Catching up on posts....

Here's what I wrote about Salamanca when I didn't have internet access:

Arrived in one piece. Spent two days in Salamanca. Thought the bus ride to Salamanca would never end. When I heard “gangster’s paradise” coming from the radio on the bus, I thought I was hallucinating. Salamanca is beautiful. Am experiencing the perfect summer weather New England didn’t have this year.

The whole group went on a tour of the historic sites: two cathedrals and the Universidad de Salamanca. The cathedral we went in was gorgeous. It’s delicate intricacy revealed an unfathomable level of devotion. I would have put down the chisel and walked away when I thought no one was looking. Saw tremendous statue of Mary while holding Jesus as he bled out. Thought it was stone but it was made out of wood. Very shiny wood. We awkwardly interrupted a wedding and hurried out the door right before the bride made her grand entrance. Not socially acceptable. At least we didn’t disturb her entrance, we just delayed it. Her dress was stunning. Lots of lace but still sleek. It seemed like it could be a dress that has been passed down. According to the tour guide, only the members of high society can marry there. Not sure what makes one a member of high society. Is it just money or is it more than that? Lineage? I think it’s somewhat disturbing to marry in a place with such frequent depiction of death in its artwork.

Then we looked at another cathedral thing that had a carving of King Ferdinand (looking smug) and Queen Isabella on the outside of it. There were also carvings of greek gods and goddesses. Naturally they represented evil. Throughout the day we noticed frogs on all the souvenirs- shirts, keychains, etc. The guide pointed out a carving of a small frog on the head of a (stone) skull on the cathedral. Apparently seeing frogs in this city signifies good luck but seeing it else ware is bad luck. Across from this display is the portion of the university where Queen Isabella’s doctor lived. It was a religious academy where graduates wrote their names in blood on the outside of the walls. Too much blood to be their own. Suspect pig’s blood mixed with something else.

The streets in Salamanca are narrow and most are cobblestone. There are many round-abouts. I walked around and checked out the stores. Saw an H&M and a claire’s. Stores look classier here. The claire’s actually looked respectable instead of a massive heap of cheap, plastic trash in an ugly store with a sewage leak problem (see Walt Whitman mall). Saw lots of ice cream places and candy stores. I was struck by the amount of graffiti. As mi amiga Kelly noted “There is a Debra who seems to be quite popular in this area.” Lesson: the juvenile and idiotic are not limited to America. One interesting graffiti: “E.E. U.U. Eres el asesino!” (America, you are the murderer). The American invasion of Iraq did not go down well here.