October 25^th Another field trip - Segovia or Bust

Today we really had to break up our routine for our trip to Segovia.   We actually got up at 6:00am to catch the metro over to Chamartin station to catch the 7:30 train for Segovia.  Our trip took just over half an hour and it was completely in the dark.  Our goal was to get to Segovia in time to visit the weekly Thursday produce and flea market.  We were able to take our bag directly to our hotel where they agreed to store it until we checked in.   However when we arrived it turned out there was a room available so we were able to move right in.  We are staying just outside the city walls so of course the price is considerably less.  Across the street from our room is a three story building where only the façade remains so we can see the city walls through the windows.

A 3 minute walk takes us to the base of the famous roman aqueduct and from there right up the stairway next to it and into the town.  We walked through the town looking for a little place to get some breakfast and got a little tour of the backstreets.  The first thing that catches your eye, after the aqueduct of course, is that so many of the buildings are decorated with graffito in the stucco of the walls.  It is spectacular and only just the first of so many interesting and beautiful sights.  We got to the plaza mayor and started looking for the flea market which was nowhere to seen, so we stopped in the tourist information office to find out where it may be.   What we found out was that it was a city festival day and therefore no market.  Oh Well.  We did find out that there was going to be a special musical presentation with orchestra and choir dedicated to the patron saint of the city followed by a high mass.  Once it started the cathedral would be closed so we hustled over to have a look.  When we got in we heard choir music and singing, they were rehearsing for the presentation so we got to look through the church to the sound of singing and it was so enjoyable.  Having sung in choirs throughout my school years I love to hear it, so it was a particular treat.  Then we headed down to the alcazar, a castle/fort.

The alcazar looks like it’s right out of a movie set and I guess it should since it was restored after a fire in the late 19^th century with somewhat more embellishment than it originally had, still it’s quite attractive.  It’s located out on the point of land surrounded on 3 sides by rivers and cliffs, virtually impregnable. The aqueduct was built to furnish it with water as it was originally the site of a roman army camp.  We had lunch at a delightful restaurant located next to a plaza containing a 13^th century church. So we got our chance to eat roast suckling pig and it was delectable. Sorry no pics, I forgot.  Here is a picture of the desert which was a wood-fire baked cake iced with marzipan.

After lunch we walked down to the archeological and historical museum but of course it was closed for the local festival day so we wandered around town before going back to the hotel for the evening.   This town rivals Venice for its charm and interest; it’s small enough to walk across in 20-30 minutes (within the walled old town) and virtually every street offers some interesting walls or doors or arches.  So far I agree with a British traveler who opines that it is the most beautiful city in Spain, and that is going a ways.