A Gallery of Weeks One and Two in Salamanca

Salamanca was suitably named the Golden City due to its beautiful, hand-crafted buildings made of sandstone. The palaces, cathedrals, and university buildings that make up Salamanca become more golden the more they age. When walking through the streets of Salamanca, beauty can be seen in every direction. From the side streets to the Plaza Mayor, this photogenic city never ceases to impress. There is history and modernity all over the city. The historic Plaza Mayor combined with modern urban street art emphasizes Salamanca’s historic charm and its progress. On the first weekend, we took a day trip to Segovia, an equally picturesque and historic city north of Madrid. The cathedral in Segovia was just as beautiful, yet completely different from the cathedral in Salamanca. The second weekend was our trip to northern Portugal. We visited Aveiro and Porto. In Aveiro, we had some time to explore and we went to the beach to enjoy the sunshine. In Porto, we had a guided tour of the city and went to a wine tasting to sample the Port wine that Porto is known for. Returning to Salamanca felt like returning home, as it has become a familiar place that I have become accustomed to over the past two weeks. I look forward to seeing what the second half of this adventure has in store!