Day 7. We opted to take a day trip on our own to Segovia. Last year in Chicago, we heard Rick Steves lecture. He extolled the joys of getting lost and figuring out your way as part of the travel experience. Our attempts to get the train to Segovia and getting a little lost in the process clearly stretched our problem-solving skills. We had carefully looked up travel times on the train schedule (in Spanish). We figured out our train and identified what city bus and stop we needed to reach the train station. That part went like clockwork. At the station, we located the ticket machines, and proceeded to or der two tickets to Segovia. We got a warning those tickets were for a train that did not leave that station. Yikes!
We cancelled our order and searched for customer service. After waiting, we discovered our agent spoke only Spanish. We eventually determined which agent knew some English. We waited and found her English was about as good as my Spanish. But, she directed us to take Metro to a different train station serving commuter trains, with the Metro line and our stop.
We raced across the terminal, found the Metro, and caught our train. At the station, we found successfully purchased two tickets for a train in minutes, and boarded. We arrived at Segovia only one hour later than planned. We boarded a bus to take us into Segovia.
The Aquaduct. Our first sight was the Roman Aquaduct, still standing without any mortar or clamps. This amazing feat of engineering used granite blocks. Most archeologists believe construction started in the latter half of the first century CE. One of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts in Europe, it soars to over 93 feet. The Aquaduct brought water to Segovia until the end of the 19th century.
Coming from the States. to see something this old and in great condition is remarkable and inspiring! Once we got home, I learned, however, water leaks in tandem with air pollution caused the granite to deteriorate and crack. This led the World Monuments Fund to list the Aquaduct in their 2006 World Monuments Watch. I hope it can be protected and stabilized for the enjoyment of future generations.
We cancelled our order and searched for customer service. After waiting, we discovered our agent spoke only Spanish. We eventually determined which agent knew some English. We waited and found her English was about as good as my Spanish. But, she directed us to take Metro to a different train station serving commuter trains, with the Metro line and our stop.
We raced across the terminal, found the Metro, and caught our train. At the station, we found successfully purchased two tickets for a train in minutes, and boarded. We arrived at Segovia only one hour later than planned. We boarded a bus to take us into Segovia.
The Aquaduct. Our first sight was the Roman Aquaduct, still standing without any mortar or clamps. This amazing feat of engineering used granite blocks. Most archeologists believe construction started in the latter half of the first century CE. One of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts in Europe, it soars to over 93 feet. The Aquaduct brought water to Segovia until the end of the 19th century.
Coming from the States. to see something this old and in great condition is remarkable and inspiring! Once we got home, I learned, however, water leaks in tandem with air pollution caused the granite to deteriorate and crack. This led the World Monuments Fund to list the Aquaduct in their 2006 World Monuments Watch. I hope it can be protected and stabilized for the enjoyment of future generations.
The Royal Alcázar de Segovia. After feasting our eyes on the splendor of the Aquaduct, we wandered through Segovia to tour the Alcázar. We bought tickets that day, but at high season, advane purchase may be worth the effort.
The Alcázar is a castle built as a fortress on a cliff at the confluence of two rivers. It was erected on the site of an ancient Roman fort. Constructed to fit the terrain, it is shaped like the bow of a ship. After serving as a royal palace, it became a prison, a college, a military academy and, eventually, a museum.
Portions of the Alcázar were first erected in 1120, 32 years after Segovia returned to Christian hands. In the Middle Ages, it served as a preferred residence of Castilian royalty. If you're a musical buff, you may recall in Camelot, Lancelot du Lac made his home at the Alcázar. The exterior is said to have inspired Disney animators designing Sleeping Beauty's castle, A century ago, fire destroyed much of the interior. We saw recreations or items moved from buildings elsewhere in Spain.
An interesting tour, it offered stunning views, especially from the battlements. The climb to the top was up a narrow spiral staircase--great "fun" when you meet someone going down. The steps were often high and of uneven heights. As we climbed the 152 stone steps for gorgeous views, William gave me a running count of the number of the steps so far (he is always so thoughtful).
The Alcázar is a castle built as a fortress on a cliff at the confluence of two rivers. It was erected on the site of an ancient Roman fort. Constructed to fit the terrain, it is shaped like the bow of a ship. After serving as a royal palace, it became a prison, a college, a military academy and, eventually, a museum.
Portions of the Alcázar were first erected in 1120, 32 years after Segovia returned to Christian hands. In the Middle Ages, it served as a preferred residence of Castilian royalty. If you're a musical buff, you may recall in Camelot, Lancelot du Lac made his home at the Alcázar. The exterior is said to have inspired Disney animators designing Sleeping Beauty's castle, A century ago, fire destroyed much of the interior. We saw recreations or items moved from buildings elsewhere in Spain.
An interesting tour, it offered stunning views, especially from the battlements. The climb to the top was up a narrow spiral staircase--great "fun" when you meet someone going down. The steps were often high and of uneven heights. As we climbed the 152 stone steps for gorgeous views, William gave me a running count of the number of the steps so far (he is always so thoughtful).