¡Hola familias y amigos!
We decided to escape the hustle and bustle of Madrid and took a day trip to the nearby town of Segovia. In just an hour and a half by bus, we left behind the skyscrapers and traffic lights of la gran ciudad and found ourselves in a sleepy, picturesque pueblo in the hills of La Mancha.
Once we arrived in Segovia, we walked from the bus station through the town’s medieval section, which features cobblestone streets lined with Romanesque churches and small houses with orange tiled roofs. In the middle of the casco viejo is one of Segovia’s most famous landmarks – its Roman aqueduct, where we stopped take a few photos. The aqueduct is impressive for so many reasons – not only is it huge, but it’s one of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, was built without any mortar, and can still function today.
From the aqueduct, we walked to a nearby park where we sat in the shade to have a picnic lunch. After lunch, we walked up the medieval stone steps that lead to the plaza mayor, the town’s main square. There we were able to see one of Segovia’s other major architectural wonders: the cathedral. Like the aqueduct, the cathedral was an amazing sight. Its tall towers and domes on the outside protect a beautiful interior of marble columns, gold altarpieces, and a tranquil, open-air cloister. The group spent some time walking around the cathedral to wander its many side chapels and enjoy the cool air inside.
Our last destination in Segovia was the Alcázar, a reconstructed medieval fortress overlooking a cliff at the edge of the town. The Alcázar looks like something out of a fairy tale, with blue tiled turrets, yellow sandstone ramparts, a colorful rose garden, and a tall tower that stands high above the plain, rolling countryside. We did a brief tour of the castle’s interior, where we saw examples of suits of armor, ancient artillery, and beautiful Moorish-inspired tile work. We also went out onto the terrace, which provided us with a glimpse of miles and miles of open fields.
By the end of the day, we were back in Madrid, where we quickly got ready for our outing to a flamenco show. The show itself was an hour long, and we enjoyed a great selection of Andalusian guitar music and watched amazing dancers show off their skills.
After the show, we walked through the heart of Madrid to the Plaza de Santa Ana, where we ate as a group in the open air and watched the sun set behind the plaza’s eclectic style buildings.
Next stop: Albacete, where our host families await!
– Natalie, Joe, & Graciano