Segovia, Spain

November 29, 2014

Segovia's iconic feature is the Roman aqueduct built in the late 1st century.  It is the most significant Roman civil engineering feature in Spain.  The most fascinating feature is that the 818 meter (894 yards) span 29 meters (31 yards) high was built with no mortar. The aqueduct is even on the coat of arms for the city and city flag.  The next iconic feature of the city is an alcazar that looks like a Disney castle. It was first documented in the 12th century and was a popular royal residence through the Middle Ages.  While Philip II lived in the alzazar, he added the sharp spires with slate roofing that made it unlike any other Castillian fortress.  Once the royal court settled in Madrid, the alcazar was used as a state prison for two centuries.  I did not make that up - it was in the brochure! In 1762 the alcazar became the location for the Royal Artillery School.  Sadly, in 1862 an enormous fire destroyed much of the interior and roof.  Twenty years later, restoration work began to be used by the military once again.  In 1951 the Castle Trust was formed to keep it as a museum and a destination for visitors.  This castle was also the model for Disney's Snow White. We did not visit the cathedral interior, but the exterior was impressive.  It was the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain.  Segovia is also known for its roast meats.  We had the Cochinillo Asado (roast pig) that was surprisingly tasty.  Damon had to cut it up for me because I wasn't able to figure out how to approach eating it....lame, I know.

Not my picture - but this is the Cochinillo Asado we had for lunch.

Toledo, Spain

November 27-28, 2014

Toledo is the capital of the province of Toledo and the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. Since 1986, it has been a UNESCO heritage site. History of Toledo begins in the Bronze Age and includes Jewish, Roman, Muslim, and Christian people. The city has a central location on the Iberian peninsula. It is only 70 km (43 miles) south of Madrid. Toledo's industry has been dominated by steel-working and doing so since 500 BC.  It was the standard source of weapons for the Roman empire. The famous book Don Quixote is set around Toledo and Castile–La Mancha and was written in 1605 and 1615 in two volumes. It is considered the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age with a very strong influence on the literary community.  It is referenced in the Three Musketeers and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  On the highest point of the city sits the 16th century Alcazar fortress.  It was a Roman palace in the 3rd century with ruins still visible under the new building.  Since 2009, the palace has been used for the Army Museum. While very comprehensive, the museum itself was very difficult to get around. Our next stop was the 13th century Gothic Cathedral. The interior was definitely stunning.  Owen didn't seem too impressed as he spent his time there pooping and crying which was very audible in a silent cathedral with echoing acoustics. Inside the cathedral is an altar from Narisco Tome titled Transparente from 1715 that is an example of Spanish Baroque.  The Alcazar and the Cathedral are the iconic structures of the Toledo skyline. Another cool aspect of the city is the various gates that were built by the various city inhabitants.

Rainbow during our drive up to Toledo

Gold and silver piece used during processionals.

Very narrow streets that have dents where the cars 

have rubbed up against the walls.

Family portrait

Awesome cleavage.

Mérida, Spain

November 14-16

Merida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura.  An autonomous community is much like in the US referring to an individual state within the region such as ‘New England’ contains Maine. We stayed in a Parador which is a fancy hotel within a historic building such as a monastery of castle.  This hotel was an 18^th century convent built on top of the remains of a temple. Merida is most known for its Roman monuments.  As a group, these monuments were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Merida was founded in 25 BC as a Roman colony and within a few years became the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. The first monument we visited was the Arch of Trajan which is thought to be an entrance gate to a monumental ensemble constructed in the period of Tiberius (AD 14-34). Next we visited the Alcazaba, built in 835 AD, that was an Islamic military fortress.  It was built upon the ‘Puerte del Puente’ main entrance to the Roman city, Roman housing, and a section of Roman wall reinforced in the Visigoth era. The Roman areas were excavated more recently as each successive culture built upon their predecessor.  My favorite feature was the cistern.  It pulled water from the river through the river gravels past a dike built by the Romans.  It was accessible by a staircase underground and was surprisingly spacious. Next was the Guadiana bridge that is built out of granite and concrete. After three additions the bridge was 800 meters long making it the longest bridge in the empire. It was open to cars until 1991 when the Luistania Bridge was finished.  Next we went to the Augusta Emerita amphitheater and theater.  The amphitheater was inaugurated in 8 BC and holds 15,000 spectators.  This would typically hold gladiator fights and sometimes include animals. There are over 15 different types of gladiators that are distinguished by their equipment and style of fighting.  The different fights were matched with the different types of fighters.  There are two main groups of being heavily armored or light armor to be able to move with more agility. The theater is classic Vitrivuan style set into a low hill.  There are two columbaria (family tombs) with the first at the museum and second below the Basilica de Santa Eualia church. Lastly, we visited the Circus that was mostly used for horse races. It was one of the largest in the Roman world.  This is a very fascinating city.  What amazes me most is how much the Romans mastered water and water control. We also drove over to Trujillo to check out more Extremadura countryside. Trujillo has several historic features which we only visited two. In the Plaza Mayor there is an equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro who was one of the conquerors of Peru. Also on the Plaza is the church of Santa María built in the thirteenth century.