Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Segovia

Hola,

On my second day in Madrid, we took a day trip to Segovia, which is a city in Spain and can be reached in 30minutes by high speed train from Madrid.

To be honest, I never expected that Segovia can be such a wonder. Love all the brown color building, the narrow and tiny streets, the well preserved Aqueduct, cathedral and Alcazar.

People there hardly understand English and can be quite rude if you don't understand.

But still, this city is beautiful. You will definitely fall in love with it especially when you are into historical buildings.

In 1985 the old city of Segovia and its Aqueduct were declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

So, we got up early morning and reached Atocha railway station, which was then told by the staff at the ticket counter saying that the train to Segovia is only available in another railway station in Chemantin. That was kinda far and we had no choice but to miss the early train to Segovia thanks to the wrong information given by the receptionist in the hostel that we stayed. Urgh~

So, we went to the football stadium in Madrid on the way to Chamantin railway station.

Took the high speed train and it was so comfy and warm inside the coach. 22 degree Celsius.

You must be thinking that I am crazy to make a complain on the room temperature but, for people who has been exposed to cold weather in the UK, 22 degree Celsius is considered "warm".


Atocha Railway Station
Our train tickets!
First experience on high speed train!Lolz.
Sounds like "sampat girl"
WOWWWW!!!
The next thing we saw after we passed by a tunnel was THIS!
Everyone was so excited to see this unexpected view in mid March.
The next thing we saw when we reached Segovia.
What a great day to start off with...
There were also cows but I didnt managed to snap a pictures of them cause
we had to catch the bus that took us to the “downtown” area,
and upon stepping off we saw the huge aqueduct leading deeper into the city
Don't you think that we were like the sardines inside the tin?
It was soooo pack inside the bus in which I almost deprived of oxygen.
No good. (Ignore my tired looking face too!)
The bus trip took us about 20minutes swaying from one side to another cause
there were many roundabouts.
The next thing we saw was the THIS!!! see pic below:
TA-DAAA!!Roman Aqueduct which is still in use!!


Exciting boys!
Phew-wit~ Yea, that's me (the pretty lady, *choking*)
posing next to this ancient Roman building
Note that the stairs will lead you to the other end of the old city
where you can witness the Walls of Segovia.
Spiderman wannabe~
The holes on the stone were used to lift rocks up with calipers
But there were legends saying that these are the marks of the devil's fingers

This is one of the most important Roman civil engineering work in Spain.

It is made of rough-hewn massive granite blocks, joined without mortar or clamps.
I wondered how many peoples were sacrificed for this
stonework during ancient times...
So many years passed by and yet, it is well preserved.
The street in this historical city.
*like like like*
Segovia has many of such tiny but special restaurant
I like the patterns on the wall of this building!
Look at the windows...so Classic!

Alcazar Castle~
which is said to be the inspiration of Walt Disney’s Cinderella palace
Magnificent view of the city on the way to Alcazar
I can still view the mountain covered with snow behind...
Monument on the way to Alcazar
It is right beside Alcazar
View at the top of the city
Alcazar Castle was originally a fortress, which has
also been a royal palace
Bars on the windows reveal this tower's history as a state prison
Wind are so strong that I barely able to open my eyes big big.
Looked so ugly.
View of the cathedral on top of the Tower of John II

Narrow and Gothic street.
Love it!
Sun light does a great work in making most of my pictures look beautiful
I like the flower pots in one of the balcony...
Picnic basket anyone?
Or you prefer to have the piggy right at the bottom?

It stretches from the walls of the old town to the edges of Sierra de Guadarrama
- about 2950 feet long
Love the patterns on the wall and the lamp post!
Had a great old feeling on them!
So old and yet it amazes me...

View of the old city across the arch of aqueduct
The sculptures of the Loba Capitolina in front of the aqueduct
- a gift that Rome gave to the city in 1974 during the events of the billienium anniversary of the aqueduct.
Time to go back to Madrid!
See you in a bit....

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