A1 Spanish

Stories completed

14. Ocho euros y mil sonrisas

(Eight Euros and a Thousand Smiles)

Javier takes his son to the Pilar festival in Zaragoza. His son wants everything he sees. With an empty pocket, what can a father give?

Illustration of a sad young man looking down with a melancholic expression in a minimalist black and white style

Spanish version

Es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="October" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">octubre en Zaragoza.

Es <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Zaragoza's main festival" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">la fiesta del Pilar. Hay música, comida y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="games" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">juegos.

Javier va con <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="his son" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">su hijo Diego.

Javier no tiene trabajo. Solo tiene ocho euros para <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the whole month" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">todo el mes.

Diego tiene siete años.

Llegan a la Plaza del Pilar.

Hay mucha gente y muchos niños.

Diego ve una <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Ferris wheel" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">noria muy grande.

—Papá, ¿<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="can I" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">puedo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to ride" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">montar en la noria?

—No podemos, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="sweetheart" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cariño.

—¡Pero son solo cinco euros!

—No podemos, Diego.

—¿Por qué no?

—Porque no podemos.

Diego ve un <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="stall" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">puesto de <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="churros" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">churros.

—Papá, ¿podemos comprar churros?

Javier mira <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the price" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el precio. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="They cost" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Cuestan dos euros.

—Vale, uno. Solo uno.

—¿Solo uno?

—Sí.

Diego come su churro <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="in silence" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">en silencio. Está triste.

Después, Diego ve un juego.

—Papá, ¿puedo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to play" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">jugar?

—¿Cuánto cuesta?

—Tres euros.

—Es muy caro. <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Today" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Hoy no podemos.

—Vale...

Diego ve globos de colores: rojos, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="blue" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">azules y <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="yellow" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">amarillos.

—¿Puedo tener un globo? Cuesta tres euros.

—No, Diego.

Diego ve <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="cotton candy" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">algodón de azúcar.

—¿Podemos comprar algodón de azúcar?

—No, Diego. No podemos comprar más cosas.

—No podemos comprar nada… <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="what for?" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">¿para qué venimos?

Javier no dice nada.

Caminan en silencio. Los dos están muy tristes.

Llegan a una plaza. Hay música <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="live" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">en directo. Mucha gente baila.

—¿Puedo bailar?

—Sí, puedes bailar.

Diego está <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="surprised" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sorprendido.

—¿De verdad?

—Sí. Vamos.

Bailan <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="together" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">juntos. Diego está contento <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="again" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">otra vez.

<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="later" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Más tarde, pasa <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="the parade" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">el desfile de <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Giants and Big Heads" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Gigantes y Cabezudos.

Son <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="figures" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">figuras <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="enormous" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">enormes con <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="heads" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">cabezas grandes.

—¡Mira, papá! ¡Gigantes! ¿Podemos <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="to follow" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">seguir a los gigantes?

—Sí, podemos.

Diego y Javier siguen a los gigantes. Diego está muy feliz.

Más tarde, escuchan un <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="noise" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">ruido muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="loud" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">fuerte.

—¡Papá! ¡<span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="Fireworks" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">Fuegos artificiales!

—Son muy bonitos, hijo.

—Sí. Esto es muy <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="fun" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">divertido.

—¿De verdad? Pero no podemos comprar nada.

—Estoy feliz, papá.

—Hijo, podemos ser felices <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="without" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">sin dinero. Muchas cosas divertidas son gratis.

—Sí, papá, tienes razón. ¿Podemos venir mañana otra vez?

—Sí. Podemos venir <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="every day" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">todos los días.

Diego <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="hugs" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">abraza a su padre.

—Te quiero, <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="dad" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">papá.

—Yo <span class="vocab-tooltip" fb-tooltip="true" fb-tooltip-message="also" fb-tooltip-position="top" fb-tooltip-theme="dark" fb-tooltip-animation="shift-away" fb-tooltip-show-delay="100" fb-tooltip-arrow="rounded">también te quiero, hijo.

Spanish story with English translation

Es octubre en Zaragoza.

It is October in Zaragoza.

