FATIMA TO SALAMANCA TO AVILA
Before sunrise, I was dressed and headed to the glass-enclosed piece of the Berlin Wall that was brought to Fatima. It was still dark out and chilly. I walked fast looking around to see if anyone else was about. We have been often warned about pick pockets so I was cautious. Then I looked over to the Little Chapel of Apparitions and a Mass was already in progress. At least 50 people or more were in attendance. I felt safer. After taking a few pictures of the wall fragment, I headed back to the hotel for breakfast.
We were on the road by 8:00. Today is a traveling day. It will take us about 5 hours to get to Salamanca, Spain. We also lose an hour due to a time change. Everyone is sad to leave Portugal so our tour guide, Javier, is playing Portuguese music on the bus.
Cork is one of the main items for production made from oak trees. In addition to exporting the cork, they make bags, purses, wallets, and many other items which can only be purchased here. Wine, olive oil, and animal farms are also important. The average monthly wage is about $800 Euros, but their cost of living is lower than in Portugal.
In Spain, the language is referred to as Castillian not Spanish. There are four official languages, but everyone knows Castillian. I am sure I have not spelled it correctly. The majority of the people in Spain are against bull fighting. In Salamanca, however, where the best bulls are raised, the people are proud of the tradition.
Tapas are popular in Spain. They started when a king loved to hunt and would return from one and have a glass of wine. If a fly or bug landed in his wine, he would threaten to cut off the servant's hand. So they came up with an idea to cover the wine with a piece of bread or other food. The word tapa comes from the Spanish word for cover. The true tapas are free small samples of food that customers get when they order a glass of wine. Now they are small servings of different types of food to eat for a meal.
Our guide recommended we have their ham- three types depending on how they are raised. He also advised us to try a Spanish potato omelet.
We arrived in Salamanca and walked to a large plaza with shops bordering it. Tables and benches were set up for eating and drinking. We headed straight for the gelato. Yummy! We checked out all the stores and tapas offering until it was time to go to the convent of St. Isabella for Mass. The cloister nuns joined us for Mass standing behind a gate, like in the Sound of Music, and sang in Latin. Their voices were beautiful. I wanted to go over and speak to them, but that is not allowed so we waved to them instead.
We are headed to Avila now, about an hour away.
Below is Avila and town that has an ancient wall surrounding it like a fortress.