Yesterday
we took a trip north of Madrid to Segovia. It has to be the most beautiful place I have ever seen. (I will probably be saying this often.) As we drove towards the city, the first
thing I saw was a medieval castle adorning the skyline. I knew that I was going to like
this trip. The entrance of Segovia
is a gigantic wall of stone aqueducts that you pass through, a recognizable
symbol of the city. We walked
through the city, with the little shops, central plaza, and cathedral. When we
walked inside of it to take a peek, we had stumbled in on their mass. Of course the Americans wander in with
our shorts and tennis shoes, cameras ready at hand, and Pablo’s booming voice
echoing through the rafters. Well
that was awkward. Continuing on,
we made our way to the goal I had in mind: the castle of Alcazar. If anyone has not learned this by now I
have a thing for princess-related things, and royal architecture is high on the
list.
The medieval
castle still had most decorative items amazingly intact, from the tapestries,
to the embellished ceilings, to the murals. We walked through the courtyard, and I could only imagine
what it would be like to have actually lived in this castle so long ago. “Oh, yes, let me look out my window
overlooking my kingdom. I believe
I will take a stroll through the courtyard. “ However, this was medieval times
so it probably would be more like “It’s cold and dark and I can’t breathe in
this dress and excuse me as someone paints a picture of me looking
solemn…” We then had the option to
go up to one of the towers for a better view, which I obviously obliged to, for
when one extends to you an invitation to ascend a medieval tower, you simply do
not say no. Common knowledge. It did not take climbing the tower,
though, to have amazing views. As
great as they were in Toledo, Segovia put them to shame. Somehow, everywhere
you went you were looking out over the beautiful architecture, plaza, our
rolling green hills, all with mountains in the distance. This could be para-, para-,
paradise.
When we left,
there was still one more stop before we made it home. To my delight, it was a palace. Castle and a palace in the same day? Sure, I will take that. The property was amazing, with rose
gardens, fountains, statues, and the sight of snow-capped mountains in the
distance. We went down the
tree-shaded paths to explore the property. Remember, now, we were with Pablo so he was not going to
leave one rock or obscure shrub unexplained.
That night, we
went out as a group. It proved to
be quite entertaining, so here are some “that’s just Karli” moments to leave
you with. One group of
Spaniards dubbed me “Barbie” and that gained popularity. The men here are very… romantic and try
to woo the American girls with their calls of “Te amo!” Um, adios chicos. I was fortunate enough to have my
friend pretend to be my novio, when necessary. Even though he is not even attracted to, well, chicas. I must say, we put on quite the
convincing act walking arm in arm in the streets of Spain, with our sweet sweet words
of amor. Cannn you feeeel the love
tonight…
At the restaurant
we were at, the waiter came over and told me I was driving him “loco”. I chalked it up to laughable as the
group continued talking. He came over once again, and I consented to giving him a kiss on the cheek, to which he pretended to faint. Smooth, hombre, so smooth. Before I left, he came up to me and lifted up his shirt to reveal his
(actually quite nice) abdominals, telling me he thought I should see them. "You have your body," he said, "I have mine." Well. Gracias? The group left in riotous laughter. I
feel like in the US that is basis for being fired, but I have a feeling I’m not
in Georgia anymore.
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