Es la fiesta del Pilar. Hay música, comida y juegos.

It is the Pilar festival. There is music, food, and games.

Javier va con su hijo Diego.

Javier goes with his son Diego.

Javier no tiene trabajo. Solo tiene ocho euros para todo el mes.

Javier doesn't have work. He only has eight euros for the whole month.

Diego tiene siete años.

Diego is seven years old.

Llegan a la Plaza del Pilar.

They arrive at Plaza del Pilar.

Hay mucha gente y muchos niños.

There are many people and many children.

Diego ve una noria muy grande.

Diego sees a very big Ferris wheel.

—Papá, ¿puedo montar en la noria?

"Dad, can I ride the Ferris wheel?"

—No podemos, cariño.

"We can't, sweetheart."

—¡Pero son solo cinco euros!

"But it's only five euros!"

—No podemos, Diego.

"We can't, Diego."

—¿Por qué no?

"Why not?"

—Porque no podemos.

"Because we can't."

Diego ve un puesto de churros.

Diego sees a churros stand.

—Papá, ¿podemos comprar churros?

"Dad, can we buy churros?"

Javier mira el precio. Cuestan dos euros.

Javier looks at the price. They cost two euros.

—Vale, uno. Solo uno.

"Okay, one. Only one."

—¿Solo uno?

"Only one?"

—Sí.

"Yes."

Diego come su churro en silencio. Está triste.

Diego eats his churro in silence. He is sad.

Después, Diego ve un juego.

Afterwards, Diego sees a game.

—Papá, ¿puedo jugar?

"Dad, can I play?"

—¿Cuánto cuesta?

"How much does it cost?"

—Tres euros.

"Three euros."

—Es muy caro. Hoy no podemos.

"It's very expensive. Today we can't."

—Vale...

"Okay..."

Diego ve globos de colores: rojos, azules y amarillos.

Diego sees colorful balloons: red, blue, and yellow.

—¿Puedo tener un globo? Cuesta tres euros.

"Can I have a balloon? It costs three euros."

—No, Diego.

"No, Diego."

Diego ve algodón de azúcar.

Diego sees cotton candy.

—¿Podemos comprar algodón de azúcar?

"Can we buy cotton candy?"

—No, Diego. No podemos comprar más cosas.

"No, Diego. We can't buy more things."

—No podemos comprar nada… ¿para qué venimos?

"We can't buy anything... why did we come?"

Javier no dice nada.

Javier says nothing.

Caminan en silencio. Los dos están muy tristes.

They walk in silence. Both of them are very sad.

Llegan a una plaza. Hay música en directo. Mucha gente baila.

They arrive at a plaza. There is live music. Many people are dancing.

—¿Puedo bailar?

"Can I dance?"

—Sí, puedes bailar.

"Yes, you can dance."

Diego está sorprendido.

Diego is surprised.

—¿De verdad?

"Really?"

—Sí. Vamos.

"Yes. Let's go."

Bailan juntos. Diego está contento otra vez.

They dance together. Diego is happy again.

Más tarde, pasa el desfile de Gigantes y Cabezudos.

Later, the Giants and Big Heads parade passes by.

Son figuras enormes con cabezas grandes.

They are enormous figures with big heads.

—¡Mira, papá! ¡Gigantes! ¿Podemos seguir a los gigantes?

"Look, Dad! Giants! Can we follow the giants?"

—Sí, podemos.

"Yes, we can."

Diego y Javier siguen a los gigantes. Diego está muy feliz.

Diego and Javier follow the giants. Diego is very happy.

Más tarde, escuchan un ruido muy fuerte.

Later, they hear a very loud noise.

—¡Papá! ¡Fuegos artificiales!

"Dad! Fireworks!"

—Son muy bonitos, hijo.

"They are very beautiful, son."

—Sí. Esto es muy divertido.

"Yes. This is very fun."

—¿De verdad? Pero no podemos comprar nada.

"Really? But we can't buy anything."

—Estoy feliz, papá.

"I'm happy, Dad."

—Hijo, podemos ser felices sin dinero. Muchas cosas divertidas son gratis.

