Onto Segovia

Not much to report for today. We decided to drive to Segovia, which we've been to back in 2009 but loved it back then and thought why not go again.

Part the way along our drive, we decide to take the toll road to avoid the twisty ‘N’ road - temperature has dropped and road signs suggesting be wary of snow! We arrived at the campground, and it looks exactly like it did in 2009 when we were here - but that’s no bad thing.

Our campsite:

We walk a km to the Mercadona (supermarket) and by the time we get back it’s about 2 degrees and so we just settle in for the afternoon/evening, rather than go into town.

During the night, the gas bottle runs out, so the gas fired heater goes off and the chill sets in again. At dawn (8.30am), Bob has to get out into (-1 degrees) to change over the gas bottle. Lucky we have another, and he is thankful that it is a quick change connector (press spring loaded button to release and reconnect) as he says his hands are frozen. Once changed over we get lovely lovely heat again.

So yes we woke to a very cold morning with below zero temperatures. With the gas heater back up and running it was quite pleasant in the van but then we went out! Waiting for the bus we had a feel for things to come with the wind whipping through our jeans - why didn’t we bring thermals??

But it’s a nice day apart from the cold and we start in town reacquainting ourselves with the Acueducto (for those who were with us in 2009 you may remember it), which is right there in the main square where the buses stop. Not that you can miss it as it towers over the town. Built in 1st century AD by the Romans (who else), it was 15km long coming from the local mountains, with the Arch section here in town 950m long and 28 m high. There are 166 arches here, constructed totally mortar free with granite blocks all precisely cut and stacked in multiple levels, and framed with a locking ‘key’ in each arch.

Acueducto (not sure if you can have too many photos!!):

We followed that with a visit to the Cathedral which we don’t think we saw last time we were here (but could stand corrected). Again it’s pretty amazing and different enough so that you don’t think it’s the same as all the others. We skipped the Alcázar as it was just too cold, still in minus (feels like) territory.

Cathedral:

But the other main reason to come to Segovia (apart from the Acueducto) is to have Roast Suckling Pig 🐖 which was recommended by Bob's long time Doctor many, many years ago. So off to restaurant El Bernardino where, despite it being huge with multiple levels, we got one of the last tables available - this is Friday lunch at 3.00pm!

The number of little piggy portions coming out of the kitchen is astonishing. And there is a fairly rapid turnover of tables as it turns out, so the people, and the piggies, keep coming.

Bob orders the Menu Tipico which comes with Sopa Castellana - a casserole type thing (which we thought had things in it that we didn’t want to know, but googling later it seems that’s not the case), the Suckling Pig of course (I stuck with just main course of Suckling Pig but pinched some tastes of Bob’s other courses), and then Custard dessert with a type of fried waffle flower - oh an a carafe of vino (which of course I had half of).
It’s delicious but rich, the Piggy is very strongly ‘porky’, and we leave very satisfied.

The restaurant - and then our meal:

Outside it’s very cold still (it’s now 4 degrees but feels like zero still). We do have time for a quick selfie as the light is just right on the Acueducto.
Then we find the right bus home and back to the warmth of our van for the evening.

Our attempt at a selfie:

Adious for another night