is
certainly worth a visit. Mexico City history goes back
before the Spanish colonization, when it was known as
Technochtilan, the capital city of the Aztec Empire. Today,
more than 22 million people live in the city, making it
infamous for its traffic. Not to worry, though, as you will
be seating on the Turibus, a Hop-on Hop-off bus showing the
most important city landmarks. |
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CULTURAL
PROGRAM #16 Xochimilco (full-day program)
Located in the south of Mexico
City,
Xochimilco is an extended series of
canals, which are the remains of the ancient Lake Xochimilco.
Xochimilco has kept its ancient traditions, giving the
location a romantic reputation as all its inhabitants travel
in colorful “trajineras” (Xochimilco boats) covered with
flowers. |
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