"Son, we can be happy without money. Many fun things are free."

—Sí, papá, tienes razón. ¿Podemos venir mañana otra vez?

"Yes, Dad, you're right. Can we come again tomorrow?"

—Sí. Podemos venir todos los días.

"Yes. We can come every day."

Diego abraza a su padre.

Diego hugs his father.

—Te quiero, papá.

"I love you, Dad."

—Yo también te quiero, hijo.

"I love you too, son."

Part 2

Vocabulary Flashcards

Part 3

Story Challenge

Part 4

Patterns Challenge

Part 5

Listening Challenge

Part 6

Writing Challenge

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Question 1

You meet Diego at the festival. Ask him in Spanish: Can you buy churros? Can you dance?

Example: ¿Puedes comprar churros? ¿Puedes bailar?

Notes:

Tú form: puedes. Compare with él: puede. Just add the -s for "you," same pattern as every other verb.

Question 2

A friend asks about the festival. Reply in Spanish: Diego cannot buy cotton candy. He cannot buy a balloon. But he can dance with his father.

Example: Diego no puede comprar algodón de azúcar. No puede comprar un globo. Pero puede bailar con su padre.

Notes:

PODER + infinitive: "puede" conjugates, "comprar" and "bailar" stay in infinitive. Same structure as QUERER from last story.
"Pero" flips the mood: two things he can't do, then one he can.

Question 3

Diego asks about your day. Answer in Spanish: I can dance with my friends. I cannot buy many things. I can watch the fireworks.

Example: Puedo bailar con mis amigos. No puedo comprar muchas cosas. Puedo ver los fuegos artificiales.

Notes:

"Puedo" is the yo form. Same o → ue stem change as the other forms: puedo, puedes, puede, pueden. Only nosotros breaks the pattern: podemos.

Question 4

Translate to Spanish: I can dance. You can buy churros. He cannot ride the Ferris wheel. We can eat churros. They can watch the fireworks.

Example: Puedo bailar. Puedes comprar churros. No puede montar en la noria. Podemos comer churros. Pueden ver los fuegos artificiales.

Notes:

Full set: puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, pueden. Like QUERER, the stem changes in four forms (o → ue) but nosotros stays regular: podemos.
PODER works with any infinitive: AR (comprar, bailar), ER (comer, ver).

Question 5

Translate to Spanish: The churros cost two euros. Diego can buy one. But he cannot buy cotton candy. It is very expensive.

Example: Los churros cuestan dos euros. Diego puede comprar uno. Pero no puede comprar algodón de azúcar. Es muy caro.

Notes:

"Es muy caro" → SER because the price is a characteristic of the item and not a temporary state.

Question 6

Translate to Spanish: Diego is sad. He cannot buy anything. But there is music in the plaza. He can dance with his father. Now he is happy.

Example: Diego está triste. No puede comprar nada. Pero hay música en la plaza. Puede bailar con su padre. Ahora está contento.

Notes:

"Nada" = nothing/anything. "No puede comprar nada" literally says "he cannot buy nothing." Spanish uses the double negative naturally.
Five sentences: ESTAR, PODER, HAY, PODER, ESTAR. If this all made sense to you, congratulations!

Reply in Spanish and join the discussion!

Diego wants to buy many things at the festival but the best things are free! What about you?

Can you have fun without money?
Are there festivals where you live?
Do you want to go to a festival in Spain? Which one?

Part 7

Speaking Challenge

Welcome to Zaragoza! The music is playing, the Gigantes are marching and Diego won't stop asking questions. From asking dad for a churro to telling a stranger on the bus the whole story… it's time to speak!

All Day Long, Diego Asks

You're Diego at the Fiesta del Pilar. Every time you turn a corner there's something you want. You know money is tight but you can't help asking.

Your task - ask your dad if you can do things at the festival:

You see the noria spinning. Ask if you can ride it (it costs five euros).
You pass a churros stall. Ask if you and Dad can buy some (they cost two euros).
You spot an ice cream stall. Ask if you can buy an ice cream.
You see your friend Valeria nearby. Ask if you can go and play with her.
You hear music in the plaza and people are dancing. Ask if you can dance.
It's getting late. Ask if you and Dad can go have dinner with Valeria and her mother.

