KL's Travelogue: 20120223 Salamanca

3.5 hr bus journey to Salamanca, not torturing but rather uncomfortable, because someone vomited near to my seat and the foul smell was unpleasant.

At Salamanca bus station, the information desk lady replied “no”s to all my questions. Was a bit annoyed… I walked to the center, but tourist office was close for siesta. I was lucky enough to find a very cheap and clean hostel room.

The founding of the university in 1218 had changed the fate of Salamanca. It became the Oxford equivalent institution then and attracted the richest artistry activities. Throughout the 20^th century, especially during the Civil War and the 4 decades of Franco’s rule that follow, Salamanca’s university became the centre for liberal resistance to fascism. It’s still the home to massive Spanish and international students nowadays.

Salamanca is indeed a beautiful city. Its rare architecture splendour, graciously integrated the buildings together. At night the atmosphere was cheered up lively by the student crowds. Some dressed up theatrically like attending a masquerade. The floodlit Plaza Mayor presented magical effect. Poor students can’t afford to drink here, so sit in jovial huddles on the ground.

The backache woke me up in the 1^st night, not acute but I hardly could walk. The thought of bacteria infection in my kidney haunted me. Couldn't sleep, couldn't pass motion. I packed all my clothes, leaned against the heater, ready to go to hospital. Luckily the pain vanished after 1/2 hour. Might be dehydrated, might be muscle strained because of improper sleeping position, I had no clue but it didn’t recur the next days.

The exterior of Convento de San Estaban, Universidad Civil and Catedral Nueva were richly decorated. The stonemasons chiselled lots of biblical, fauna and flora figures on them. They added a frog on Universidad Civil and an astronaut on Catedral Nueva. Spotting these 2 had been fun to tourists.

The history of Universidad Civil was the element attracting the visitors, physically the display of the presently unused lecture halls and the University library lack the charms. The New Cathedral (free) was imposing but not impressive. I skipped the old cathedral.

My pick in Salamanca was the rather smallish Museo de Art Nouveau y Art Deco. It housed several paintings of Lagar, quite good, mainly the clown series. There was another painting depicting a boy in checker shirt attracted me. Several sculptures were interesting. Lacking of English description was the minus aspect.