Day 9 - Sunday, October 27, 2024 - Salamanca

 Last night was the change out of Daylight Saving Time in Europe so we had to set our watches back - this actually happened automatically with the phone. But another complication is that we were on the border with Spain which is in a different time zone an hour later so we had to make sure that our phone didn't change to Spanish time as all our departure times were in Portugal time.

We had an early departure at 8am but the time change helped a bit with this. The bus ride to Salamanca was about 2 1/2 hours.

The geography changes quickly from the steep Douro Valley up to a high plain in Spain. Instead of vineyards and olive trees there are flat fields and pastures with grazing cattle.

We had a brief "comfort" stop at a cafe which was rather chaotic with 5 busloads of people all on their way to Salamanca. It was interesting to see all the dry hams hanging from the ceiling with little cups below to catch any fluids that might drain down.\

Getting off the bus in Salamanca, we went up a shopping street where the tour guide pointed out the different types of ham hanging in a shop window which are marked with the colors black, green, red and white. The black hams were fed only with acorns. The green and red hams were fed organically with a mix of acorns and grain. And the white hams were industrially raised on grain. The black hams were the most expensive and cost over $400 for a leg. The white were only about $100.

We then toured through the university which was founded by the king in 1218 on the grounds of a cathedral school from 1130. The king was busy with battles and didn't have the funds to actually construct university buildings until later.

We then went to the cathedrals. There is an "old" cathedral from the 12th century but it became two small with all the students coming to the university and the pope allowed them to build a "new" cathedral right next to it starting in the 16th century which took two hundred years to complete. When it was done, it was planned for the old cathedral to be torn down but the townspeople objected and petitioned the pope to let it remain which he did. We were there at the time of the Sunday mass and were able to hear the organ and singing which was a special experience.

We had lunch at a restaurant in a convent from 1199 which is now a Marriott hotel! We were entertained by "tuna" singers. These are singers whose tradition dates back to the 13th century when the students were poor and would sing to get money and food. The leader of the group said their organization could be traced back to the 13th century. It was quite entertaining.

Then a 3 hour bus ride back to the ship with a comfort stop at a highway rest area the included a full supermarket where you could by everything from rifles and hunting knives to kitchen utensils, snacks, food and alcoholic beverages.

Spanish hams in cafe

University 800 year commemorative plaque

"New" cathedral

Judgement day

"Tuna" singers