Speak for 30-45 seconds

Reveal sample answer

Papá, ¿puedo montar en la noria? Son cinco euros.
1. Dad, can I ride the ferris wheel? It's five euros.
¿Podemos comprar churros? Cuestan dos euros.
1. Can we buy churros? They cost two euros.
¿Puedo comprar un helado?
1. Can I buy an ice cream?
¿Puedo jugar con Valeria?
1. Can I play with Valeria?
¿Puedo bailar?
1. Can I dance?
¿Podemos cenar con Valeria y su madre?
1. Can we have dinner with Valeria and her mother?

The Fiesta del Pilar Insider

Your friend is visiting Zaragoza next October for the Fiesta del Pilar and messages you: "Tell me everything! What is it? What can I do? Is it expensive?"

Your task - tell your friend about the Fiesta del Pilar:

Say when and where the festival is (October, Zaragoza, main square: Plaza del Pilar).
Describe what your friend can do at the festival (listen to music, eat delicious food, play games, watch the Gigantes parade).
Say what your friend can do for free (dancing in the plaza, the Gigantes parade, the fireworks, talking with a lot of people).
Tell your friend what three things cost (a small beer: two euros, churros: two euros, games: three euros).
Your friend asks: "What is the Basílica del Pilar like?" Describe it (big, beautiful, in the Plaza del Pilar).
Tell your friend what they can do first when they arrive (visit the Plaza del Pilar and the Basílica, walk by the beautiful river Ebro).
Ask your friend one question about their trip (going alone or with family? how many days of holiday?).

Speak for 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

La Fiesta del Pilar es en octubre. Es en Zaragoza, en la Plaza del Pilar.
1. The Fiesta del Pilar is in October. It's in Zaragoza, in the Plaza del Pilar.
Puedes escuchar música, comer comida deliciosa, jugar y ver el desfile de los Gigantes y Cabezudos.
1. You can listen to music, eat delicious food, play games and watch the Giants and Big-Heads parade.
Puedes bailar en la plaza. El desfile es gratis. Los fuegos artificiales también son gratis. Y puedes hablar con mucha gente.
1. You can dance in the square. The parade is free. The fireworks are also free. And you can talk with lots of people.
Una cerveza cuesta dos euros, los churros cuestan dos euros y los juegos cuestan tres euros.
1. A beer costs two euros, the churros cost two euros and the games cost three euros.
La Basílica del Pilar es muy grande y muy bonita. Está en la Plaza del Pilar.
1. The Basílica del Pilar is very big and very beautiful. It's in the Plaza del Pilar.
Puedes ir primero a la Plaza del Pilar y visitar la basílica. También puedes caminar por el río Ebro. Es muy bonito.
1. You can go first to the Plaza del Pilar and visit the basilica. You can also walk along the river Ebro. It's very beautiful.
¿Vas solo/a? / ¿Vas con tu familia? / ¿Cuántos días de vacaciones tienes?
1. Are you going alone? / Are you going with your family? / How many days of holiday do you have?

Two Days in Zaragoza

You're a tourist guide at an information point in the city. A visitor arrives and says: "I have two days here. What can I do?"

Your task - guide the tourist through what Zaragoza has to offer:

Greet the tourist and say you are from Zaragoza and you have information about the city.
Describe the Basílica del Pilar (big, beautiful, where it is: Plaza del Pilar).
Say what the tourist can do there (visit the basilica, walk around the plaza).
Describe the river Ebro (big river) and say what the tourist can do there (walk near the river, look at the Puente de Piedra).
Say that there is a market (Mercado Central) where one can buy food, fruits and vegetables.
The tourist asks: "What can I eat and do in the evening?" Say that he can eat tapas and drink a beer in El Tubo (it's a street in the city center with a lot of bars) and that there is live music at night.

