I have now been in Salamanca for about three days and have had lots of opportunities to explore the city. Friday and Saturday we had brief orientations in the morning to review information about the culture, the host families, and the classes, as well as to get familiar with a few important places in the city. After a large lunch at 2 pm, the rest of the day was ours to use as we pleased. Although I'm adjusting fairly well to the time change, I will admit that Saturday I took a brief siesta after lunch because even though it was only 3 in he afternoon, I was already wiped out. Actually though, despite my previous reservations about the concept of a siesta in the middle of the day (I don't like the idea of wasting prime daylight hours...) after even just a few days here I can appreciate the siesta. The days here are incredibly long! I have to be awake for 9 am classes starting on Monday and dinner is not served until 9 or 9:30 pm. Also, if I want to go out after dinner, the nightlife doesn't really even begin to heat up until around 1 am. That means I don't get home until 2 or 3 in the morning (which is a very early turn-in time for Spanish nightlife!), and the day repeats itself in the morning with a relatively early wake up, because even on the weekends I won't be sleeping past 10:30.
Aside from a brief siesta, my afternoons have been spent primarily by walking around the city for a few hours. I love just strolling through the city without any real destination because the entire city is so beautiful and old that it hardly matters where you go. One of my favorite places to walk through is the University campus. The school is over thousands of years old, much older than anywhere in the USA. Also, near the campus there are a few churches and cathedrals with large, stunning domes. In general, the architecture of all the older buildings is one of the cities highlights. Once you get into the city and away from the more major, paved roads, many of the streets are narrow and made of cobblestones. It's easy to forget that these streets exist for cars to drive on, and that they are not just for strolling around the beautiful city. Speaking of walking on the cobblestone streets, I have to say I am extremely impressed by the ease and grace with which the Spanish women are able to walk these streets in stilettos. They poses none of the praying mantis like quality I'm used to seeing in American girls incapable of walking properly in heals-- and they are doing it on uneven ground. Props.
After a few hours walking around the city I would usually stop at one of the many cafés on the sides of the streets and in the Plaza Mayor. At these little cafés I have taken to drinking café con lecher (coffee with milk) which is a small amount off strong espresso with an equal amount, if not more, of milk. I have come to enjoy sitting at these cafés with friends and talking and people watching. Sometimes we order helado (ice cream) or tapas with the café as well. It is a very pleasant way to spend the evenings, and also makes a good snack between meals since lunch is served at 2 and dinner is served around 9. Sunday we had a free day, which I spent similar to the afternoons of the previous two days-- with a long walk exploring Salamanca and then at a café.
Classes start tomorrow morning at 9 am, so I will start to get into a more normal routine. Having a wonderful time so far!! Here are some photos of Salamanca:
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| La Plaza Mayor lit up at night. |
Hasta Luego!
Aubrey
