Day 10 – Adiós Salamanca

Both of us awoke before the alarm sounded. Our bags had been packed and were now zipped up ready for the trip back to Madrid. All that was left to do was a quick clean-up of the apartment and we would have time to enjoy our last few hours in Salamanca before our departure. The San Justo Apartments had been a great base for us over the last week.

San Justo Apartments - We were on the third floor far right window

The location could not have been better! The University, Plaza Mayor, and a plethora of restaurants were all within a few steps from the front door. Pre-trip, we had read online that San Justo Plaza could be noisy with students at night when school is in session. However, that was not the case during our visit.

Our View out the front window

We were out the front door and up the hill one more time to the Plaza Mayor for breakfast. Instead of the normal entrance we had been using to the plaza, we chose to enter the plaza as we would have in 1972.

Every morning on the way to school we passed through this entrance. The steps up are well worn from centuries of pedestrian traffic, and some of that wear can be attributed to us as we helped in this aging process.

Standing in the entryway, we reflected feeling blessed that our parents would let us take that trip to Europe forty-seven years ago, and there was a teacher willing to be responsible for a bunch of teenagers to make it happen.

The plaza restaurants were not busy as we entered. Panel trucks of pastries, ham, beer, and assorted other food items were making their deliveries. We chose a restaurant we had eaten at before for our last breakfast. Looking out over the plaza there was only one lone tour group gathered around their guide as the history of the “Plaza Mayor” was told.

Tom was not going to leave Salamanca without having Jamón Ibérico and eggs just one more time. This special ham is truly a treat and something that one does not normally buy in the states. Since you cannot bring meat into the U.S., you have to buy it at a high-end deli or order online. If you would like to try it, here is a link to La Tienda.  The online store also sells this magical meat in smaller amounts.

Knowing it would be a long day, Janet chose what Tom calls a European Power Breakfast.

She first experienced a meal like this in Malta a few years back. Avocado Toast, Baked Beans, and Grilled Tomatoes with a cup of Café con Leche would be the ingredients that someone from the UK would call a proper breakfast.

Saying goodbye to all that was around us, we went back to the apartment and picked up our bags. However, there was one more stop on the way.  Lunch, we would need lunch for the train! The Hacienda Zorita, where we enjoyed our Sunday lunch, has a store right off the Plaza Mayor.

If you look closely in the window on the left side… You would be correct!

Today for lunch we will both be having a Bocadillo. These are sandwiches made with Spanish style baguette, and when in Salamanca usually will have Jamón Ibérico, with or without cheese.

Once again, San Justo’s location paid big dividends. Instead of walking up the hill to the plaza, we walked down the street dragging our suitcases to the Gran Via where there was a taxi stand. The entire walk was less than 100 feet from our front door to sitting in a taxi.



Gran Via 1972 - Still looks the same but much more busy

It was off to the train station.

Our train back to Madrid took a different route than our arrival route. The scenery was still beautiful, but different than what we saw on the way.

We were riding on a local train, so there were more frequent stops along the way.

The time just slipped by as we read, enjoyed the sights, and of course, ate our Bocadillos.

For our final night, we stayed at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center. This is a massive complex near the airport and offers free shuttle service to the airport. We were told it is the largest hotel in Spain. Probably the largest hotel we have stayed in our travels.

It has a strange car in the lobby we never did figure out, but the one thing it did have was a pool. And if you know Janet, you know she truly loves her pool time.

We had a nice dinner in the Marriott’s Restaurant and reflected on all that we had done and seen in the last week. When the sun rises, we will be heading to the airport for our flight home. Spain, and Salamanca particularly, had treated us well over the last ten days. We look forward to returning to the Iberian Peninsula soon… maybe Portugal or Galicia in Northern Spain next visit.

Thanks for following along - Adios until next trip!