Madrid, Bejar, Toledo, Zamora, Salamanca
4-13 September 2004
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I attended a summit of people with the surnames Bejar, Behar and
similar in the Spanish city of.... Bejar, about 150-200 miles North
West of Madrid. I took up the opportunity to explore Madrid and visit
Salamanca and Zamora, where college friend Elisa lives and works.
Me in front of Don Quixote and his companion Sancho Panza. Next year
sees the
500th (?) anniversary of this famous book, so my trading tip for the
day is to buy
and hoard Don Quixote products.
The badge of the 2004 summit.
This is the Crest of the Duke of Bejar, in the newly opened museum.
One of many photos taken of those who congregated. About 60 people came
from all
over the world. A similar photo appeared in a Spanish newspaper.
The back of the bus, where (some of) the cool kids sit.
A typical street in one of the many towns around Bejar we visited for
historical reasons.
Interior of a synagogue in Toledo
The Christo de la Luz Mosque in Toledo, which is 1000 years old.
OK, this needs explaining. It's common to start tappas-bar hopping,
consuming drinks
or snacks before sitting down for a proper meal some time after 10pm.
Tapas are often
a couple of mouthfulls worth of food per person, usually eaten by hand
without plates.
People seem to leave any remains in a serviette and throw it on the
floor. The tables were
clean.
Myself with Elisa (centre) and her sister Marta. If I recall, this is
many hours (and drinks)
into the morning in Zamora. I think this is just before some equally
drunk guy challenged
me to a press-up competition. (I naturally won this, beating his 38 by
rounding up to 50.)
The main square in Salamanca, a university city in many ways similar to
Oxford...
.... as these 2 pictures show
One of the more beautiful cathedral interiors I have seen.
One of the most beautiful dishes I have ever seen. Apparently, the
"original"
Valencian paella has no seafood, instead using chicken, rabbit and
possibly
game.
This has all the above and seafood.
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