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Hola, buenos días. Soy de Zaragoza. Tengo información sobre la ciudad.
1. Hello, good morning. I'm from Zaragoza. I have information about the city.
La Basílica del Pilar es muy grande y muy bonita. Está en la Plaza del Pilar.
1. The Basílica del Pilar is very big and very beautiful. It's in the Plaza del Pilar.
Puedes visitar la basílica y caminar por la plaza. Es muy bonita.
1. You can visit the basilica and walk around the square. It's very beautiful.
El río Ebro es muy grande. Puedes caminar cerca del río y mirar el Puente de Piedra.
1. The river Ebro is very big. You can walk near the river and look at the Puente de Piedra.
Hay un mercado central en Zaragoza. Puedes comprar comida, fruta y verduras.
1. There is a central market in Zaragoza. You can buy food, fruit and vegetables.
Puedes comer tapas y tomar una cerveza en El Tubo. Es una calle del centro con muchos bares. Por la noche, hay música en directo.
1. You can eat tapas and have a beer in El Tubo. It's a street in the old town with many bars. There is live music at night.

Welcome to My City!

Javier and Diego are visiting your city. You run into them near a café. Javier asks you: "What can children do around here? Is there much for children?"

Your task - tell Javier what he and Diego can do in your city:

Greet Javier and Diego and say what city they are in.
Say two or three things children can do in your city (e.g., go to the park, swim in the pool, play football).
Say which of those activities are free.
Say one activity that costs money and how much it costs (approximate price).
Ask Javier what Diego wants to do.
Give Javier one final recommendation for the best thing to do with Diego.

Speak for 45 seconds - 1 minute

Reveal sample answer

Hola, Javier. Hola, Diego. Mi ciudad es [X].
1. Hi, Javier. Hi, Diego. My city is [X].
Los niños pueden ir al parque, nadar en la piscina y jugar al fútbol.
1. Children can go to the park, swim in the pool and play football.
El parque es gratis. Y pueden jugar al fútbol en el parque también.
1. The park is free. And you can play football in the park too.
La piscina cuesta [cinco] euros.
1. The swimming pool costs [five] euros.
¿Qué quiere hacer Diego?
1. What does Diego want to do?
Puedes ir al parque con Diego. Es muy bonito, hay mucho espacio y es gratis.
1. You can go to the park with Diego. It's very nice, there's lots of space and it's free.

The Crying Stranger on the Bus

You're on the bus home after Spanish class, reading Story 14 on your phone. The person next to you notices you look a bit emotional and taps you on the shoulder: "Excuse me, are you okay?" You take a breath and start explaining.

Your task - tell the stranger the story in your own words:

Who is Javier? (job situation, how much money he has)
Who is Diego? (age, his relationship to Javier)
Where do they go and when? (city, festival name, month)
What does Diego see first? What does he ask? What does Javier say? (the noria, its price)
What can Diego buy? And what's the price?
Describe three other things Diego wants but can't do/have
Describe how Javier and Diego feel walking in silence and say why Diego is reacting like that
What changes at the plaza? What can Diego do for free?
Describe the Gigantes y Cabezudos parade (what they are, what Javier and Diego can do)
What do they hear and see at the end? How does Diego feel?
What does Javier say to Diego about money and happiness?
What does Diego do at the very end? And why do you think he did that?
What do you think about the story and why? (Esta historia es... porque…)
Say if you can be happy without money and name two or three free things you can do that make you happy

