The Western European Blitz Day 2 - Madrid, exploring Segovia
September 22nd 2019
“What time is the train?” The Uber driver asks us.
“10:15” - us
“Come again” - Uber driver
Its currently 10:45. This is the final straw. Jet lag and travel fatigue will no longer be our captor. We shall conquer the day.
“So we’ll just be catching the 12 o’clock train Mr. Uber driver.”
After a brief stint of panic that we had been duped into the EU rail train tickets our fears were quenched when the ticket woman asked us to obscurely fill in the blank “travel diary” section of our EU rail pass that no one had yet asked for. Okay then - Ingrid scribbles Madrid to Segovia. All aboard!
There are beautiful vistas of the mountains from the train on our quick and peaceful 30-minute ride outside the city to the Segovia station. (Exploring the country outside of these cities will be some of our favorite moments of the trip.)
We hopped in a taxi which dropped us off directly in front of the Roman Aquaduct. Not sure how up to date y’all are with these folks, but the Romans had it going on.
Fact Attack! :
•The Roman Aqueduct has stood since the 1st century AD. At its completion it stretched 11 miles from the mountains to the Castle Alcázar where a section flowed underground. What a feat of engineering!
We ended up putting it off in pursuit of lunch.
Resturante casa Duque is the oldest restaurant in Segovia. The city is known for its suckling pig. There are little piggie statues and souvenirs at every turn. Just the cutest thing. I decided to dive into the local favorite. El plato de cochinillo. Mother of Pork! was it tender. Ingrid opted for more of a veggie meal. She got the Giant Beans dish. It was served in a soup bowl and in the middle was a delicious looking sausage and raw ham bone. (NOT what you would call Ingrid’s favorite or a veggie dish) The beans were scrum shish.
I’m pretty sure there is a saying that goes something like this: “A suckling pig and the meats of Segovia will be the end of a melting American bellowing in the streets.” That was me after lunch. (I also made up that saying. But it’s true.)
We worked our way to The Segovia Cathedral. It was one of, if not the last cathedrals built in gothic fashion in Europe.
There are gargoyles and mystic creatures everywhere. The giant tower reins over the whole city and has a clear view of Castle Alcazár de Segovia.
Fact Attack:
•The Castle Alcazár was the inspiration for the castle in the Disney Movie “Sleeping beauty.” (A favorite of mine as a kid. I’m a sucker for dragon battles and a pretty princess)
•Built by the Romans, it passed through Muslim then Christian hands and was home to many Castile Monarchs until the royal family moved to Madrid.
This place was impressive. We took a self-guided tour through the castle. When you first walk in there is a room with Knights in armor all done up as mannequins. They were very short warriors. Each room had a display and aura of middle ages royalty. Next was climbing the tower. Over 200 steps up a spiral staircase. We were not the worst at this, but I highly doubt we were the best with little miss piggie boiling in thy gullet. When we got to the top a poor girl was feeling the pain. She gave up her lunch to the Spanish Sun god. Very royal behavior like.
Can’t beat the view though.
The roads back to the Aqueduct through Segovia had what could only be described as an old European feel. Narrow, cobble stone, and brick laden. Residential buildings a couple stories high with open shutters and plants over flowing their trellises. It adds a touch of levity when you think about walking in the footsteps of ancient generations.
Finally, we get a taste of the Aqueduct from above. It’s just as spectacular and awe inspiring as from the ground. No cement. Pure physics. 1,800ish years later it still stands 100 feet high. It alone was worth the trip.
Let’s take the bus back! No drama here. Bus to train, train back to Madrid, Uber to Airbnb, American Football at 7pm. Siesta.
We finished the evening meeting up with a friend. Sam took us to a rooftop bar to catch the last bit of sunset and a cocktail. Next, we popped into a local traditional tapas bar. Loved the place. The bigger beer you order the more Tapas you get! For free! Bring on the San Miguels mis amigos! (We had a lot of Tapas) We catch up with Sam on the usual things. Then the conversation turns to a dramatic debate revolving around Women’s vs Men’s sport. Per usual my opinion is not looked upon with as much grace as I am positive I have articulated it. Non the less it’s a fun evening. Adíos Sam!
The night is capped off with another roof top. A bachelor party of Parisians crowd the bar and foreshadow our upcoming weekend. I asked Ingrid,
“Are we going to Paris in a week? A week? What the hell are we doing before that? Where do we live?!”
We end the night with Pizza because we are on vacation and proper judgement is for the birds. It will be a deep sleep tonight.
Tomorrow, redemption is spelled P.r.a.d.o. And C.h.o.c.o.l.a.t.e. C.h.u.r.r.o.s! Then it’s on to Barcelona!!
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