Weekend Excursions in Toledo and Segovia

This is the outside of our residence hall.  We are just a couple of blocks away from the nearest metro stop, which makes it quite easy to get downtown and to visit many of the tourist spots here in Madrid.  At the residence we get three meals a day and have access to a gym, laundry room, game room, and various study rooms.

This weekend we went to the town of Segovia, which is just about an hour away from Madrid.  The first place we stopped on our way to Segovia was the Palacio Real de la Granja.  This shows a view of the palace from one of the gardens.  While in the palace we received a guided tour in which we learned all about the history of the palace as well as some interesting facts about the artifacts inside.  One interesting thing that we learned is that the average weight of the chandeliers in the palace is 400 kilos, the equivalent of 880 pounds.

This a view of just one of the many gardens at the Palacio Real de la Granja.  While taking in the beauty of the landscape and the elaborate fountains that adorn much of the area I was brought back to the days of Pride and Prejudice and the term "take a turn about the garden" came into a whole new focus for me.  I had thought how silly it would be to walk around one of the gardens I had growing up in the States--it would have taken only a minute or two at most.  After being exposed to this beautiful garden, however, I have a whole new appreciation for the term.  I could walk around this garden for hours without being bored.

This photo shows an aqueduct in town of Segovia.  The aqueduct is no longer used to transport water, but remains an important structure in the town for its historical value if nothing else.  

After walking around Segovia for a couple of hours and eating a delicious lunch of salad, steak, fries, and dessert we ended our tour at the Alcazar of Segovia.  The Alcazar is a fortress/castle that has been used for many different purposes over the years.  In this room we got to see full body armor for adults, children, and even horses.

This is a picture of a large cathedral in Segovia.  It is located right on the town square and was the last Gothic style cathedral to be built in Spain.  It exhibits many different types of architecture and is sure to draw the attention of anyone who happens to be walking by.

This is a gorgeous view of the city of Toledo.  Toledo is the home of El Greco, one of the most famous Spanish painters.  While visiting this town we were able to see one of his paintings, which is located in a small church.  Though I had previously seen the painting in books it was exciting to see it in person.