{"id":45,"date":"2013-01-02T00:26:58","date_gmt":"2013-01-02T00:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/schmitt.seafog.net\/PeterSchmitt\/?p=45"},"modified":"2016-01-04T01:36:53","modified_gmt":"2016-01-04T01:36:53","slug":"calatayud-first-contact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seafog.net\/PeresRamblings\/calatayud-first-contact\/","title":{"rendered":"Calatayud – First Contact"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Puerta<\/a>Heading back to X\u00e0tiva from Madrid in June, via the long, scenic route, I stopped for a couple of days in Calata\"Calatayud\"<\/a>yud. The town is incredible. It is filled with history, winding (often steep) streets and alleys, and interesting vistas. The town traces its origins to the pre-Roman period. The famous Roman poet and satirist Martial was from Bilbilis, the remains of which lie just a few kilometers from Calatayud.\"Calatayud<\/a><\/p>\n

In spite of my weak ankle, I wandered all around the town, explored its streets, churches, squares etc.<\/p>\n

Some of the alleys were so steep they required stairs.
\n\"Meson<\/a><\/p>\n

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My sleeping arrangements were at a combination museum \/ restaurant \/ hotel called Mes\u00f3n de la Dolores in an older part of the town.<\/p>\n

\"Meson<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Hotel<\/a><\/p>\n

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My room was cozy and comfortable.<\/p>\n

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\"Heading<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course my feet began to find their way up, up, up toward the castle.<\/p>\n

\"Castle\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Castle<\/a><\/p>\n

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There were wonderful views in all directions from on top of the hill as I walked around the castle.<\/p>\n

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\"SONY<\/a><\/p>\n

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And then I headed back down into town to see some more. \"Fountain\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Blue<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"MudajarTower\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nThere are several “mudajar” style towers in Calatayud. This style involves very ornate brickwork and is attributed to the Moorish influences on Spanish architecture.<\/p>\n

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\"Street<\/a><\/p>\n

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Although the camera never seems to do justice to what we see with our eyes, my camera shutter was in a constant state of motion.<\/p>\n

Even now, a half a year later, it is tough for me to choose which of the hundreds of pictures I took, should be on this page. (don’t forget that you can click on the pictures to see larger versions!)
\n\"Iglesia<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Church<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Man<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Stack<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Plaza<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Inside<\/a>
\nLooking through my photos, I fell in love with the town all over again.<\/p>\n

The church of San Juan el Real boasts a mudajar tower making it a visual delight on the outside. The inside is also beautiful, and includes some frescoes by Goya up high in a sort of triangular section framing the domes.<\/p>\n

\"San<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Goya<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Sant<\/a><\/p>\n

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This plaque depicting Sant Jordi (Saint George) leaps from the wall.<\/p>\n

My hotel was not the only one of interest in town. Each hotel I saw cried out, “stay here, stay here.”<\/p>\n

\"Casa<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Posada<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"SONY<\/a><\/p>\n

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Between the town and the rail station I stopped to take a picture of the Jalon river.<\/p>\n

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It is easy to get to Calatayud. High speed trains from Madrid to Zaragoza pass through Calatayud, and some stop there. There are many trains each day. As I waited for a train that would take me from Calatayud to Zaragoza, another train passed the other direction without stopping!<\/p>\n