And this is Zaragoza!

After almost 2 1/2 weeks in, I think I found a kind of gourmet tapas bar that serves more than just ham and cheese in bread. I passed it on the way back from a school I was in and saw the delights on offer and had to try some - I kicked off with a bite-sized piece of cod with hollandaise sauce, topped with some pancetta, and followed with various bits of slightly toasted bread, with different cheeses and slices of aubergine, mushrooms, etc. Lots to be eaten and I fairly stuffed my face. Nice.
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This will be my last post before I finally leave Zaragoza (only two more days examining left before a break in Madrid), so I thought I’d post a few pictures of the touristy parts and some other highlights.
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If I had to choose three places to visit on the popular tourist trail, I’d go for the Aljaferia, an Islamic pleasure palace which now houses the regional parliament (pictured). While it might not be as grand as Granada’s Alhambra or Cordoba’s Mezquita, it was free to get in and hardly anyone was there, making it a pleasure to stroll around. Plenty of Mudejar architecture (for which Zaragoza is well known) to marvel at, too.
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We then have La Seo cathedral, the smaller of the two cathedrals in Zaragoza (you can see it behind Becca and me). It forever seemed to be just closing when I went to visit, but finally got in yesterday. Very impressive Arabic/Christian architecture, etc. Not too flashy with the gold and marble inside, although perhaps slightly over-doing it on the carved plaster and alabaster. A rather interesting sculpture of everyone’s favourite saint, George, spearing a very small dragon (think of a young comodo dragon) through the head. Although most of it was in the white of the plaster, they’d daubed on some red for blood at the part where the lance went through the other side of the dragon’s head. Realistic touch, no?
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Then there is of course Pilar, the main cathedral at which the virgin Mary appeared to inspire St James to continue his ministry in Zaragoza. Rather a grand old thing with plenty of towers. They say it’s the much rebuilt closest tower to us in the picture that Mary appeared at the top of.
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And then there’s the beautiful park (and now I’m onto 4 places). See how wonderful the long running fountain is!
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And then we have me with a gin and tonic. Taken this afternoon. Was on a late examining shift today and as the weather was so good (sunny and 33 degrees), as soon as the sun had passed the yard-arm, I got myself a refreshing beverage The quantities they pour into drinks here are also quite refreshing – the glass you see holds half a pint easily.
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And that’s all for now. Time to pack and prepare for the small village of Andorra three hours south of here.