Renovation Project - Things to see in Salamanca, Spain

Renovation Project - Things to see in Salamanca, Spain

We arrive in Salamanca which is one of the oldest university towns in Spain and the architecture is amazing. There is a large square which has bars and restaurants all around it, we have a drink in one of the bars and the view is spectacular. Though the prices of the bars do reflect the view.  We have 2 small beers and the cost is 6.50 Euros (expensive but worth it) we then move just out of the square, but can still see it and the cost of 2 beers is 4 euro’s, we then move 3 tables further away (which is another bar), still with the same view and the price is 2 euro’s!!!!!!!!

This is the best place we have ever sat for people watching, one thing we notice is the amount of different people there, there are students as it is still a university town through to very glamorous sightseers, we have great fun making up stories about the people we see.

We spend the day walking around and the place is just amazing, we enter the main cathedral and we have never seen anything like it, it is almost like having a number of smaller churches inside one big building, the weirdest thing in there is the petrified hand!

At one point there is a mirror placed so that you can actually see the ornate and decorative ceiling without hurting your neck!

As we leave we look at all of the intricate stone carvings on the outside of the building and there is a loud, unkempt beggar, I take pity on him and give him some small change, at which point he begins to tell us about the carvings (yes even the beggar knows some words in English!!!!!) apparently there is an astronaut on there, can you see it?

This was added in 1993, some other people also explain that there is a frog on there and if a student sees it on their first day they will have a successful time at university, we never did find it and all I could think was thank goodness I wasn’t starting university or I would be gutted now!

We have lunch at one of the restaurants and this is the view we have.

We sit and listen to a busker, playing a violin and the music is so moving, I do video him, but realise my phone does has the sound turned off, this is such a shame as it was so beautiful sat on the grass under the cathedral listening to fantastic live music.

We walk across the old bridge just as the sun is setting, it is so beautiful and when we saw the sun setting over the cathedral it is one of the most beautiful sights we have seen.

The city is beautiful at every time of the day, but at night time it really comes alive, the city is lit up and the square looks magnificent, where ever you choose to eat or drink the view is astounding.

We eat dinner at a small restaurant (Merlin's)and the value is unbelievable, we had the menu del dia, (menu of the day) which is a 3 course meal, with a small carafe of wine each and the total cost is 20 euro’s. You do need to look around for food and drink in Salamanca as the cost varies dramatically.

 

One thing I have forgotten to mention is the cows, there are large, statue cows around the city, we were lucky enough to watch one being decorated, we also saw someone decorating one of the hoardings around a derelict building, the pictures were fantastic and we realised he was a street artiste as he had a tin left out for loose change. He was also very lucky as whilst we were watching him a car drove along the road (there are not many cars as the roads are so narrow) we are sure this one should not have been here as it actually drove around the tables and chairs that covered the road and only just missed the artiste who was lay on the floor. There were lots bewildered looks and then cursing and arm waving in Spanish, I think the Spanish definitely make the best angry people, as the passion that goes with the cursing and arm waving is a wonderful sight!

We spent 2 nights in Salamanca and managed to see most of the important monuments and sights but we know at some point we will return for another weekend so that we can wander around at a more leisurely pace, this is definitely the city for sitting at a cafe and people watching.