First of all, with St. Patrick's Day around the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to rant about my name. Many Spanish people are surprised when they hear my name, asking me isn't that a boy's name, supplying Colin Farrell or Colin Powell as examples. Pronounced Spanishly, they do sound the same (I refuse to say "coyyen" or "coy-yay-en" which would be the Spanish way to read my name, that just sounds ugly). Actually, Colleen is an Irish Gaelic word for girl. It would be like naming your daughter Niña or Muchacha, a little weird but no one would think it was a boy's name.
Then I remember how many people mispronounce or misspell my name in the U.S. Sigh.
For the past week at least, it has been sunny with a high of about 70 degrees. It still is a little chilly at night, but the weather is perfect. I've been getting sunburned, though, so I guess I can no longer dash out of the house with just my moisturizer with sunscreen. Also if it is this warm now May/June will be a bit ridiculous.
I went to Segovia yesterday. A lot of people are out of town for the weekend, and I'm missing the group daytrip at the end of the month while in Belgium, so I decided to take advantage of the fact that the bus was only about 12 euros, round trip.
I hopped off the bus in Segovia before it pulled into the station, which wasn't a problem because the historical points of interest are the highest elevated and I could see where I wanted to go, but this would become problematic later. Segovia is situated in the mountains of Castilla y León.
The first place I went to was the Alcázar, or castle. There has probably been some kind of fortification there for 2000 years. It was an important site during the reign of the Reyes Católicos, but it was later destroyed in a fire and reconstructed, so there is probably not much historical accuracy. In any case, it is gorgeous, and supposedly served as inspiration for Disney's Cinderella Castle. I would believe it. I climbed up the tower, which gives you nice views of the town of Segovia. I wish there had been a tower to climb somewhere in Segovia so you could have views of the Alcázar.
From there I went to the cathedral. It is one of the last great Gothic cathedrals constructed in Spain. There are also of course many nice small churches throughout Segovia. When I told my mom I was going to Segovia, she asked if there was "something religious" there. It's Spain. There is "something religious" everywhere, even as the country secularizes.
Segovia is most famous for its Roman aqueduct constructed in 1st century AD. It was in use up until the end of the 19th century.
After that, it was time for lunch. I was heartily disappointed. I went somewhere recommended in Let's Go Western Europe, but the food wasn't that good and they didn't have menú del día so it was pricy. Cristina told me to get a ponche segoviano for dessert, but I was silly and forgot that all of the pastelerías close from 2-5 for the siesta, so I missed out on that.
Finding the bus station to get back to Madrid was tricky. I think I walked every street in Segovia twice. Good thing it's a small town.
Last night I bought bus tickets to go to Valencia for the Cremá of Las Fallas. Las Fallas is a big festival centered around the Feast of St. Joseph (which doubles as Father's Day in Spain). People spend all year constructing elaborate paper maché "fallas". On the Cremá, the last night, they are all set on fire except for the ones selected in a contest to be saved. It should be fun, hopefully not too crazy. It's four hours away by bus, so I'll get in around 12:30 on the day of the Cremá (there is a big parade at 2, I think), then leave at 3 a.m. after the Cremá. I looked into hostels, but there was a three-night minimum stay. I would have been willing to do that, but three nights starting Thursday and then for the weekend, but they made you do three nights Tuesday-Thursday, and I have to go to at least the Prado tutorial on Wednesday.
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