Segovia y El Escorial

I´m writing this in reverse order of how the events actually went down for reasons that will be listed below.

Segovia was the second destination on our tour. What this city is known for is its grand Roman aqueduct. This aqueduct is one of the many monuments in Spain that show the sheer amount of influences Spain has had in its rich history. The other in Segovia was this large and very beautifully built cathedral. Its architecture was one of the more impressive that I had seen. Unfortunately, other than these two monuments, I did not get to see much else of Segovia. We weren´t given nearly as much time as would be needed to truly explore. The overall impression that I got from Segovia is that it is very tourist driven (thought this may have come from the specific area we were dropped off in). Nonetheless, it was a pretty city.

El Escorial, or more specifically, the cathedral of El Escorial, is by far the most impressive and spiritual structure I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Of course, I had no idea what to expect beforehand. As we walked the streets, I was wondering what exactly our destination was going to be. It didn´t take long for me to find out. In front of me was an absolutely massive building that seemed to stretch on and on. It was then, that i knew I was in for something great. As the group gathered in the courtyard, I was wondering what this imposing building could possibly contain within. My inquiry would soon be answered with something so powerful, that even now, I can find no words that can even begin to describe its grandeur. It cam in the form of a towering cathedral. Spain is full of cathedrals, so what made this one so different? Among its walls and ceilings there were delicate but masterful paintings telling ageless tales of religion, of redemtion, of happiness and sadness and forgiveness. The paintings stretched for what seemed an eternity with these tales, not even ending at the altar. Soft organ music and chanting accompanied and accentuated the storytelling aspect of the paintings. All of this was made all the more impressive by the structural design of the cathedral itself. The atmosphere was intimidating to say the least. Being in this cathedral made me believe that no matter what beliefs or non beliefs one may hold, no matter your religion or lack thereof, it is impossible to deny the spiritual and near otherworldly energy this cathedral emanated.

The rest of the structure did not disappoint either as the cathedral gave way to a humble castle of past royal families which eventually gave way to pantheons where these royal familes were buried. These pantheons are of special interest as well. The resting places of the dead are very often associated with the negative (especially in the U.S.), but these carried a feeling of peace and just being down there made me feel calm.

Escorial was a place that changed the way I view some things, spiritual wise. Although I wasn´t able to take any photos, it´s a place that has been ingrained into my memory. And even though my trip in Spain isn´t over quite yet, I doubt that I will experience anything quite like what I experienced in El Escorial.

Maybe it´s for this reason that I didn´t enjoy Segovia as much as El Escorial is a hard act to follow. However, the overall trip was amazing to say the least.

Unfortunately, although we passed El Valle de los Caídos, we didn´t actually get to go in. I did see the giant solemn cross perched on the mountain and that alone made me shiver a bit.

The next destination and the one I was most excited about, Ávila, the city with which I share my last name.