Avila

On our way back to Salamanca, we made a stop in Avila, where St. Teresa was born. The old part of the city is surrounded by castle walls.

Children coloring around St. Teresa's statue.

This is one church we stopped in. You see all the churches here have a very different style than churches in Germany.

Looking out from Avila. Rooftops generally were of the clay pieces you find in the SW US.
One castle wall entrance.
Inside the wall.
St. Teresa's church

This sign lead to the chapel where St. Teresa was born. Pictures below are of the chapel and paintings in it of her life.

Conocer a la familia

This past weekend, I got to go to Madrid and meet the extended family as well as celebrate some birthdays. The birthday boys were the twins you see in the blue shirts with the rackets below and José's dad, sitting next to José, who turned 80. Below is a picture of the celebration at the restaurant. It was a hot day as were the majority of the days, but luckily we found a cool, shady location.

After eating way to much food including leftovers of others and a blueberry cheesecake, this birthday cake was brought out.
After dinner, we went to the family's house in Madrid. To get there we took the tunnel that bypassed the entire city. Here we are just about to go down. When we got there, I got to meet Paz's parents and aunt and uncle. The aunt graciously gave me a recipe and then decided to make for me the next day paella. I took some pictures so to remember how to do it so that maybe I might be able to make something similar in the US.
First, fry the chicken in olive oil, salt, and parsley and add vegetables such as artichokes, peas, and olives.
Add 10 cups of water (1 cup = .25L) for every 1 kilo of rice. The rice we used was rounded. We mixed about 4 cups of chicken stalk with the water for extra flavor and then added some salt with something similar to safron that adds color.

Once boiling over an evenly distributed flame, the rice is added. Then red peppers and and shrimp are placed on top as a decoration. Do not stir.

The dish is cooked until the water is almost consumed and the rice is almost cooked. Then the flame is turned off, the pan topped with a cloth, and the rice cooks in the vapor for 10 more minutes. And viola, you have a paella. It seems simple, but we'll see how it goes with out having the experts around. This paella, I think, is the type from Valencia. We were going to add more sea food, but the store was closed.

The dinner table and the cook with her masterpiece.

Paz's family
The town where Paz's family lived had a Mediterranean climate. There were olive groves around and it was pretty dry.
José and Paz's Madrid house was designed like a boat. Do you see the anchors?

En la torre

Here are some more pictures of Salamanca including the time I went up the cathedral tower.

Around Salamanca, this is a typcial view. Lots of grains and hay are being grown in the area.

So these pictures are of when I went up the cathedral tower. Above is a look at the old cathedral while on my way up. The new cathedral, below, was built joining the old cathedral.

Outside the new cathedral.

Afterward for Sandra to celebrate successfully getting into the tower during the 2 hours that it was free, we made peanut butter cookies, which were gone in no time.

Another day that I went biking into town I took these pictures, including this picture below of the forearm of a blessed person in the cathedral.

No getting in or out through that window.

I stopped by a clock museum. This one had figurines moving inside the pendulum.

Dinner at 11pm...melon with cured ham and a spring roll.

Salamanca 2

Here are some pictures with my friends who are taking care of me. They are awesome and I am very fortunate.

Taming the family beast, Brandon.
At Gino's Italian Eatery.

These 2 pictures are of everyone.

Salamanca

So I finally made it to my friend's house, where I could relax and figure out what exactly was wrong with my health. The picture below is part of the backyard where I would have my breakfast every morning. I am taking the picture from under the tree where I would do my daily reading.

A view of Salamanca from far away


Sandra and I in the plaza mayor. It is supposed to be good luck to stand under the clock which is located just under the bell.
This region is known for its cured pork. I had tons of it because it was so good. You could see them for sale hanging like this from the wall and ceiling if you wanted to buy a lot. Otherwise you could also buy the meat cut in small packages. (See further below for another picture of the prized meat). I am wondering if I could stuff one into a suitcase for when I come home?
Sandra, her friend, and I in front of cathedral.
Many things were recently restored on the cathedral, but some new touches were added. Do you see anything strange about the small sculptures that surrounded the door to the cathedral?
I felt like you could fit a sky scraper inside. The picture above is of the altar. I am in the picture next to the pillar on the right.
The back of the cathedral. Another day (when it is free), I plan to take a tour on the roof of the cathedral.
The front door of the cathedral.
In a garden made famous because it was written about in a famous book La Celestina.
St. Stephen's monastery.
More pork. This is what it looks like when it is cut up and read to eat.