Salamanca

   I had my first experience traveling while abroad this past weekend. I took a trip to Salamanca with five other people from my program. We had an incredible time. Salamanca is a city in the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon (the same as Segovia) so it had much of the same culture as what I have been experiencing here in my home city. Salamanca is best known as being a college town. It is home to many Spanish students during the fall and winter semesters, and many international students during the summer. 

   The University of Salamanca was built in the year 1218. It is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest in Europe. It also was the first university to have a library in it. The main thing everyone must do when they visit Salamanca is find the frog hidden in the intricate carvings surrouding the university entrance. Finding the frog ensures good luck and passing grades on all of your final exams. There is also an astronaut hidden in the carvings. I'm not really sure what is up with that, but it's pretty cool seeing as it was built hundreds of years before astronauts were even a thing. 

   Salamanca also has two cathedrals. I think every major city in Spain has a cathedral, however, it is unusual for a city to have two. My friends and I toured the new and the old cathedrals which are connected to each other. The people of Salamanca decided to salvage the old cathedral instead of tearing it down when it was time to build the new one. The cathedrals and the university have been tied together pretty tightly through history. It was a very cool experience to walk through and see the different tombs, artwork, and artifacts that helped shape the city as it is today. 

   La Plaza Mayor de Salamanca was my favorite historical site. It was absolutely stunning. Up until about 100 years ago, La Plaza Mayor also served as La Plaza del Toros where bullfights were held. 

   Other places we also saw in Salamanca: El Convento de San Esteban Los Dominicos (built in 1524-1610), El Puente Romano (first century), El Palacio de Monterrey (16th century), and La Casa de las Conchas (15th century.) We also partied in a church turned bar called Camelot where the DJ played music from the pulpit. 

Can you find the frog?

La Plaza Mayor

El Convento de San Esteban Los Dominicos

The church that is now a bar, Camelot.

El Puente Romano (it's got nothing on the aqueduct)

My first time having tapas.

The New Cathedral.