Friday, May 1 - MAY DAY HOLIDAY
Reality bit hard when we had to hop out of bed at 6 AM to catch a ship shuttle bus to the airport for our car...most others on the bus were going to catch early flights home. Once there we phoned the local Autofrance representative who picked us up for the drive to where the car was - a few signatures and some required documents later...we were done. We "owned" a brand new Peugeot 208 complete with a transparent top for that airy feel. The car lease will run until June 16, at which time Autofrance "buys" the car back. Norm had read the owner's manual in the internet previously (the one in the car was in French in any case) so the rep only gave us a few pointers on the nav system and we were off to Zaragoza. Smooth sailing over well maintained motorways, with a pit stop for food and fuel enroute.
Reality bit hard when we had to hop out of bed at 6 AM to catch a ship shuttle bus to the airport for our car...most others on the bus were going to catch early flights home. Once there we phoned the local Autofrance representative who picked us up for the drive to where the car was - a few signatures and some required documents later...we were done. We "owned" a brand new Peugeot 208 complete with a transparent top for that airy feel. The car lease will run until June 16, at which time Autofrance "buys" the car back. Norm had read the owner's manual in the internet previously (the one in the car was in French in any case) so the rep only gave us a few pointers on the nav system and we were off to Zaragoza. Smooth sailing over well maintained motorways, with a pit stop for food and fuel enroute.
Drove Barcelona to Zaragoza: 3:12 hrs, 191.2 miles
We arrived in Zaragoza around 3 PM, which gave time for
seeing the two sights we had in mind. Zaragoza is the capital city of the
Aragon region with about three quarters of a million people. The Romans founded
it as Caesaraugusta, the Muslims in 714 took it over as Saraquesta, thus
retaining a version of the original name, and thus in turn today's version of
that original name.
Driving into the city after we unloaded our luggage at the hotel we found traffic again to be very light. May 1 is a holiday and most stores and everything else were closed. Our first destination was the Basilica of our Lady of the Pilar, which is on a huge public square. A marvelous edifice inside and out - some the vast riches that poured into Spain from the New World are on display here; silver, gold and works of art in all forms that must have cost dearly. A bell tower accessible at its tippy top by a combination of elevator and many steep stairs provided an incomparable view of the city and surroundings. Masonry construction, all though well done, made this vertigo inducing high spot the place NOT to be in a 7.0 earthquake.
The bell tower elevator with clear floor - yikes.
Having spent a couple of hours there, with a gelato treat
break, we headed for the Museo del Teatro of Caesar. While
digging to prepare for new construction, workers came upon a well preserved
complex from Roman times consisting in part of an amphitheater and adjoining
baths. It is now open to the public - it is covered by an enormous dish-like structure
to protect it from the elements.
Back at the hotel by 8 PM, we collapsed. The
hotel is located in what looked like an industrial park that got caught up in
the recession. Lots of abandoned buildings. Glad only to be here one night. The hotel room was very nice and modern but location was such that we'll not return. Thanks, Hotels.com.
Hotel
Eurostars Rey Fernando
Address: Calle Bari, 27 Zaragoza
No comments:
Post a Comment