This was an early-to-rise day, as we needed to be on our buses at 8:00 for the trip to Salamanca, Madrid, Spain. So, we were up at 6:30, hit the breakfast buffet, and boarded our bus in time for our 8:15 departure!

As we were driving along, our tour guide informed us that we were about to see a border crossing like none we’d ever seen before. We were riding along windy and sometimes precarious roads and at some point we could see a bridge in the distance. Our guide said, “Be ready!” We crossed the bridge, and he said, “We’re in Spain!” That was it! We crossed a bridge and we were in Spain. No checkpoint, no gate…nothing! Just drive right on in!

On the way we say some beautiful views of communities, and stork nests. We stopped at a little cafe for a bathroom break and some lovely coffee.

Once in Salamanca, this was our map for the day.

We started at the Plaza, but immediately went on to the Mercado, where we saw lots of fish, produce, and cured meats. We also learned that some meats are cured for 5-8 years! The longer the meat is cured, the more expensive it is. Some was selling for $100+ / kilo!

Our next stop was the Art Deco Museum. We weren’t allowed to take photos inside, but I did take one before I was caught!

Then on to Catedral Nueva “New Cathedral”, which is literally attached to the Old Cathedral, so that we had to walk through the New Cathedral to get to the Old Cathedral. There were two different weddings in progress while we were there, in different locations. Old Cathedral is such a popular place for weddings that you need to reserve five years in advance! In some cases, a young woman will reserve the Cathedral first, and then look for a husband. If they don’t find a husband in time, they may sell the reservation. Truth!

I stopped for some pics at Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells). This mansion is covered in scalloped shells, the symbol of the military Order of Santiago. This is a very eclectic building in terms of the styles in which is was architected. I don’t have the space (or photos) to add it all here, but if you follow the link above you can learn more.

Centuries ago, when a student earned their PhD, the family would host a celebration. The entire city participated, and there was a bullfight. After the bullfight, the student would write their name on the University wall in bull’s blood, mixed with olive oil and herbs. The writing still remains to this day.

Meet the Salamanca frog (If you can find him). At the entrance to the Universidad Civil, hidden in the carved stonework above the Puerta de Salamanca facade, is the Salamanca frog. It is believed that if you spot it you’ll have good luck in the following year (especially in exams). In the second pic in the slide deck below, if you zoom in on the skull on the left side of the pillar you’ll see the frog. The third picture shows an example of some the creative work added in a 20th century restoration project. Somewhere, on one of the pillars (not pictured), you’ll find a gargoyle eating ice cream!

Back at the Plaza, I had a refreshing beer and a Spanish meat pie called “hornazo” while we waited for our group to come back together.

Plaza Mayor is a huge esplanade in the city center. The esplanade construction was begun by King Philip III, whose statue stands in the square. At the top of the bell tower there is a stork nest. The storks weren’t interested in nesting elsewhere, so metal frames were installed to protect the nests, the stork babies, and the people who may pass under the nests.

Francisco Franco Bahamonde was a Spanish dictator who led the Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. He ruled over Spain from 1939 to 1975. Since his passing in 1975, there has been an effort to remove all references to his face and name in public view. You’ll see an example of that in the last picture in the slide deck below, where his face has been removed from the medallion on the pillar on the left, but the face of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who was the Spanish writer known for Don Quixote, remains on the pillar on the right.

Here’s some cool art I found along the way. There’s even a number if you’d like to contact the artist:

OMG! I almost forgot one of the best parts of the whole day the dogs of Portugal! They are everywhere! In the streets, sleeping in doorways, nobody owns them, they just live there, and people feed them. These two snoozers were waiting on the ramp to the boat when we returned:

Overall, it was a lovely day! I bought a coaster to commemorate it. 😄