España Profunda is written by Katie, an English teacher at a private school in Madrid. She moved to Spain in 2005 and previously spent two years as an English teaching assistant at a bilingual public school and several working in language academies. She has also written for several now-defunct outlets including Notes from Madrid and Inside Spain, and later momondo. All photography on the site is her own. Check out her Madrid map to get a taste of her favorite places in town.
An explanation for the following photos can be found here.
Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid
Mercat de la Boquería, Barcelona
Praia das Catedrais, Galicia
España Profunda 
hola,
someone mentioned your blog on either facebook or the yahoo group for auxiliares. regardless, i came to your page and enjoyed reading your entries and looking at your great photos. i have never been to spain, but will travel to madrid mext month to work as an auxiliar. your blog has definitely excited me even more.
gracias,
sergio
?que hay? En primer lugar, I have really enjoyed your blog site. Your two years in Madrid sound like they have been very fulfilling and fun. I wonder if I could ask you two questions.
One: I see that you stayed in Madrid for two years. It seems that a good number of assistants do that. Can I assume that this means that the program is rewarding, challenging and enjoyable? What are your impressions with respect to that?
Two: Did you contemplate staying for a third year? It seems to me that the salary and the lifestyle are good enough for me to stay for several years. Do you believe that the program would support an assistant that wanted to stay in Spain for three or four years? The assume that the answer is yes but perhaps the program dissuades this for some reason.
Ciao,
Paul
Sergio: Thanks and good luck!
Paul: First, it’s fulfilling to stay with the program for two years because you get to see real progress in your students. I would say the program is rewarding, challenging, and enjoyable, but it can also be frustrating at times and the extent to which you can use those adjectives depends greatly on your school/your personal experience.
Second: As of now they don’t let you stay for a third year. I knew after two I would be ready to move on, but they don’t even let you stay in your school a third year. However, this year they did offer positions to people who wanted a third year positions at concertado (semi-private) schools. In my opinion two years of working as an assistant is enough.
Hola from a French painter living in Spain!
Have a nice day in Madrid… the sun is shining here on the Costa Blanca this morning…
Katie,
I got to your blog via notes from Spain. I am from USA, too (Coeur d’Alene, ID). My kids and I came to Gandia, Valencia 3 months ago to learn Spanish language and culture. We will leave at the end of April. When I came here, I began a blog to keep my friends informed. As I started spending more time with it, I am realizing that to be able to write about the Spanish culture, I pay closer attention to my surroundings and learn much more while investigating than just assuming things. It is a lot of fun.
I like your blog and there is so much useful info in it; is it OK if you posted your blog address in my blog?
Thanks.
hi ayse: thanks for reading! of course you may post my blog’s url in your blog. my cousins live in spokane, washington, and i know they go to coeur d’alene quite a bit. keep blogging and take care!
Thanks Katie.
The world is so small, isn’t it (apparently, Spanish expression for it is “the world is a handkerchief)? I am glad we are not in cda right now, they have been having some snow storms. It is so sunny and bright here every day; I just love it… We missed skiing every weekend, though. Well, you can’t have it all, I guess. I learned much from your Las Fallas entry. Some if my friends are coming here during that time; I will instruct them to read your blog. I may not enjoy it much myself for I was not very impressed with the Fire fiesta in Gandia in October (something like Octoberfest in honor of St Francisco) – too much fireworks and fire jumping; a bit scary!
Hi Katie,
I, too am a New Yorker, born and bred. Do you miss a good slice of pizza or a warm, fresh bagel? I’ve enjoyed your writing on NotesFromMadrid.com and I equally enjoy your website, which I also find to be nicely laid out. Have you made it to Valencia yet? I wish you further success and ask that you please keep pounding your keyboard!
Saludos,
Jose
Hi Jose,
Thanks for your kind comments and for reading! I do miss a warm, fresh bagel quite a bit. I’ve found some pretty good pizzerias in Madrid, though. I’ve been to Valencia quite a few times, and twice to Fallas. See my post here
Take care!.
Hi Katie,
You left a query on my husband´s Fun on the Finca post. Yes, it’s organic, and they’re applying bio-dynamic principles too. Not that I know anything about bio-dynamics. Lovely people working very very hard. You can find out more about them, and other organic smallholders in Spain, at the WWOOF España site http://ruralvolunteers.org. Contact details are password protected but the profiles make fascinating reading, and several places have websites. I did a long post – http://patito-amarillo.blogspot.com/2008/09/aranjuez-2.html – before I left, and I’m going to put some pics up today (not in the same as yours!). Come back to me if you want to ask anything else.
Katie, I found your blog looking for similar themed websites and I’d like to propose a link exchange if I may with my blog about Catalonia:
Catalonia blog
Let me know if you are interested.
Thanks and kind regards,
Steve
Katie,
Hi, I am moving to Madrid with my family this summer. Can you tell me more about Parque del Oeste? We are looking at an apartment right across the street. We hear it’s great, but we also hear it can be dangerous. What’s your opinion? I just found your blog, so I am excited about reading all your great posts. Thanks
Respectfully,
Dave King
Hi, Katie!
I am the editor for the monthly newsletter of The International Newcomers Club of Madrid. Yes, we are non-profit, but I thought maybe you have some favorite blog info or photos on your site that you might like to share with our members. Contact me! Thanks!! P.S. Really liked your article on Matthew Scott of Gumbo
Hi Katie!
My name is Christine and I am a Canadian about to do a six-month internship in Madrid – I’m so excited! I love reading your blog because it shows me all kinds of things I have to look forward to.
Would you mind answering some questions I have about moving to Madrid? I can’t seem to find your e-mail here, but I’d really appreciate it if you can get in contact with me.
Hope you’re well!
Cheers,
Christine :)
Hi Katie!
Great blog. I spent last year in Granada as an auxiliar. Unfortunately I did not renew my contract and now I am back in Oregon, missing Spain everyday. I’m looking for ways to go back. I had heard about the opportunity to work in a colegio concertado. Is that only available for 3rd year participants and do you know if it is still an assistant position? Is there a website with information specific to those positions?
It looks like you are now working at a private school. How did you find that position? What qualifications were needed?
I would appreciate any info you could share.
Thanks!
Katie
Nice photos! Are you on Twitter?
Hello!
I stumbled upon your blog while looking up info about teaching English in Spain, and I love it! I was just wondering, since it appears you’re still in Madrid for 2012-2013, which program you went/go through? I am currently applying to BEDA and UCETAM (as well, perhaps, as the ministerio), but I don’t have a lot of information about teaching in Madrid! I would really love to talk to someone doing UCETAM, as I have already been in contact with a few people who do BEDA. Anyway, if you have time, shoot me an email! I’d be so glad to pick your brain! murphybj193@gmail.com
Gracias! que te vaya bien.