What to do and see in Somiedo Municipality, Asturias: The Best Things to do

Reviewed By cocobeanz08 - Sisters, United States

Most people know that the best way to learn a language is through immersion. But the idea of immersion can be intimidating – or it certainly was to me. Well, how about immersion tailored to your specific needs and desires, with all the comforts of life, coziness, delectable food, magnificent scenery, and warm, friendly, and knowledgeable hosts? That’s what I had the good fortune to experience at El Cuelebre Spanish school in La Peral, Somiedo Natural Park, Asturias. I decided to take a week “off” and study at El Cuelebre. Little did I know that I would not only have customized Spanish classes but that I would be spoiled in so many ways. Jimena and Alfredo, owners, teachers, guides, and chef extraordinaire went above and beyond any expectations. As for language learning, know that Jimena and Alfredo are professionally trained and experienced teachers who have traveled widely and learned a variety of foreign languages themselves. As a result, they're well-acquainted with the needs and challenges of learning a foreign language. They're also very flexible in quickly understanding an individual's difficulties and can customize accordingly. Learning languages is not one of my talents, and I'm insecure about that, but both of them were amazing in making me feel comfortable and encouraging me. We did two formal classroom sessions per day. I initially wondered if that would really be enough, but we covered a lot of ground in each session. For me, the "breaks" consisted of independent study time, walks with my hosts (and their adorable dog) in the surrounding mountains and charming villages, siestas ????, and meals together. Both Jimena and Alfredo are so generous in sharing their deep and broad knowledge of the area, the history, customs, culture and the flora and fauna and their passion for all the above. I have an interest in politics and both Jimena and Alfredo were very kind and patient to indulge me and answer my many questions. I believe it was through our more casual/informal interactions that I was able to improve my comprehension along with developing a great love and respect for the country and people. I was there off-season, so our outside activities were somewhat dictated by the weather. For me, the "downtime" was perfect to allow me to absorb all the learning in addition to providing me with a calm that I was in desperate need of. I look forward to returning during spring/summer seasons when we’ll seek out other opportunities to visit more historic sites and attractions. Of note: Jimena previously worked for a conservation non-profit and is a font of knowledge on the area flora and fauna. I discovered rather late in the week that she has an enthusiasm and knowledge of butterflies. That alone is reason enough for me to return, IMO. The accommodation is in Jimena and Alfredo's own charming home, but in a separate area with its own entrance, en-suite bathroom, and (if you go off-season as I did) heating system. The room is spotless, spacious, yet cozy. It is large enough to accommodate not only a sleeping area, but there's a bank of closets, a table with laptop along one window looking out over the mountains, a sitting area with a flat-screen tv, and plenty of space (if you're like me) to do yoga and stretching in the morning. It's well-equipped with all necessary+ amenities, e.g., good Wi-Fi, hairdryer, shampoo and soap, towels, in-room electric kettle for coffee and tea. Basically, if you wanted to you could go with your clothing and cellphone (oh and hiking shoes, of course). There's also an additional sleeping loft. I went on my own, but there's more than enough space for a couple or even 2-3 good friends. Last, but certainly not least, is the cuisine. Jimena prepared some of the most scrumptious meals I've had -- and I'm a well-traveled food enthusiast! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all-inclusive, and I dined on paella, fabada, stuffed trout, and tortillas to name just a few. She used only the freshest of ingredients and was very mindful of food sensitivities and dietary requirements. Thank goodness for the opportunity for walks, otherwise, I would've surely gained a lot of weight! To ensure that the learning wouldn't stop with the classes, Alfredo was generous in providing online links to other resources and YouTube videos, as well as suggested leisure reading books for my level. I'm currently enjoying reading some fun mysteries in Spanish. If I've left you with any question, let me just say that my time with Jimena and Alfredo was educational, informative, delightful, delicious, head-clearing, relaxing, and inspiring. I arrived there a nervous, stressed out novice student and left there calm, energized, more confident, feeling like a princess, with a little bit of sadness to leave friends behind. I look forward to my next stay at El Cuelebre!