Speak for 1.5-2 minutes

Reveal sample answer

Javier es el padre de Diego. Javier no tiene trabajo. Solo tiene ocho euros.
1. Javier is Diego's father. He has no job. He only has eight euros.
Diego tiene siete años. Es el hijo de Javier.
1. Diego is seven years old. He is Javier's son.
Van a la Fiesta del Pilar. Es en Zaragoza, en octubre.
1. They go to the Fiesta del Pilar. It's in Zaragoza, in October.
Diego ve una noria muy grande y pregunta: "¿Puedo montar en la noria?" Javier dice: "No podemos."
1. Diego sees a very big ferris wheel and asks: "Can I ride the ferris wheel?" Javier says: "We can't."
Solo puede comprar un churro. Cuesta dos euros.
1. He can only buy one churro. It costs two euros.
Diego quiere jugar. También quiere globos y algodón de azúcar. Pero Javier dice: "No podemos comprar más cosas."
1. Diego wants to play. He also wants balloons and candy floss. But Javier says: "We can't buy more things."
Los dos están muy tristes. Caminan en silencio. Diego está enfadado porque no pueden comprar nada.
1. They are both very sad. They walk in silence. Diego is angry because they can't buy anything.
Hay música en la plaza. Diego puede bailar. Javier y Diego bailan juntos.
1. There is music at the square. Diego can dance. Javier and Diego dance together.
Los Gigantes y Cabezudos son figuras enormes con cabezas grandes. Javier y Diego pueden seguir a los gigantes.
1. The Giants and Big-Heads are enormous figures with big heads. Javier and Diego can follow the giants.
Escuchan y ven fuegos artificiales. Son muy bonitos. Diego está muy feliz y dice: "Esto es muy divertido."
1. They hear and see fireworks. They are very beautiful. Diego is very happy and says: "This is really fun."
Javier dice: "Podemos ser felices sin dinero. Muchas cosas divertidas son gratis."
1. Javier says: "We can be happy without money. Many fun things are free."
Diego abraza a su padre. Diego está muy feliz. Quiere mucho a su padre.
1. Diego hugs his father. Diego is very happy. He loves his father very much.
Esta historia es muy bonita porque… / Es triste y bonita porque…
1. This story is very nice because… / It's sad and nice because…
Sí. Yo puedo ser feliz sin dinero. Puedo [bailar / escuchar música / ir al parque / hablar con amigos].
1. Yes. I can be happy without money. I can [dance / listen to music / go to the park / talk with friends].

Part 8

Culture

1. Fiestas del Pilar Is One of the Best Festivals in Spain

Javier takes Diego to one of the biggest festivals in Spain with eight euros in his pocket.

And here's the thing… that's actually enough.

Why Javier picked the right day to be broke

The Fiestas del Pilar is Zaragoza's biggest annual event. Ten days of concerts, parades, street performers, fireworks and food.

And roughly 90% of everything is free and happens on the street.

Free live music in the plazas. Free theatre and circus acts around the old town. Free fireworks over the river to close it out. The entire historic centre becomes a pedestrian-only stage.

October 12 is a big deal

The festival centres on October 12, which is actually Spain's national holiday (Día de la Hispanidad).

But in Zaragoza, the day belongs to the Virgen del Pilar, the city's patron saint.

The main event is the Ofrenda de Flores (Flower Offering).

Thousands of people dressed in traditional Aragonese clothing walk through the city carrying bouquets and lay them at the feet of a statue of the Virgin in the Plaza del Pilar.

Volunteers arrange the flowers into a massive pyramid.

Flower pyramid covered in colorful bouquets with the Basílica del Pilar lit up behind it at night in Zaragoza

The Ofrenda de Flores in the Plaza del Pilar. The flower pyramid reaches about 15 metres tall and holds up to seven million flowers.

In 2025 roughly 120,000 people took part in the offering. It lasted almost 18 hours without stopping.

It's free to watch. It's free to join.

The giants Diego and Javier chased are over 200 years old

The Gigantes (giants) are massive figures, some over five metres tall, carried by people hidden inside a wooden frame.

The Cabezudos (big heads) are smaller, human-sized characters with enormous heads made of papier-mâché.

Here's how it works:

27 figures in total in Zaragoza's troupe: 14 giants, 11 big heads and 2 little horses
The tradition in Zaragoza dates back to at least 1807
Each cabezudo has a name, a personality and its own song that kids sing to provoke them
The cabezudos chase kids through the streets and swat at them with soft whips when they catch them

Kids taunt the cabezudos. Cabezudos chase the kids. Everyone screams. It's been happening for over two centuries and it's still the thing children like Diego look forward to most.

2. Zaragoza: Three Empires, One City and a Parliament Inside a Palace

Zaragoza has nearly 700,000 people and recently overtook Seville to become the fourth largest city in Spain.

It sits almost exactly halfway between Madrid and Barcelona… 90 minutes by high-speed train to either one.

