3 Weeks in Spain (via Japan)

[rbjhan]

Well that's enough of Madrid, time to go to Segovia!
Booked all my train tickets on Renfe beforehand, found their website quite easy to use. Plus you get discounted tickets if book early. Chamartín - Segovia €13.9.
And the train ride itself is very nice.


30 mins later I arrived at Segovia Guiomar. Taxi to Hotel cost about EUR 10.
Hotel Exe Casa de Los Linajes, it's actually quite large (and confusing!) once inside.


Lobby

Double room


Really not a fan of a shrub...


Nothing wrong with this hotel but somehow I don't like it....

 

[OZDUCK]

Lovely photos of Madrid, that bought back some good memories from last year. I am another that did the Prado & Thyssen but missed the Reina Sofia.

Have they removed the scaffolding etc from the street (Paseo del Prado) facade of the Prado?

 

[rbjhan]

The hotel is close to Alcazar de Segovia so I went there first.






You can climb the tower.


152 steps later




Down there apparently is the best viewing spot of the Alcazar.

 

[rbjhan]

Lovely photos of Madrid, that bought back some good memories from last year. I am another that did the Prado & Thyssen but missed the Reina Sofia.

Have they removed the scaffolding etc from the street (Paseo del Prado) facade of the Prado?

Nope.
Not only at the Prado, scaffoldings everywhere! //weeps

 

[rbjhan]

So down I went....20 mins later, here we are!


Have a closer look. Awww isn't it just magnificent.

 

[rbjhan]

Making my way to the Aqueduct.


And we are here!




Even if I don't see anything else. The 25 hour flight is worth it!!

 

[rbjhan]

Sometimes I really don't like carrying the camera bag around... but then look at the photos again it's all worth it.

 

[boomy]

Jumping onboard. Lovely TR so far.
We’re doing very similar trip in Spain later this, I’ll be watching closely for tips and ideas. Been to all these places myself as teenager in the 90s but it doesn’t really count so I’m looking to do this properly all over again.
A bit alarming to read your report about DoubleTree Madrid as we are also booked there (for the same reason, location). Hopefully can score an upgrade to slightly larger room. The tapas tour you did looks great, I’ll be looking into that further.
Looking forward to read more from another long time Real supporter

 

[rbjhan]

Jumping onboard. Lovely TR so far.
We’re doing very similar trip in Spain later this, I’ll be watching closely for tips and ideas. Been to all these places myself as teenager in the 90s but it doesn’t really count so I’m looking to do this properly all over again.
A bit alarming to read your report about DoubleTree Madrid as we are also booked there (for the same reason, location). Hopefully can score an upgrade to slightly larger room. The tapas tour you did looks great, I’ll be looking into that further.
Looking forward to read more from another long time Real supporter

Maybe it's just my bad luck? Mistakes do happen but then hotel's response (or lack of) does not paint a good picture...plenty of hotels in that area though, I'd say the Westin would be a much better choice if the price is right.
I cannot recommend the tapas tour enough. I actually went back to two of the four places, Meson del Champinon and Casa Toni.

 

[rbjhan]

San Esteban


A random wedding


Plaza Mayor


Plaza Medina del Campo


Catedral de Segovia

 

[rbjhan]

Booked Meson de Jose Maria. Certainly very popular!


Lamb sweetbread


Tripe


Yes I'm an adventurous eater (if you don't know that already)

The suckling pig is so tender you can cut it with plates. (No I did not order one whole pig all by myself, this one is for the lovely people next table)

 

[ellen10]

Wow great photos we will be visiting Spain in October. Thanks for sharing.

 

[rbjhan]

Wow great photos we will be visiting Spain in October. Thanks for sharing.

Such a beautiful country, I'm sure you'll enjoy the trip.

 

[rbjhan]

Unfortunately no trains between Segovia and Avila. So reluctantly I bought a bus ticket with Avanza...Well at least it is cheap, €5.3 iirc.
Segovia bus station


When I got out of Avila station I knew I was in trouble, no sight of taxi whatsoever!
Google says 20 mins walk to hotel Luckily after a few mins I saw a bus stop...first 3 buses weren't going to the old town but No.4 dropped me just off San Vicente, from there a short walk to Catedral de Avila, and hotel is right across the street.

Hotel Palacio de Los Velada.


A very pretty cafe


To get to my room though I had to climb up to level 1, walk to an annex of some sort, get down to ground level again and walk some more...no wonder I didn't like it!

Room is okay, but I hate it when they push two single beds together and pretend this is a double room


The breakfast place is nice though.


I had a quick dinner in the above café and went back to my room as I wanted to watch the semi finals of Madrid Open that night. Probably should go for a walk instead as I think the old town and medieval walls would look fantastic in the evening, ah travel regrets....

 

[rbjhan]

So I only went to check out the famous Muralla de Avila the next morning.
It is surely impressive.




San Vicente from above.




I got off at Puerta de la Adaja, part of the wall after that hasn't been restored.

 

[rbjhan]

Then I walked across the bridge to Mirador 4 Postes.


Nice view from the mirador!




Sadly I underestimated the weather, it was 31C and on the walls obviously very exposed. I had a hat which helped a bit but not enough, after getting back to the city from the mirador I was exhausted. Gave up the plan to visit Convento de Santa Teresa and hanged around hotel lobby till it's time to go to Salamanca.

So just a few more pictures.
Catedral


The old town

 

[rbjhan]

MD (Media Distancia) train to Salamanca took about 1.5 hours. I made the mistake of staying till the last stop Salamanca La Alamedilla instead of getting off at the main station further away from city centre.
La Alamedilla looks just like any other small station in Melbourne, and you guess it, no taxi! aaaggghhh
At least it's only a 10 min walk, sigh.

But the walk was quickly forgotten as I entered Salamanca Suite Studios, on Plaza de la Libertad just 2 mins off Plaza Mayor. Probably my favourite hotel of the whole trip, especially considering it's only €70/night.

As the name suggests, it's a studio rather than a traditional hotel room.


Proper double bed


View of the Plaza de la Libertad


Proper shower and hair dryer (don't laugh, it's important!), thumb up.

 

[rbjhan]

Receptionist suggested Bambu for dinner, probably would never find it myself as it's down in a basement on one of the small streets off Plaza Mayor.
OMG OMG the pork ribs is to die for! I had two by the way


4 tapas + 2 tinto con limon, only €11. No wonder the place was packed, tapas heaven

 

[rbjhan]

Plaza Mayor de Salamanca. The most beautiful in Spain!


Unfortunately there were a lot of pop up shops set up in the middle...no way to take a proper picture of it, aagghh


A small stage was built and a concert was on.


This must be a May thing as there were also pop up shops in Avila, Sevilla....together with all the scaffoldings they were this photographer's nightmare, //sadface.

 

[Timtammi]

Loving the trip report, so many good memories of Spain but its been a long time. This trip report has really whet my appetite to go back again!