The Summer Gets Hotter in Salamanca

Today is the hottest day yet in Spain, but the funny thing is that I am used to it now.  On the news however the weather is the lead story.  Particularly in Sevilla and the province of Extremedura where it is around 45 in the shade.  They interview the people in the street (and I can understand most of it - yeah!) the people say shade, water, municipal swimming pools are the best things - obvious really but water and shade are essential and only tourists are mad enough to go out and sit in the sun.
 
Two weekends ago we thought of going to Burgos a city to the north-east of Salamanca.  About 2 hours away by train.  Every week before a trip I head off to the office of tourism in Casa Las Conches and ask for information about the town we are to visit.

  They are very nice and helpful - initially they got the information and then asked two questions for statistics purposes, where are you from and how long will you be in Salamanca.  Now they recognise me everytime I go in there and do not need to ask me again.

My teacher for the conversation classes at Don Quijote Salamanca, Gloria, was a lot of fun with the way she took the classes.  About a year ago a student ´secretly´ took a class video and if you have a good internet connection with sound you can see and hear it when you follow the link.  It will give just a little taste of what our classes are like.  Or if the link does not work go to youtube and search on ´Aula Gloria ¨
 
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BkYY5ipv0
 
Last night I took a walk down to the river in Salamanca to help the dinner settle down. I took a different route past the hospital.  And what did I see on the playing field on the other side of the river, why a rugby field with rugby posts and all.  Wow, it seemed so great to see that image for a lad from rugby-mad New Zealand.