Avila y Salamanca

This past weekend was our trip to Avila y Salamanca. It was the one and only weekend-group trip that our school put on. This is also the only trip that wasn’t included in our tuition, but it was well worth it! One of the main reasons we wanted to do this was because everything was already planned for us. We didn’t have to worry about anything, and that is nice seeing that we have to plan all of our other trips. Our transportation, hotel, food, and guided tours were all included. AND…we stayed in a four star HOTEL, which was so nice. We usually stay in cheap, dorm style hostels.

We left early Friday morning and rode a coach bus to Avila. It was over a two-hour ride, but we got to watch a movie so it was ok. We were warned that it was going to be a little colder than it is in Toledo, but we didn’t think it was going to be that bad. Most of the girls wore tank tops and jeans with a jacket, and some wore skirts. Well, I will just say that the girls with skirts ended up buying jeans there! When we got there it was eight degrees Celsius! This is because Avila is the highest city in Spain, and third highest in Europe! We basically froze, but the city was so pretty. First, we toured the church of San Vicente. Then, there was a two-hour tour of La Muralla de Avila, which is a big castle looking wall that separates the old city from the newer city. The church was beautiful, just like all of the churches in Spain, and the city reminded me of Toledo. It was old; cobble stone roads, small streets, and lots of buildings really close to each other. After the tour we had a really nice lunch at a hotel. We got some kind of potato dish as the first dish and then chicken and French fries with a salad. Dessert was some kind of flavored ice cream. It was really good, but the best part about every meal we ever have is the bread! A little loaf of bread is always sitting next to each plate, and it always tastes fresh and amazing! The bread here is my favorite thing to eat. After lunch we all got on the bus to head to Salamanca, which was a little over an hour away.

When we arrived in Salamanca we got settled in our hotel and took a little nap before we had to be down for dinner. Dinner was really nice; we had some kind of beef with potatoes and carrots. Flan was for dessert, which I don’t like at all. After dinner we all went out. We went to a club and danced, which was a blast. Salamanca is a younger town, which is great, and there is a college there so there were a lot more people our age. We met a lot of new people and had tons of fun.

The next morning we had to be down to breakfast at nine and then our started our day. Saturday was a really long day because had almost six hours of touring the city. We saw so many things that I don’t know if I even remember what all of my pictures are of! We started the tour in la plaza mayor and then we went on to see the old University, the cathedral and other monuments. The university was the first one in Spain and is very prestigious still today. We had lunch back at the hotel, which was chicken and French fries…again. I don’t think that was suppose to happen, but it was funny and still good! It’s probably pretty obvious that the things we eat are pretty American; everything comes with French fries here! It’s weird! After lunch we toured las dueñas y San Esteban. WE were all soooo tired after all of the touring, but we got free time so we shopped! I got a pair of really cute flats and are so comfy and a cheap sweatshirt from the university. That night we went out again, but couldn’t find one club that we really liked so we were in and out of tons all night. In the end it turned out to be a good night

Sunday we had breakfast and then the rest of the day, until three, was free time for us. Me and a couple other people went to mass in the cathedral. It was really interesting because it was in Spanish and it was in this huge, beautiful cathedral! After mass we just walk the streets of Salamanca, got lunch and ice cream, and then went back to get on the bus. I can honestly say that, so far, Salamanca is my favorite city. It was beautiful, clean, the people were nice, and it was exciting! Another great weekend!