10 resolutions to make the most of life in Spain

 

Read the text and fill the gaps with the  following words.

Splattered    -     target    -    lesser    -    let    -    putting it off    -    trail    -    might    -    fitness    -    unique    -    seriously

Need to add some sparkle to your life? Here you have ten easy-to-achieve resolutions that will make the coming year in Spain one to remember.

     1.    Improve your Spanish 

If you’ve decided your Spanish is already good enough, or that the language is just too hard, now is the time to get out of your comfort zone. Buy a book, get alanguage exchange partner, take classes, or just watch more Spanish television: whatever you do, stop (1)______________ and take the next step .

     2.    Take up the sport of padel: 

You've probably spotted them around Spain — strange half-sized tennis courts with wire mesh fences. Welcome to the wonderful world of padel. Part-tennis, part-squash, this is a great, fun game. Why not join a club, improve your (2)___________ and meet some Spaniards at the same time?

     3.    Cook up a storm: 

Make 2020 a culinary watershed by learning how to make a new Spanish dish every month of the year. Set yourself the (3)___________ of making a sublime salmorejo, a terrific tortilla and perfect pincho. Then invite your friends over and amaze them with your cooking skill.

      4.        Volunteer: 

You could try working at a local soup kitchen or a food bank. Or you (4)________ want to volunteer with Age Concern España which helps older English-speaking people living in Spain.

      5.       Walk (or cycle) the Camino de Santiago:

Say Camino de Santiago and most people think of the 800km 'French Way' from southern France to the city of Santiago de Compostela. But you can start the route from pretty much everywhere in Spain, with major routes linking Seville, Madrid and Barcelona with the pilgrimage city. You can decide to do just part of the (5)_________ too. So whether your motives are religious, spiritual, or just sightseeing, this is a great way to experience Spain.

      6.       Learn to do something typically Spanish:

Make 2020 your year for learning something (6)__________ to Spain. This could be anything from getting to grips with the fine art of slicing jamón to learning how to pour cider the way they do in Asturias. Or maybe you want to try flamenco dance or guitar.

       

       7.       Head to a crazy Spanish festival:

You’ve seen all the pictures and you've heard the stories, but you’ve never quite managed to get there. So why not take the plunge in 2018? With everything on offer from getting (7)________ with tomatoes at the Tomatina festival to watching people swing from the necks of dead ducks in in the Basque fishing town of Lekeito, there is a wacky Spanish fiesta for everyone.

       8.       Read Don Quixote:

Yes, Cervantes' classic novel aboutThe Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha is hundreds of pages long. Yes, it’s a serious piece of literature.But this story of this genius/fool on a personal crusade to bring back chivalry is also (8)__________ fun. One hundred of the world’s top authors have also called it the best book of all time.So whether you read it in English or Spanish, just read it.

     

      9.     Get off the beaten track:

You think you've been everywhere in Spain? Think again. Why not start exploring some of Spain's (9)__________ known regions. Take a trip to the wetlands of the Ebro Delta or visit the stunning castle of Gormaz in lonely Soria province. We also recommend stopping by small, undiscovered villages, or perhaps some quaint seaside ports.

10. Meet the love of your life?

Or at least, have some fun along the way. Navigating the dating scene can be a minefield especially if you are looking for love in a culture different to your own. But don't (10)___________ that put you off.

Adapted from thelocal.es

KEY: 1. Putting it off  2. Fitness  3. Target 4. Might 5. Trail 6. Unique 7. Splattered 8. Seriously 9. Lesser 10. Let