Segovia!!

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for, my first successful trip outside of Madrid!  I have been looking forward to going to this place for weeks because of its several beautiful attractions, including, but not limited to, one of the most ornate cathedrals I have ever seen, a 1000 year old aqueduct, and a castle.  Yes, you read me correctly, A CASTLE.  And not just any old run of the mill 17th century Alcazar, but one that is purported to have been used to make the designs for the castles in Disneyland.  So after waking up before 10 on a Friday, UNHEARD OF (good thing I wasn't up until 4am the previous night.  Oh wait..), I metro'd it to the Chamartin train station to meet my friends and sip some cafe while waiting for our train.  I have to admit the train rides there and back were some of the most entertaining train rides I've ever been on.  The ride there was full of excited questions and comments about the magical city we were about to see and the ride back was full of delirious, non-stop laughter that only comes from being utterly exhausted from walking for the past 7 hours.

So we get to the city and realize we can't see any of the three aforementioned landmarks (a common theme with coming to new cities..see El Escorial pt. 1).  By meeting a jolly old English couple looking at a map of the city outside the train station, we found out we were on the opposite side of the city.  My new grandparents were gracious enough to show us the way (and give us much more history of their home city in England than was necessary).  Then while looking for food we followed my friend Christina's directions which led us up a windy road to the top of an abandoned mountain (aka not where we were supposed to go) and we firmly decided never to listen to her again.

So finally, we had had enough and took a taxi to the Alcazar (Castle).  Then we saw it.  The facade of an ancient drawbridge and majestic gates and towers all situated on the top of a rocky mountain.  As soon as we got a view of it, we knew we had picked the right city.  It literally lures your eyes in until you cannot look anywhere else.

We went on a short tour of the interior then got to walk up the Harry Potter-esque spiral staircase to the top of the Juan II Tower.

Boss on a Hoss.

Stairs of Death.  The sign literally reads:
"153 steps.  Not for unhealthy people."

Once at the top, the views are breathtaking.  On one side you can see out to the country side and get a chance to see it as the old royal elite used to.  An opportunity to see the vast kingdom that belongs all to you.  Then the other side is the city of Segovia with the beautiful Cathedral sitting right in the center.

Yea that's right.  I gots friends.

Yowza.

So little did we know that the entrance to the Castle was not even its best attribute.  The real place to see the Alcazar in all its glory was from the back.  How do you get to the back?  Why by hiking down a windy mountain of course!  Luckily we found a very helpful gato who led us to the bottom.  Gato, this blog entry goes out to you.

Ready..

Aim..

BLAMO!

Now THAT is a castle.  So the treacherous march down the mountain was exponentially worse going back up, but when we got to the top we went straight for the Cathedral.  And we got there just in the nick of time! ..to watch the doors shut as it closed.  Luckily I think there might be other Cathedrals in Europe (just maybe) so we weren't too disappointed.  Next on our list was the Aqueduct!  It was perfect timing for this landmark because we got some sweet pictures right as the sun was falling.

Who is this handsome fellow?

So something I did not tell you at the beginning is that the ONE MAIN purpose I had for this trip, besides cultural enhancement, spending time with friends, blahhhhh, was a picture of the castle at night.  My one request!!  So I convinced my reluctant amigas to get a taxi back to the castle again (because there was no way in Nicholas Flamel we were walking down that death trap again without our gato) and boy were we not disappointed!  Don't believe us?  Just take a look at this gem!

MAJESTY.

So after dinner, we had our Segovia gigglefest 2011 on the train ride back, got some tapas and beer and called it a day.  A very productive day if I do say so myself.