I took the free time that was given to us to take care of some business. first things first, I stopped at a bar for some much needed cafe con leche and un pincho de tortilla. My friend Corrado, being short in the cash department, was forced to use his credit card to buy his food. Although I love Spain for its affordability, this plus can often turn into a minus when you are short on cash and forced to use "plastico". Corrado bought un cafe solo (sin leche) and un pincho de tortilla giving him a grand total of 2.85 Euros (E); the credit card minimum being 10E, Corrado was forced to make up the difference by buying 7.15E worth of water (pictured below) that lasted him the entire day. I know one person who is reading this and absolutely fuming...Lu.
After satisfying my hunger and addiction to caffeine, I used the remaining half-hour break to take in some of the local color. I saw a great beard (above), talked to a guy about the acacia trees in the plaza ("80 years old," he said. Old, but not that old), and took a picture of one of my favorite subjects, construction (not pictured). Our smaller group reconvened and we continued to make our way through the old town of Segovia. The town literally felt like a museum, with each building having been built during the time when colonist's heads were getting lopped off in Roanoke. What was so incredible about the architecture was the sprinkling of Muslim influence that you see in much more overt forms towards the south of the country (ie. the Alhambra). Details like double arches and covered outdoor promenade encircling the place of worship (both pictured below) are all residual elements of the Muslim influence on the city (or so said our guide, Helena). They seem to fit into the building's style seamlessly. I can dig.
Finally, we approached the city's main attraction, the aqueduct. It was smaller than I expected, but that in no way diminished the awe I experienced when I saw the structure. Built between 100 and 200AD, it was constructed without the use of any mortar. Definitely one of the most incredible engineering feats that I have ever seen in person. Oh by the way, it is still in use today, however I have no idea what for.
Back on the bus. My excitement for the cochinillo, which is a specialty of the area of Spain we were in, was mounting. I was sweating from sitting next to someone of the heavier variety on the bus, but I think that could have been our collective body heat from the anticipation of incoming food, especially food of the quality we were about to receive. We arrived to the El Rancho de la aldegüela and were led to the banquet hall that was designated for our group. It was a massive old barn with a ridiculous selection of art prints hanging on the wall, mostly Rothko's and a Lichtenstein, not exactly what you expect to see in the Spanish countryside. I sat and waited. Four course meal!
The cochinillo was spectacular. As you might be able to tell, that is a foot on my plate. Sorry to all those out there who wanted me to take a bite of that part, but I was trying to meet new people at the time, not alienate them with my severe carnivorous tendencies. The waiters came in carrying huge crocks that were filled with one half of a baby pig cut into four pieces. To my delight I was given the most interesting piece with the highest gnar-factor and I loved it. Never had such a smooth piece of pork, came right off the bone. Everything about this ration of food was executed to perfection. An experience I hope to repeat sometime in the near-distant future.
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