Tales from the River Bank !

Salamanca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanca a great city with lots of very old buildings in the ‘Old Town’… prepare yourself for pictures of buildings, old buildings…churches and…me !

I headed off from my campsite -http://campingdonquijote.com/ – looks far nicer on the web, than real life ! – about 4 kms walking along the river bank and into the old city… accompanied by the sounds of loads of different birds, even cuckoos, accompanying me on my journey, in the cool morning, ideal walking weather !

I arrived in Salamanca around 11 a.m., and immediately found a church where mass had just started, so first things first !….afterwards I continued heading towards the historic area, with directions suddenly popping up in front of me ( amazing, I was even going in the right direction!) as I walked into the old streets, I immediately saw the unusual tower looming above me, I must be in the right place, round the corner the first of many of the older churches, with a magnificent altar  , I continued then towards the old Cathedral, towering above all the older buildings – I did go in, but mass was just starting, so continued after a brief look.. around the old town, there were so many different buildings to see, all in local stone, looking well preserved and magnificent ! Some of the buildings I could go in ( without paying !)  so I did, to find intricately carved courtyards, and stone all around me… then into the new Cathedral, where I took a glimpse, before leaving ! and then along to the main centre, the Plaza Mayor (town hall), a statuesque  large square, with bars and Cafes all around… although not many were sat around in the still cool day ! By now I was getting a little ‘peckish’ and so having got my bearings again (and knowing how to get home!) I sat at a restaurant terrace, in the intermittent sunshine, on the Rua Mayor, and tucked in to a nice lunch, including Roast Suckling Pig.. washed down with a (little) Vino Tinto ! A final look round the buidlings, including one covered in stone scallop shells ( as Pilgrims carry) and time to make my weary way back along the river out of town, to the campsite… and a light dinner..(as well as doing my clothes washing !)

The following day, it was a lot brighter, and so I had a leisurely start & breakfast, then rode along the river bank, further out of town, on a route I had seen lots of Mountain Bikers riding the day before …again accompanied by the birds singing ( to me ?) up and down along the rough embankment, and through several forests and fields, eventually ending some 15kms away, at a tiny hamlet St Michales ( I think) I could see in the far distance,  and range of snow capped mountains, wondering where they could be, and then back along the river , again accompanied by the elusive cuckoo…

and back to the campsite, ready for lunch, Siesta… and watching the washing dry !

I’m ready to move again, I’ve somewhere in mind… I’ll let you know when I get there… and ‘Happy Birthday’ to my son Gerard, 41 years today… who’d expect me to have son so ….old ! ( and me so…. Young !) ??

Adios from Salamanca, and maybe even… Spain !