Segovia / La Granja

5:01pm

Buenas tardes!
In today’s blog:
- Trip to Segovia and La Granja yesterday
- El Rastro flee market
- Family & Spain

SEGOVIA / LA GRANJA

Yesterday we took a trip to Segovia, popular for the Aqueduct and the Alcazar. The Aqueduct was built around 2000 years ago in order to transport water from one side of the city to another. The structure is fancier than necessary in order to represent power. No cement was used to build the structure, and the rocks are held in place by pressure. The Alcazar, on the other hand, was both a royal palace and a castle for Kings prior to the end of the Reformation in 1492. Segovia was a Catholic city fighting against the Jews and Muslims to make Spain a Catholic country. The name “Alcazar is a combination of the words castle and palace. Ferdinand and Isabel lived here when they sent Christopher Columbus to discover the Americas.

We then visited La Granja, a hunting camp for the king with a royal palace and a breathtaking garden. The gardens consist of a half dozen fountains that naturally go off around 5:30pm each day if there has been sufficient rainfall. Tourists fill the gardens and travel from one fountain to another as the water travels from one fountain to another.
Watching water spray over 100 feet in the air amidst the mythological sculptures centered in the fountain was a phenomenal sight. My camera conveniently died before this visit. Melanie has some pictures I may sneak to show you the beauty of the palace.

The style of the Alcazar in Segovia and La Granja is mudejar. Mudejar means Muslim. The palaces were built by Christians, taken over by Muslims, and then overtaken again. Materials from each reign were recycled and each castle maintains a decorum consiting of both Catholic and Muslim styles.


EL RASTRO

We left for Madrid today around 8:30am to visit the largest flee market in the world, El Rastro. We arrived before the crowds and left once it became unbearable. We had one hand on our purses at all times as El Rastro is notorious for people taking your wallet. No one from our group encountered a pickpocketeer; however, one of our friends had her wallet stolen as she looked at rings.

El Rastro includes a large collection of jewelry, scarves, bolsas (purses), and fútbol paraphernalia. We all bought gifts and took in the enormity of the market. Afterwards, we visited the local H&M and had tapas at a restaurant where our waiter wooed Melanie with a red rose.


FAMILY / SPAIN
According to our family, Melanie and I say thank you much more than is usual for Spain. The culture here is similar to the northern US. Southern hospitality in Spain stands out. I am attempting to say thank you less frequently; however, I then feel a bit rude…

Yesterday when we returned from our trip, the USA vs. England fútbol game was playing. We quickly joined our family in the living room as we watched the game complete with cerveza and papas fritas (beer and chips). One of our sisters had a guy friend over and he helped us learn the Spanish fútbol lingo. New words:

Vamos – come on
Falta – Foul
Goal – goal

Melanie and I are fortunate to feel that we are a member of the family and always enjoy conversations with them on everything from directions, fútbol, and the economy.

When we arrived home from El Rastro today, the older two brothers came to visit. They live in a nearby city and came to play in a fútbol game earlier today. We enjoyed their visit, but I am still getting used to kissing someone on either side of their face when I meet them in lei of a handshake.

Quick fact: In Spain, there are always hand dryers in public restrooms. These dryers are rarely strong and my pants are mastering the towel function.

Went to church at the local Cathedral today. For all the Catholics reading this blog:
- For communion, you go up to the alter when you are ready – a bit of mass chaos in my opinion
- During mass, people walk around if they feel like it. A bit distracting
- At end of Mass, we sang the Hail Mary

Hasta mañana!
Kristina