Day 6: Monday, July 8, 2019
Today was tourist-in-Salamanca day.
Carol and I stayed at a hotel an easy walk to Plaza Mayor which was, in turn, an easy walk to the Caballero apartment.
When we stepped out the front door, this was the view to the right.
This was the view to the left.
And this shop was right across the street.
Spain specializes in "jamon". It is a central piece of their cuisine and their culture. What the pig was fed determines the quality of the meat and it can get quite pricey.
While we often have carving stations at banquets, it was common to see a jamon carving station in many restaurants in Spain. What is a little different is the disregard for disguising the origins of the meat. For example, in our culture, instead of eating "cow", we eat "beef", instead of "baby cow", it's "veal", "lamb" instead of "baby sheep" and instead of "pig", it's "pork". But Spanish carving stations leave no doubt that you're eating the muscle off the leg of a hooved animal.
Here are a couple of pictures from a Chinese grocery store in Syracuse. You can tell what they are by looking at their heads.
I doubt there were ducks hanging in the windows of this shop but there must be a Chinese grocer somewhere in Spain to supply these guys.
Here is Plaza Mayor after the shops had set up their tables.
There was a demonstration for improving pension benefits.
What is interesting about this picture below is that every pillar has a picture of a famous person from Spanish history. The pillar on the left used to have a picture of Francisco Franco. Not any more. I would love to talk to Lara's mother some about life under Franco.
Here's a picture of our street (or one like it) later in the day after the restaurants have set up tables.
Lara took us on a walking tour of the downtown area that included the University. I should write this off as a business expense.
Here she is playing tourguide. Doesn't she look professional? (She was great!)
The front of this building has hundreds of carvings. Legend has it that if you can find the frog, you will pass your exams.
Here's proof there are a lot of people who would rather try their luck than study.
This building is the "front" of the university. There are no longer students on this campus because they deter tourism. Pesky students. Likely to be studying on the grass. Or maybe playing frisbee!
We went to the cathedral and like a lot of old-world churches, it was an incredible piece of art and architecture.
This is one side of the organ.
And this.
Maybe if I conducted class up here, my students would pay attention? Maybe not.
Here's the crew at the wall.
Carol and I stayed at a hotel an easy walk to Plaza Mayor which was, in turn, an easy walk to the Caballero apartment.
When we stepped out the front door, this was the view to the right.
This was the view to the left.
And this shop was right across the street.
Spain specializes in "jamon". It is a central piece of their cuisine and their culture. What the pig was fed determines the quality of the meat and it can get quite pricey.
While we often have carving stations at banquets, it was common to see a jamon carving station in many restaurants in Spain. What is a little different is the disregard for disguising the origins of the meat. For example, in our culture, instead of eating "cow", we eat "beef", instead of "baby cow", it's "veal", "lamb" instead of "baby sheep" and instead of "pig", it's "pork". But Spanish carving stations leave no doubt that you're eating the muscle off the leg of a hooved animal.
So as not to be too ethnocentric, it's important to remember that in my culture, it's not uncommon to see whole ducks hanging in the window of Chinatown shops.
Here is Plaza Mayor after the shops had set up their tables.
There was a demonstration for improving pension benefits.
What is interesting about this picture below is that every pillar has a picture of a famous person from Spanish history. The pillar on the left used to have a picture of Francisco Franco. Not any more. I would love to talk to Lara's mother some about life under Franco.
Here's a picture of our street (or one like it) later in the day after the restaurants have set up tables.
Lara took us on a walking tour of the downtown area that included the University. I should write this off as a business expense.
Here she is playing tourguide. Doesn't she look professional? (She was great!)
This was the door to one of the buildings of the university. No danger of anyone coming in after hours to study.
The front of this building has hundreds of carvings. Legend has it that if you can find the frog, you will pass your exams.
Here's proof there are a lot of people who would rather try their luck than study.
We went to the cathedral and like a lot of old-world churches, it was an incredible piece of art and architecture.
This is one side of the organ.
And this.
Maybe if I conducted class up here, my students would pay attention? Maybe not.
Here's the crew at the wall.
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