Search This Blog

About Me

My photo
This is all about my transition from an American lifestyle and culture to my newest adventure, life in Spain, in the city of Palma on the island of Mallorca in the middle of the Mediterranean sea!! I moved from the USA to Cuenca, Ecuador, South America and lived there for 7 years before moving here to Spain in early 2018. I'll be recapping some of my day-to-day experiences (and mishaps) to highlight what it's like to live here....across the pond...as well as Home Exchange trips to exciting places all over Europe!

Thursday, November 28, 2019

While in Madrid - Take a Day Trip to Segovia


Hola!!!

I had never heard of Segovia, but friends of mine told me all about it after they took a day trip there while visiting Madrid.  So, I had to go see for myself.

Segovia is about 60 miles from Madrid and I didn't have a car.  But, in Europe, that's no problemo as you can generally find a train to get you there.  If I took a 'regular' train, it would take about 2 hours with multiple stops.  So, I opted for the FAST train which blasts along at 120 mph, no stops, and got me there in 22 minutes for $20.

When we were arriving, I kept looking out the window to spot the town.  Nada.  Outside my window all I saw was flat, semi-barren, golden nothing.   I thought, 'no biggie', the town must be hidden from sight by the train station.  I got off and walked outside.  Still nada.  It was the end of the line and the train station was in the middle of nowhere!  I quickly found out I had to hop a bus for $2 to be shuttled to Segovia a few miles away.




I like architecture...which includes lamposts.


From the bus stop I walked 4-5 blocks to the center of town, passing a few interesting structures.


Then, YIPES!!  I caught sight of the enormous Roman Viaduct looming over the main square!!


FUN FACTS !!
  • The Roman aqueduct was built around 1 AD !!!  Some reconstruction was done in the 15th and 16th centuries but it wasn't until the 1970's and 1990's that conservation intervention plans were put in place to address erosion, vibrations, and pollution from vehicles.
  • It once transported water from its source in the mountains, nearly 10 miles to the city it served.
  • At its tallest, the aqueduct reaches a height of over 93ft
  • It is constructed of unmortared granite blocks...meaning they're just sitting on one another...an ancient version of 'Legos'!
  • It provided water to Segovia until the mid 19th century.
  • I wonder....
    • how did they lift those stones into place?
    • where did the stones come from, how were they transported, how were they cut?
    • and, in the curves of the arches, who held the block in place while the next was inserted to hold the one before it, and the next, and the next until the last one was crammed in?  And, what if the last one was too small or too big to fit in the last space?  Did that arch come crumbling down and they had to start all over again?
I found it hard to wrap my brain around it.


Look Ma!  No mortar!!


Look at the top/center of the arch...the center keystone.  Now, go back and re-read my last question above.

I rest my case.  No further questions Your Honor!


Ok, so there's no mortar.
Maybe Guerilla Glue?


I followed the flow of pedestrians, up flights of stairs, then through the narrow old-town streets, headed to the Cathedral.  




Along the way were structures with very artistically creative exterior wall designs I've never seen before.  
What great ideas!
KNOW my friend 'Cherry' will 'oooh' and 'ahhhh'.




Uh oh....I have a feeling Cherry is going to make a project for Reg involving the side of their house!!

RUN REG.......RUN!!!




Segovia Cathedral
  • The Segovia Cathedral is considered the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain and one of the last in all of Europe.  
  • Construction began in 1525 and it was consecrated in 1768...243 years after the first stone was laid.
  • It has 22 chapels, and...
  • 161 stained glass windows, and...
  • 167 pinnacles, and the...
  • tower is 289 feet tall.






In front of the Cathedral is Plaza Major.
Yes, it's common for Spanish cities to have plazas and streets of the same name.
Plaza Major - Palma
Plaza Major - Barcelona
Plaza Major - Madrid
Plaza Major - Segovia
...you get the idea.



Walking back to the bus stop.


Back to the train station to head back to Madrid.
See what I mean?  NADA!!


The high speed rail lines leading back to Madrid, through them thar hills via a lonnnnnng tunnel.






Welp, that ends my 2nd trip to Madrid.

Next up....Pair Ree!!

Oui Oui!


Dano


Monday, November 25, 2019

Madrid - Architectural Eye Candy - Part 2 of 2

Hi again!!

More Madrid architecture.  Many of my photos I took from atop the HoHo bus.  In many European cities you can purchase a 1 or 2-day HoHo pass.  Great idea because your 1st day can be spent admiring and taking note where things are and what places you'd like to go back to, then the 2nd day use it as a shuttle to take back to those places.


On with the photos!!!

Headed down Gran Via, one of the most popular arterials in Madrid.


Many times there's so much detail in just one element of a building it's easy to not notice what's there.  You think...'oh, how pretty, very scrolly, and fancy!'  SNAP!!  

In this example, notice the serpentine...and is that a duck/goose head it's standing on?  Of course, everything has a meaning behind it...the designer didn't just decide to throw in a serpentine on a cornice for the halibut!!




The Train Station


Entrance to a Park.


Puerto de Acala

Back in the day, it was one of the five royal gates from which one could enter into Madrid, seeing as the city was walled then.  It's located on Independence Plaza and measures about 70 ft tall by 150 ft wide.


Church of San Manuel y San Benito
...believe it or not, built in 1902!!





Palacio Cibeles
Though 'Palace' is in the name, it's not a palace in the sense of royalty living there.

Quite the opposite.

It was the headquarters of the Spanish Post Office and Telegraph Company and was inaugurated in 1909, but since 2007 it has housed the offices of the Madrid City Council, a museum, as well as other administrative businesses.

Based on the outside, I was a little disappointed once inside.  But, the good part was being able to take an elevator (followed by stairs) to the roof (just below the clock where you can see a few humans) and take in the views from outside.




Out in the distance is the Torrespana (Spain Tower).  
Built in 1982, it's a TV transmission tower and stands 757 ft tall.



I LOVE the Metropolis building!!  It was buillt in 1911 (same year Lucy was born) and a major restoration was finalized in 1996.  
The rounded cupola is covered with 30,000 leaves of 24 carat gold.





The Gate of Toledo
1827


I've flown into Madrid airport many times and each time I spot these 4 towers way off in the distance and wondered what they were.  Unlike in the US of A, many European cities don't have the typical cluster of highrises that define 'downtown'.  Nowhere can you see any semblance of Madrid from the airport...except these lone 4 towers.

Well, while out riding the subway system and exploring, I happen to exit a station and come out at ground level.  WHOA!!!  There they (the four towers) were, standing right in front of me!

CTBA
Cuatro Torres Business Area

Construction of the 4 towers started in 2004 and the final tower completed in 2009.  The tallest tower, Torre Crystal (3rd from left) is the tallest in Madrid and all of Spain, reaching 816 ft.  At the top there's a 6,500 sqft garden.


Torres de Colon
(Towers of Columbus)

Started: 1967  Completed:  1976

But, there's something unique about these twin towers (besides the big 'hat' they both share)....look at the photos and keep scrolling.




Unlike most highrises which have a foundation deep in the ground and then built from the bottom to the top....
These were built from Top to Bottom!!!

WHUHHHHH???


First, the elevator shafts were built.  Then, they started from the top and built each floor suspended by cables and rods and headed downwards.

At the end of this exhaustive day, I headed to my favorite mercado 'San Miguel' and enjoyed some coffee, tapas, and people watching.

When it's hot outside, many open-air places have misters to keep everyone comfortable.



Sooooo much to choose from!!

Next up...a day train trip somewhere outside of Madrid...!!


Dano




Total Page Views