Salamanca

=SALAMANCA (Avilia and further afield)= Taking about construction - the ONLY road were saw closed in Avilia was the one Sarah wanted us to take! || || There aren't many stopping places and even fewer with somewhere to sit - shade? toilets? Well, there is a tree (notice it on the right?) "Sarah" didn't have a good day as she tried to take us on numerous "short cuts" some of them on very dubious side tracks - we ignored her and stayed on the highway! || || Besides the Uni and Cathedral etc Salamanca is also renown for its Playa Mayor which is one of the largest and most grand in Spain (see below) For dinner we decided to give "Sarah" a go - going to a nearby restaurant called Casaserra (OK not the same but?) The jovial (and pretty drunk) owner shook our hands and seated us like royalty before informing us that No, the plate of the day wasn't on that day, OK then "Paella?" no that's not on today either - what is then? Ohh only the expensive side of the menu eh? ||
 * Leaving Segovia we travelled to Salamanca stopping for a while at AVILIA to walk its wonderful city walls. They are reputed to be the best preserved and most intact Medieval city walls in Europe and for 4 Euros each we walked quite a bit of them. They circle the old city and are 2kms long with over 80 fortresses along it. Quite a marvellous feat of construction but it obviously worked as they are still here!
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 * But then on again to Salamanca - stopping on the way to make use of one of the beautiful roadside rest areas provided here in Spain. Of course we chose the most exceptional one which displayed all the charm of this great country!
 * [[image:IMG_3176.jpg]] || But onto Salamanca - home of Spain's oldest University (13th century) and, of course, several LARGE cathedrals/churches/monastaries/convents etc. Our hotel was just over the Roman Bridge (1st Century - in lower part of pic) so we strolled into the old town.
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 * [[image:IMG_3190.jpg caption="Gargoyle on Cathedral"]] || [[image:IMG_3218.jpg caption="Cathedral"]] ||
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