SALAMANCA

On our way west we stopped here, drawn by the oldest university in Spain. This rash of learning that swept through Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries left behind more than weighty volumes. Architecture that truly inspires, streets hot with heretical thoughts. All this still exists today in Salamanca, particularly at night, when the Spanish come out to play, and the lights enliven the architecture that needs no enlivening, and the warmth encourages this cauldron of activity. Truly a beautiful city that you to should visit or to which you could send your student offspring on an Erasmus year.

Saturday seems to be wedding day at the stunning cathedral, and couples literally line up for their turn. We found ourselves in the midst of all this colour, elegantly dressed wedding parties, confetti cannons going off, brides in Ferraris.

Onwards to have some tapas at a very good modern wine bar, Vinodiario where we were introduced to a prosciutto-style ham made from goat, called cecina, which comes from nearby Leon and is astonishingly good. There was also a dish of salt cod with a conserve of peppers and olives, an Iberian hot dog, a nice traditional sausage, with a red fruit ketchup and excellent wine by the glass.

We stayed at the Melia las Claras Hotel, opposite our wine bar, but would probably have preferred the NH Hotel by the cathedral.

Vinodiario

Plaza Basilios no.1

Tel.: ++34/923 614 0438