Aerial view of Zaragoza showing the Basílica del Pilar, Ebro River, stone bridge and surrounding city at golden hour

Zaragoza from above. The Basílica del Pilar, the Ebro River, the Puente de Piedra and the old town all in one shot.

2,000 years of everyone wanting this city

The Romans founded it around 25 BC and called it Caesaraugusta (say it fast enough and you can hear "Zaragoza" hiding in there).

The Moors took it around 714.

The Christian kings took it back in 1118 and made it the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon, one of the original kingdoms that eventually became Spain.

Every single one of them built something.

The pleasure palace that became a parliament

The Aljafería Palace was built in the 11th century as a holiday home for the Muslim king of Zaragoza. They literally called it the "Palace of Joy."

It's one of only three major examples of Islamic palace architecture in all of Spain (alongside the Alhambra in Granada and the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba).

1118 - Christian king Alfonso I captured Zaragoza and moved into the palace
1492 - Ferdinand and Isabella (the Catholic Monarchs) built their own wing inside it
1593 - Philip II turned it into a military fortress
1987 - the regional government of Aragon moved in. It's now the seat of the Aragonese parliament

Exterior view of the fortified Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza with stone walls, towers and moat surrounded by gardens

The Aljafería Palace. Not a museum. Not a ruin. This is a working government building.

Elected representatives debate regional law today… inside an 11th-century Islamic fortress.

UNESCO gave it World Heritage status in 2001.

The basilica, the bombs and the painter

The building that dominates the Plaza del Pilar is the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar.

Eleven domes. Four towers. Right on the edge of the Ebro, the big river that cuts through the middle of the city.

Goya frescoes on the ceiling - Francisco de Goya (born in a village just south of Zaragoza) painted two of the basilica's domes. The second was so different from the first that it caused an argument with the church
Three bombs hit it during the Spanish Civil War. None exploded. Two are still hanging on a column inside. Whether you call that a miracle or a manufacturing defect depends on who you ask
Free to enter - another thing Javier could take Diego to without spending a cent

It took so long to finish (1681 to 1872) that there's a local saying for anything that drags on: "it takes longer than building El Pilar."

Aerial view of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar showing its eleven colourful tiled domes, four towers and the Plaza del Pilar beside it

The Basílica del Pilar. Eleven domes, four towers... and nearly 200 years to finish.

The Shortest Guide to Javier and Diego's City

If you ever find yourself between Madrid and Barcelona with a few hours to spare… get off the train.

Walk through El Tubo, a tangle of narrow streets five minutes from the Plaza del Pilar.

Every bar has its own speciality and you just point at what looks good on the counter.

Stand inside the Aljafería and try to believe that politicians work here now.

Cross the Puente de Piedra over the Ebro. Turn around. All eleven domes of the basilica are right there.

Look up at the basilica ceiling and find the Goya. Then go outside and see the whole thing reflected in the river at night.

And if you're there in October when the fireworks go off over the Ebro… the plaza packed, music everywhere, the smell of churros in the air… you'll get what Diego figured out that night. The best stuff is free.

Did You Know?

🎆 The Fiestas del Pilar were declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. In 2025 over 2.6 million visitors came to a city of 700,000 people… for ten days
🎨 Zaragoza has the only origami museum in Europe. It opened in 2013, costs three euros to enter and has works from artists in over 25 countries. The city's paper-folding group has been meeting since 1944
🎻 The jota aragonesa is the traditional folk dance of Aragon. It involves fast footwork, castanets and raised arms. If you've never seen it, picture flamenco's cheerful northern cousin
🌬️ Zaragoza is famous for the cierzo, a cold, dry wind that blows down from the northwest through the Ebro valley. Locals joke that it either lasts three days, six days or nine days… and it always picks the worst moment
⛪ Zaragoza has two cathedrals facing each other across the same plaza. The Basílica del Pilar and La Seo (a Gothic-Mudéjar cathedral built on top of a mosque) sit about 300 metres apart. Most cities fight for centuries to get one. Zaragoza has two and they can practically see each other

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