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Adios!
On Thursday, Tim successfully completed his semester abroad at the Universidad de Cantabria with the last exam. The half year was an exciting and very varied time: many new acquaintances and friendships, an intensive period of study and memories for life. Now they are preparing to return to Kiel and all the necessary documents for graduation are being processed. With these highlights and a fresh mindset, it's time to go home.

Almost done. There are 2 more exams waiting for Tim in the coming week. You can make good use of the library and spread out with everything you need.
Once all 5 subjects have been completed with term paper, group project, presentation and exam, there will be the last "farewell post" from Santander next week.

This post is somewhat unspectacular, but no less interesting for anyone who wants to study abroad...
In addition to 5 term papers, 5 group projects, 5 mid-terms and 5 final exams, Tim has to move on June 1, as his apartment will be rented out as an Airbnb from the summer.
So in the middle of the exam phase, it's all about organization (which is perhaps not exactly what the first picture looks like).
For Tim, the semester ends in mid-June with the last exams. But now he still has to pack and study...

There is nothing more beautiful than a sunset over the sea. The days are now getting longer and warmer and the lighthouse at the northernmost tip of Santander offers a breathtaking location with rocks, lawns and an unobstructed view of the Atlantic. Sit back and enjoy

Pinchos!
Spain is known for small snacks, tapas and simple dishes. "El Pincho" means something like "the skewer" and refers to a small meal that is offered in restaurants, bars and pubs in all its variety and creativity - but always very simple.
It is a piece of bread (usually a white baguette) on which various creations are prepared and sometimes held together with a toothpick. Egg, meat, fish and vegetables are particularly popular. They are displayed very attractively on the bar counter and are reasonably priced, between €1.50 and €3.00 depending on size and ingredients. Add an aperitif, a glass of wine or beer and you're happy.

The City of Bilbao, which is around 100 km away, is always worth a visit and can be reached easily and regularly by public transport. I watched the soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Atlético Madrid last Saturday and was more than impressed by the atmosphere, the stadium and the home win.
The Spanish fans cannot be compared with the Germans!

It takes about 45 minutes by bus from Santander along the coast to reach the mountainous landscape of Cantabria - mountains over 450m high, which are very rocky and reminiscent of a lunar landscape. The climb up the mountain we chose took about 2 hours and was quite strenuous. But as always, the view was worth it! A mystical atmosphere with mist and griffon vultures that can reach a wingspan of well over 2.50 meters.
And even at the very top of the mountain, trees grow and the soil is fertile enough to bring plenty of greenery to the rocky area.
I'm already looking forward to the next sporting excursion in the nature of northern Spain!

I have often mentioned and shown that the Spanish north is very diverse. Together with my girlfriend, who visited me over Easter, I did a lot of things. Among other things, we went on an impressive hike through the greenest forest I have ever seen.
The end of the tour, which started in a small village with 104 inhabitants and a Michelin-starred restaurant, was a beautiful waterfall.
The pictures speak for themselves - Cantabria is green!

Easter in Santander.
As you can see, the religious festival is taken very seriously and traditionally here. People gather in the streets and observe the numerous crusades.
As Spain is a very Catholic country and Cantabria as a region also has a strong religious character, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ is celebrated during Holy Week (Semana Santa). It is also described as a procession, with strong men carrying the statue from a church through the entire City, accompanied by drums and a march in costume. This may seem a little strange and disturbing to some, but once again shows the tradition and culture of this country.

Somo - A 30-minute ferry ride takes you to a small town off the coast, which you can think of as a peninsula. It is known for its beach, which stretches for several kilometers and is a true surfing paradise.
You can get there and back from Santander for just under €5 and have a great day at the beach for a reasonable price. Incidentally, the Escuela Cantabra de Surf surf school was founded in 1991 by David "Capi" Garcia, a true legend. He has already won the Spanish and Cantabrian championships and is an internationally recognized athlete.
Somo is reminiscent of western France, the Danish North Sea or Sylt.

We made the most of the weather over the past few days: Together with numerous other Erasmus students and locals, we arranged to play volleyball on the beach on Sunday and spent the whole day in tournament mode. Of course it was all about having fun, but the sporting ambition was always noticeable and we actually managed to get some really good team play! We definitely had an amazed audience! The week came to a successful end with a dip in the still very fresh sea followed by a cold drink. Gladly again!
This weekend is also sunny but a bit cooler...

One of last week's highlights was the home soccer match of Racing Santander. The northern Spaniards play in the country's 3rd division and have an excellent stadium right on the beach, which seats 22,222 fans.
In perfect weather, the home team managed to win the game against the visitors from Zamora 2:1 in the 94th minute just before the final whistle. The atmosphere was indescribable.
As a ticket is very affordable at €10, it certainly wasn't the last time I supported Racing Santander.

The deep blue of the sea, the green of the mountains and the true colors of the natural cliff landscape are the defining characteristics of Cantabria's coast in northern Spain for me.
Always a reason for me to capture a few motifs with my camera

The Atlantic here is currently around 13 degrees and the swell and wind are perfect for surfing. I've already made good use of this too. But this post is more about the beauty of the sea than about board sports. I think it's absolutely amazing to see what Mother Nature has to offer right on our doorstep. For the weekend, here are some photos of one of the 4 elements in motion: Water.

Santander, like many cities in the country, is characterized by a very hilly and terraced structure. This means that you have to climb a lot to get from A to B on a day-to-day basis, which is why a bike, for example, is not a good idea!
It is therefore a good idea to walk a lot, which is healthy, fun and simply makes sense due to the manageable size of the City. Of course there are buses, but a metro or underground/train is not an option. You can see lots of runners, cyclists or alternative means of transportation such as skateboards or inline skates, especially on the promenade.
The City is so steep in places that they thought of something clever back then: Escalators. In the middle of the City, there are escalators like the ones you see at the airport, which make life easier for people, especially the older generation - pretty smart!
I can walk to university in 10 minutes and am rewarded at the end with a beautiful view over the City to the sea and the mountains! So I stay fit too and hopefully have thighs after the semester like Rummenigge in his prime.

As announced last week, I'm now going to talk about my studies and the Universidad de Cantabria. There are around 12,000 students across all faculties, including many who spend their semester abroad here every semester - and with good reason!
I particularly like the practice-oriented, open and interactive teaching and learning. The modules I'm taking are designed in a school-based approach and are designed to create a lively exchange between the international students (I think I counted a total of 21 different countries). So there is a focus on oral participation, group work, homework, essays and text submissions and of course exams or tests, so that the individual assessment is spread across several shoulders, which I really like!
This gives you a few insights into the university from the outside and its premises so that you can get a better idea of everything.
I'm already fully immersed in everyday student life and am motivated to participate in my courses, which are taught in English and Spanish.

Since my arrival 2 weeks ago, I have already been warmly welcomed by the spring-like City (16 degrees) and already feel totally at home. My central 3-bed flat share, the 5 modules at the university and also the surroundings mean that I can't help but look forward to the time ahead.
My first impressions are a wild mix of everything: sun, waves, seafood, architecture... Next week, I'll be talking more specifically about the university and my studies with face-to-face teaching.

Hola from Cantabria, more precisely: Santander.
The northern Spanish port city with almost 170,000 inhabitants is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean. I'm spending my semester abroad here at the Universidad de Cantabria on the Buisness International Campus and I'd like to share my impressions of everyday life with you. Of course, this will include the university, people & culture, food & drink, the diverse nature and also leisure time!