Alcalá de Herares

Alcalá de Herares is one of the lesser known (for tourists outside of Spain) day trips that you can take from Madrid. I had never been, which is a shame, because really it was very close. It is just NorthEast of the city. We got there in about an hour, and you can also get there in about an hour from the center of Madrid using the Cercanías (regional trains).

We went this weekend with some friends to see the town and also to go to the Museo Archqueológico Regional (English information link here). They have an special exhibit "La Cuna de la Humanidad" (the footprint of humanity) which has only before been seen in Africa.

Special exhibit 

I feel like I should make the disclaimer that the museum's regular collection is only in Spanish. Since this is only a regional museum it is only about the history in what is now the providence or "Ayuntammiento" of Madrid. However the exhibits are thoughtful out together and even starts with a rather impressive Imax-eske video dating back 460,000,000 years ago to present. I had no idea that a once the "safari" animals called Spain home too!

A relic of Roman occupation, Achilles defeating the Amazonian Queen  

As for the Special exhibit it was very cool to see a copy of "Lucy" and alsoof footprints of our early ancestors. It also went into great detail on the Leaky family and their contribution to our understanding of evolution.

"Lucy"

I always look for  textile paraphernalia in museums. These are "fusayolas" which mean spindle whorls in Spanish. I have more pictures of more whorls from this museum, but that might get it's own post. If they are like other spindles I have seen here in Spain, they probably had a carved shaft, about 25-30cm long, with a spiral leading to a point at one end to encourage the fiber to rotate off the point. However there was no information here.

The absolute best thing about this museum (or my favorite, anyway) was the tiny gift shop. Now, I have been to many museums and they are usually filled with t-shirts, postcards and books, not that those things are bad, but this museum had replicas and kits! Look I got a spindle whorl replica and a cave painting kit (complete with dye stuff, background stone and your own stick brush with hair at one end). I love this kind of thing. These alone made my whole day.

Across the street from the museum is the Archbishop's palace, which was very photogenic. 

Catalina de Aragón

We also saw the house were Cervantes was born Spanish link, English link. That house had two spinning wheels and an old fashioned bobbin winder! Unfortunately taking photos was not allowed inside.

Image taken from the museum's website.

The beautiful Cervantes plaza already has huge roses blooming, and was surrounded by beautiful views in all directions.

I am fascinated by the herons and their huge nests/obsession for church towers.

Even the side streets are cute here.

The old mosque, still very picturesque.

Montpellier Day two

One of the things I really liked about Montpellier was the tram system. It runs often, quietly and there are four lines. Each line is painted differently so it is really easy to see from a distance if it is the line you want. There is even talk of a fifth one that will go down to the beach. (Although there was talk of that back in 2011 too.) If we move here having the tram to get around means we can put off getting a car.

Like I said, art is everywhere you look here. If one side of the building looks odd, it is probably because it is two dimensional (click to enlarge).

The center of the city is mostly pedestrian (although keep an eye out for vans and motorcycles) and tiny little streets filled with details in stone, iron, and stores.

The city also boosts an Arc de Triomphe 

If you are reading this as someone who wants to visit the city and is looking for something to do. I heartily recommend visiting the Jardin des Plantes or the Botanical garden. It is free, and open most afternoons (except Mondays). We did not get a chance to really visited it this time, more like a peek inside, but it is a truly beautiful European garden.

We next met up with a locally based knitter for coffee. She truly is the sweetest woman and let us ask question after question about living there. When we left her, it was a short walk to this view.

Do you notice how the light is beginning to turn pink for sunset? It does that in Madrid too, and I never get tired of it.

We then headed downtown to look for the last yarn store and for somewhere to eat for dinner. We walked through the narrow winding streets and window shopped, looking at all the art, in stone or otherwise as we passed.

Hopefully I will get to see Montpellier again very soon.

Spring is here

I have blog block, and more pictures of London and Barcelona to show you, but first I am going to post in real time. Today, my beloved and I had a picnic at Parque Quinta de los Molinos because the almonds are in full bloom, and there has been no rain. If you are in Madrid, you need to go to that park ASAP. It is a magical land, and a great place for a picnic.

If you want to know more about the park you can see my previous posts here and here.

More London and Barcelona photos coming soon, plus this weekend I leave for Montpellier, France!

June

Not too much to report on here in Madrid. I am counting down the days to the end of the "school year". (The semester I teach ends on June 28th.) I am really busy getting things together behind the scenes for my little store that I will open in July.

Whenever I have a free moment I try and enjoy the flowers. We have had a very wet and cold Spring here and very little warmth and sunshine. But, the best part? We are having a Spring! The flowers are blooming slowly and with style.

 We even have days of Simpsons clouds.

I have added to my own little container garden too.

Plymouth part 3

The next days was our to explore the town.

We went down through part of the Barbican, and around the dock yard.

We were heading to the Aquarium. 

Which was surrounded on both sides by water.

It was a very nice aquarium and we learned and saw many things.

Then we set out for the dead center of the Barbican to find the Elizabethan Gardens. Which is a tiny, multi-level garden planted in Elizabethan times and not only preserved but open to the public regularly.

They were very charming. I wish we could live there.