0805 Segovia

Wall patterns




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At the top of the hills the aquaduct was just the top layer of the arches but as the hill dropped down the aquaduct arches became longer snd then became two. What an amazing feat of engineering. The water flowed underground for some distance from the mountains and the aquaduct was built where this was not possible.




Looking down the water channel on the aquaduct






Aquaduct from the east




Funny we didn't see any storks in Andalucia but now up north they are in abundance usually roosting on high towers.

Couldn't believe the blue sky when we got up this morning. Yesterday, the weather changed by the minute.


From our hostel window one minute







Exactly the same view but a few minutes later




Today we walked around the city inside the walls and had a close look at the Alcazar which was the home of Ferdinand and Isabel. It was severely damaged in a fire in 1862 and was rebuilt in what is described as a fanciful style not really resembling the original. From here we walked to La Juderia which is where the Jews were confined in the late 15th century until they were finally evicted from Spain by the Christian Monarchs in 1492.

House walls here have patterns in the render. We haven't seen this anywhere else. It makes the block shaped houses very attractive.

We had lunch at 2 pm - Spanish lunch time - in a 13th century Palacio now called El Hidalgo, ordering the Menu del Dia for less than 10 EU each and having to struggle through 3 courses. We couldn't believe the size of the suckling pig cuts that were being served up to others around us. After lunch we went back to La Juderia and the park built outside the walls.

At about 4 pm we rested near the aquaduct and Steve fell asleep in its 2000 year old shadow (well you know what I mean). The aquaduct is built from huge granite blocks using no mortar. It is a very special privilege to be able to see such a wonderful piece of human ingenuity and we felt we didn't want to leave to go back to the hotel but nature was calling fairly loudly and there are no public toilets that we can find in most of these old towns.

It is too easy to walk our legs off and be too tired in the end to enjoy what is in front of us. We have had to learn that we can't see everything so we have to be selective and take time out.

Anyway, we love Segovia - it is paradise for all Romanistas.


A beautiful smelling flowering tree