Few know that Spain has four official languages. All the Spanish courses offered here are in Castilian - high Spanish. Although its regions differ vastly from one another, they are still kept together by a national passion for drama, contrast and a noisy, live-for-today mantra. If there is one thing all Spaniards love, it is to eat, drink and be merry. A day hardly goes by without one town or another celebrating a fiesta.

See the endless beaches where people soak up pitchers of sangria over steaming paella while watching Flamenco dancers stamp and swirl in flounces of colour. Or experience Europe's southernmost ski resort, Sierra Nevada. Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, and there are superb trekking possibilities.

The wildlife in a dozen or more sierras - above all in the Picos de Europa and Pyrenees is extremely fascinating. See protected species like brown bears, the Spanish lynx and Mediterranean monk seals as well as more common wild boar, white storks and birds of prey.