The Vaughan Town Experience

Barco de Alvila town square
Great to back, more especially now the pool is ready, I have just spent a fantastic 6 days in a 4 star hotel near the town of Barco de Alvila in the province of Avila very near the border of Salamanca and Extremadura.
Having travel up to Madrid from Alicante by train, and what an excellent service that is; I stayed at a little hostel over night in the city. On Sunday morning it was time to be taken care of by the Vaughan Town organisation.
Set up by American Richard Vaughan the purpose of Vaughan Town is to help Spanish business people and professionals improve their English.

For the whole 6 days no Spanish is spoken, The Anglo speaking volunteers, work one to one and in groups talking, talking, and talking. For someone like me not a problem. Volunteers get to stay in a 4 star hotel, with swimming pool and gym, in one of the most picturesque parts of Spain. You have a private room with spa bath and of course great views. The best part for me however was the opportunity to talk in depth with Spanish people to hear about there jobs and there families and their thoughts on life in general.
The Anglo speakers came from all corners of the globe, where multitalented, everything from singer song writers to fire eaters, ensuring that with their many nationalities that the Spanish got to hear lots of accents. Entertainment in the evenings was of the home grown variety provided by Spanish and Anglo alike. Many times we laughed till we cried, good honest fun, if only international relations were always this easy.
All of the Anglos gave there time for free, everyone worked very hard, the last night party was well deserved. I recommend the experience to everyone; I will be doing it again.----- Mary