Salamanca was unexpected simply because I did little or no research into the city during my planning. When I was looking for the optimum route back towards France I liked the name and was vaguely familiar that is was a significant and scenic city as well as being a World Heritage Site. Now I know it was connected to other places I have visited in Spain like Palos La Frontera, where Chistopher Columbus headed off on one of his voyages across the Atlantic. He did much of his planning here. There is a little park with a statue of the man himself. Miguel Cervantes may have studied here and there are references to the city on his novel Don Quixote of La Mancha. (Not the one near Penicuik). My hotel was placed a short walk to the centre of the city, Plaza Mayor. It is big and essentially a food court. I had Pinchon and wine at lunchtime there. The historical city drops to the south to the city wall by the river Tormes. A mixture of streets, plaza and lanes with what appears to be religious buildings on every corner although quite a few are university buildings. There are two cathedrals. They are attached and entered through the monumental Nuevo. Oh by the way, the sky is full of storks who nest on the tall buildings like the Convent of San Esteban where my close ups were shot. I hope you enjoy a glimpse of what is justifiably on the World Heritage list.

For orientation there is an outline map is here.

This what Plaza Mayor looks like at just before 10am a bit different.

Convent of San Esteban

Of course there is an amazing produce market.

I think Senor Columbus is saying America is that way, but I might be wrong having no sense of direction.

A selection of buildings starting with the house of shells

Eating and drinking was everywhere down lanes and in squares and I sampled some.

An efficent clean up crew were on duty.

I guess I need to show the cathedrals

These are in the old.

I’ll finish with my convivial dinner spot, full of young people and mighty portions. It may not look busy which is because where I ate is actually the second restaurant