Last Day in Spain

Today is our last full day in Spain. When we first arrived in Madrid we decided we could take a day trip to Segovia. It was a hard decision to make because all the tours—Toledo, Avila, a combination of two—looked good. But R didn’t want to rush from place to place as he enjoys sitting and sketching. And I completely agreed with him, this may be the only time we get to some of these old cities and I want to remember them well.

So we set off from Madrid on the tour bus at about 9:15 and arrived in Segovia at 10:30. The first stop for our little “family,” as our tour guide called us, were the toilets at the Information Center. Unfortunately there was a tour bus that came in at the same time so it took a good 10 minutes for the women’s line to go through. Sometimes being a man really helps.

While we were waiting though, we admired the Roman Aqueduct. Magnificent. 

Our first stop after that was the Cathedral. It took over 100 years to build, from about 1520 to 1655, the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain although way older than the Madrid of course. Guess Madrid isn’t considered to be Gothic. We didn’t spent that much time in the Cathedral in the morning, one of the downsides of being on a tour. Still of course I took photos.

We actually went back later on, after lunch, so that we had more time to wander and sit and absorb it.

After the Cathedral our guide led us on to the Alcazar, the Palace. Another place of wonder. It supposedly was Disney’s model for Cinderella’s castle in Disneyland—the original is so much better for adults—and it is also in an El Greco painting. 

The castle, like so many, suffered a fire in the 1800s so there are only parts that still date back to Henry of Navarre. It is still so very impressive.

Gilding on the ceilings--incredible

Throne for King & Queen

View from castle--so classic!

Our tour ended at the Alcazar and then we were on our own for the rest of the day. We ate lunch at an outdoor cafe just beside the Cathedral then went back into the Cathedral. After spending about an hour there, we wandered around Segovia, enjoying the beautiful architecture.

Getting the bus back to Madrid was slightly stressful. Our guide had told us that there would be a red bus that would meet us at our original drop-off point at 6:30. But 6:30 came and went and no bus. As he hadn't been the most specific of guides, we were worried. Especially as there was no one else waiting there for a red bus. A white bus came and went. A blue bus came and went. Finally, at 6:45, the other couple that had elected to remain behind in Segovia while the others went to Toledo turned up. Turns out that he had told them--and some other people who came a few minutes later--that the bus would arrive around 6:50-6:55. Which it did. And more people arrived at 7:00-7:15. We finally left at 7:15 and arrived back in Madrid a little after 8:00. That was a relief as I had been imagining how we would possibly get back from Segovia that night.

So all's well that ends well and we were able to see this charming medieval town.