Return to Espaňa 2022

  DAY 23 SATURDAY 28 MAY 2 nd DAY IN SALAMANCA Saturday started off sunny and bright with quite a few having breakfast at the Las Claras Hotel cold scrambled eggs and a flaky toaster that does NOT toast!!! There really are a lot of people in the hotels! They are not all tourists, lots of Spanish taking advantage of the weekend. Casa de las Conchas We needed a target to fill up this day, after a late start we decided to walk to the 3 cathedral collection of OLD, not as old and Older than the new cathedrals in town or numbers 9, 10, 11 on the tourist map.   #9 is the oldest on which they have added small sculptures around the entrance doors of an astronaut. Obviously, they would not have been included by the masons of 1400 or so. Jane can explain how she got lost in church even though God tried to show her the way. LOL! Paul is not as enamored as I am of ancient buildings, so I knew I was on my own as far as exploring Cathedrals. You all know why they fascinate me, but un...

  DAY 22 27 MAY 22 FRIDAY 2 nd   DAY IN SALAMANCA SPAIN San Esteban Breakfast at the Eurostars leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, eggs are scrambled and are sitting in a warmer and no eggs are available for any other form to eat so don’t ask, take the cold lumpy scrambled and like it! Forget about toast our toaster does NOT function well! However, there are plenty of meats, cheeses, fruits, yogurt, pastries, juices, coffee etc. Paul does love his eggs in the morning when he is on vacay! Walked to San Esteban Convent and Church we entered and wandered all over the interior, high alter was 27 meters tall. Paul is not as keen as I am at visiting these old churches. I am constantly amazed at the beauty of these buildings. The skill and dedication it took. It was a Dominican monastery originally was replaced in 1524 and took until 1610 to complete. It is said that Christopher Columbus stayed in the original when he came to defend his idea of reaching the Indies by sa...

  DAY 21 THURSDAY 26 MAY 22 Travel Day FROM Palencia Spain to Salamanca Spain Off for our daily breakfast above the public level cafeteria café. A new chap is overseeing the breakfast rush (if you can say 3 tables is huge crowd for them.) Note that the coffee machine is broken and two kitchen staff helpers are prodding and poking the contents and sensors controls trying to bring the machine back to life. However the kitchen is now making coffee con leche for those who desire. Eggs to order are still available upon request. This is a very odd hotel. It bills itself as a 4star but I think it is a wanna be!   Palencia Local Church Ok, back to the room to finish packing for our journey of only 168Km only to Salamanca. We schlepped the luggage downstairs and left it at the front desk as we had to bring the car up first! After checkout Jane and I borrowed the key fob to gain access to the ascensor and building stairs to the garage next door. Eventually we got into the car and...