If anyone has seen the movie My Fair Lady, then they are familiar with the phrase “The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain“. After this weekend, I can assure you that it not only stays in the plain, but also in the mountains, the valleys, on the coast, and in the cities. Our group from school experienced the first rainfall of our entire stay (yes, one month without a drop of rain) and it happened to be the one weekend we were spending primarily outside.
This weekend’s excursion was to Avila and Salamanca! We actually had no idea the rain here would be as brutal as it was, so I only packed a light waterproof vest for the three days. I wasn’t surprised when I came back each afternoon soaked to the bone, but I can say that the weather did not impact my perception of the visits whatsoever.
Friday morning we left Toledo and took a one hour bus ride to Avila, located northwest of Madrid at an elevation much higher than Toledo. Stepping off the bus was the first awe-striking moment – the temperature dropped about 20 degrees, it was windy, and dark clouds were moving in. Looking around at the poor souls wearing a light t-shirt and shorts, I wasn’t even the worst of the crowd in my jeans and vest. Thankfully, the 3 hour tour of the city went much faster than I expected. We visited the Basilica de San Vicente (which unfortunately was not heated) and its secret crypts. We walked the walls of the city, built OVER 1000 years ago for military purposes which still stand today as a landmark. Finally, we were left free to roam the Plaza Mayor before lunch at a 15th century palace! Avila is the hometown of both Santa Teresa de Jesus and San Juan de la Cruz, two influential catholic figures and writers of their time. Their works have become so famous that Avila is now known as the center of catholic mysticism in the world.
We departed for Salamanca soon after lunch and would overnight there both Friday and Saturday night. Truthfully, most of us were so exhausted from trying to maintain body warmth in Avila that we just wanted to sleep in Salamanca. But once the bus rolled up to the 4-star hotel in the city center, we only wanted to explore and indulge in what Salamanca had to offer. I believe the first thing everyone did was change into their swimsuits and go to the spa, which consisted of a hot tub, sauna, and Turkish bath. We had plenty of time to relax and prepare for dinner at 8:30, knowing that after we ate we would be seeing the nightlife of the town. Salamanca is known for being a very young town because of its world renowned university, one of the oldest four in Europe (including Uniwersytet Jagielloński in Kraków!). We immediately found a club styled in ancient Roman architecture and took over the dance floor with our invasion of 30 American students.
The next morning, the first thing everyone made sure to do was dress properly because it was actually pouring this time. After we descended from our rooms, we discovered the regal breakfast set up for us (including the cappuccino machine which I fell in love with that weekend) and then were ready for the walking tour. Salamanca was actually much more interesting to me. The first place we stopped was the University of Salamanca. Being enchanted by Notre Dame for 2 full years already makes you biased towards your school, but Salamanca had an ancient glamor about it that I think only Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series could rival. There were centuries upon centuries of professors, religious leaders, and famous graduates from that school. There was a chapel in which a wedding was being prepared and a grand hall where the reception would be. There was even a retired library (used only by experts and scholars now) where some of the books were from the 1100s! It was something extraordinary, the university. The next stop was a tour of the cathedrals. The only thing that distinguished them was the style: one was the old Gothic cathedral (from the 14th century) and one was the new Baroque cathedral (from the 18th century). These edifices were, as Spaniards say, “impresionante”, meaning they impressed people who saw them. We would later go to mass at the New Cathedral the next day, in awe of the chorus and sheer fact of being in such a gigantic place.
I was so lucky to have been able to go to these two historical and unique cities this weekend with a group of people I am already so close with. Each weekend here in Europe seems like an illusion… This upcoming weekend will be my first trip outside Spain this semester – Brussels, get ready for us!
Julia Goes to Spain 