Hi Anne,
A Parador is a state-un hotel. The first ones started in the 1930s now there are over a hundred.
Some are beautiful old monuments, palacas, monasteries etc. There are also some new and pretty boring ones, but all offer the same standard.
I love the idea of your Spanish learning method. I learnt by becoming inmersed in the culture but I know many people who live here and are struggling to learn Spanish mainly because they live in isolated areas and don�t really get the opportunity to hear it and use it.
I have an English/Spanish group to help both parties learn the other language and I�ll tell them about your method.
Rachel