I love this hotel. What can be better
than sitting at an open window overlooking a pretty cloistered garden bathed in
sunshine? In fact I love Salamanca.
We set out this morning to explore the old quarter of the city. The architecture is amazing, examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance, and
Baroque architecture everywhere. Lots of
students (Salamanca has some of the world’s oldest university buildings) but
not too many tourists at this time of year.
We drank coffee sitting outside in the Plaza Mayor, a magnificent
square with galleries and arcades. We
shared tapas in a local bar for lunch, struggling with our few words of
Spanish. This Spain is a world apart
from the Costas.
I have taken far too many photos. Sadly they don't capture the warm, golden hues of the sandstone architecture. I’ll
leave you with a few, you can flick through them very quickly (or ignore them if you prefer). Tomorrow we head
for Seville.
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Roman bridge crossing the Tormes River
|
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| one of the university buildings |
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| these guys were actually dancing! |
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| The Mayor's office (I think) |
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| yes, that is a lady's corset! |
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| random Smurfs |
...the weather looks perfect, and the wine too. The photos are lovely. We also have those pretty trees blossoming in our our street right now.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
Those trees looked even prettier in the lamp light this evening.
DeleteThis was the Salamanca I wanted to see. Yesterday Portillo did not come through, today his Salamanca has. I would like to have seen a few elderly gentlemen sitting around in the main square mardling about the Spanish Civil War over a drink or two. But very nice thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think all the old men were in the bars today. I haven't a clue what they were talking about though. (You would love this place, catch a train here.)
DeleteThe old town is beautiful, and we stayed in an hotel just off the magnificent Plaza Mayor, which I think is a World Heritage site. So many towns in Spain (including some on the Costas) have interesting old centres, but are surrounded by newer buildings outside. All in the name of progress. Seville is an elegant city, too. Are you planning to visit the Alhambra in Granada?
ReplyDeletePaul informs me that we are planning a visit to Alhambra. When am I going to get a day off for lounging about in the sunshine?
DeleteYou can do that when you hit the coast ! There's so much to see, and it's a pity to waste time lounging !
DeleteWas there a Smurf convention going on? I would love to have seen that! Want to go back to Seville as I only had a day there.
ReplyDeletei think it was university rag week, we saw some ghost busters too.
DeletePlease tell us the name of your hotel, for those who want to follow in your footsteps.
ReplyDeleteIt's the Palacio de San Esteban, situated right in the old quarter.
DeleteThought the smurfs might have something to do with Uni students !! Salamanca looks interesting esp the old town ... but then I love the old town part of most places.Glad you are going to take us to Alhambra, I'm looking forward to that. It's on my list !
ReplyDeleteOld quarters are always the best places, away from the commercial side. Doesn't look like I'm going to get a choice about Alhambra!
DeleteLooks wonderful. I'm very jealous of your visit to Seville; what a fabulous city.
ReplyDeleteI'm worried that Seville might be a bit over whelming after Salamanca. Looking forward to the flamenco.
DeleteThe mustard scarf looks very cosmopolitan.
ReplyDeleteMore Rupert Bear than cosmopolitan.
DeleteHow come you included a photo of a mature male model in the Custodia Compartida wall picture? were Littlewoods doing a catalogue photo-shoot?
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely drive down to Seville.
Paul asked the same question. I said it made him look streetwise.
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