Segovia & Toledo

Segovia

Segovia is where the feeling of being in another country first hit nearly everyone on the trip. Madrid, though beautiful, lacks the old world feel that most of us were hoping to experience in Spain. On the drive to Segovia we past part of the Spanish country side which was absolutely spectacular. There were also deep canons and mountains to the left of the roads. The beauty is something I will never get used to. With every new destination my appreciation grows.

The first thing we saw in Segovia was the huge Aqueduct of Segovia. It is one of the biggest Roman aqueducts left standing and working and it was built without any glue or cement! They however, would never use it in winter, because it would damage the architecture. The people of Segovia have an old story of how the aqueduct was built. A young girl had to walk many miles to walk to get to water so she made a deal with the Devil. They agreed that if he could build the aqueduct in one night that she would be forced to forfeit her soul to him. However, at the last minute she realized she had made a mistake. So the young girl prayed to Mary and Mary made the sun rise earlier. The Devil has one brick left to put on when the sun rose and the night ended. So the girl kept her soul and Segovia kept the aqueduct. It might not be the most accurate story but it is definitely interesting. 

Isabel's Coronation

After the aqueduct we ventured to the castle. We saw many rooms and amazing paintings. This castle was the home of Ferdinand and Isabla lived, the famous King and Queen who not only unified Spain under Catholicism, but also were viewed as equal in power. The Spanish have a saying, "Tanto monta, monta tanto, Isabel como Fernando" Meaning equal opposites in balance. 

The best and the worst part of the trip wrapped into one tower of 152 steps. Steep steps. I have been eating way to much “pan” to be climbing that many stairs. After five minutes of walking up a man saw me struggling and started to laugh saying only 83 more steps left.  I seriously thought I was going to have an asthma attack. I apparently when I screamed up for someone to help me a kind gentleman really thought I was in trouble. They lovely people on my trip, though only knowing me for a short time, knew enough to tell him to just ignore me. Somethings never change. (That’s a shout out to you Emily Holian) I made it though, to the top of one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. Pictures can’t even explain it. I would know, I took about 40.

View from the castle

Toledo 

Toledo was by far my favorite city so far. Exactly what I had always dreamed a traditional Spanish city would look like. We drove around on the bus to a stop where we could get a panoramic shot of all of it. The city is built on a mountain with a beautiful river around it. I didn’t realized how mixed natural and architectural beauty was in this country. Many famous people were born and lived in Toledo, including El Greco, who painted some one the works we saw in the Museo del Prado (my favorite museum).

We also went to see a beautiful cathedral, San Juan de los Reyes. The details were amazing, but it was a little much for me. I am used to a simple church so I have mixed feelings on if billion dollar cathedrals are to honor God or to compete with other man made beauties. Either way, I can appreciate the amount of work people must have put in to make the cathedral as beautiful as it was. 

Panoramic shot of Toledo