Travel to Castile and León, Spain – Episode 906

Hear about travel to the region of Castile and León in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ethan Witthun about the region where he studied abroad.

Day 1: Avila

Morning:

• Walk the Murallas (Walls): Start early to walk along the medieval walls of Avila, known for being one of the most complete medieval walls in Spain. Purchase an Avila card online for easy access and an audio guide.
• Visit the Cathedral of Avila: Explore this unique cathedral, which is part of the wall, and features distinct red stone in its construction.

Afternoon:

• Visit the Basilica of San Vicente: Known for its unique architecture and the shrine of San Vicente.
• Lunch at Restaurante Las Murallas: Enjoy a famous steak while sitting outside with views of the walls.
• Visit Los Cuatro Postes: Head here during siesta time for a panoramic view of Avila and its walls.

Evening:

• Monastery of the Incarnation: Explore the museum dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila.
• Try Yemas de Santa Teresa: Visit Yemas Santa Teresa to taste this local custard dessert.
• Visit the Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás: End the day with a visit to this monastery, known for its museum of natural history and Asian art.

Day 2: Valladolid

Morning:

• Chocolate con Churros at El Castillo Chocolatería: Start the day with a local favorite breakfast.
• Visit Iglesia de San Pablo: Explore the detailed facade and the attached National Museum of Sculpture.

Afternoon:

• Museum of Valladolid: Discover the city’s history through various exhibits.
• Visit the Cathedral of Valladolid: See the unfinished cathedral and nearby La Antigua.
• Lunch with Bocadillo de Jamon at Olibher: Try the famous ham sandwich in the main square.

Evening:

• Walk through Campo Grande: Enjoy a stroll through the city’s largest park, home to peacocks.
• Dinner at La Parrilla de San Lorenzo: Savor Lechazo, a roast suckling lamb dish.
• Rios de Luz: Walk through the city at night to see historic buildings lit up in different colors.

Day 3: León

Morning:

• Visit Casa Botines: Explore this unique Gaudi building and its museum.
• See Palacio de los Guzmanes: Take photos of this historic building.

Afternoon:

• Cathedral of León: Marvel at the stunning stained glass windows and explore the attached museum.
• Lunch in Barrio Húmedo: Sample tapas in this famous area, including Morcilla (blood sausage) and Cocido (a hearty stew).

Evening:

• Visit Basilica of San Isidoro: Explore this historic church.
• Optional Visit to Convent of San Marcos: If interested in more religious sites, visit this convent.

Day 4: Salamanca

Morning:

• Plaza Mayor: Start the day at this beautiful main square.
• Visit Casa de las Conchas: Explore the unique House of Shells, now a public library.

Afternoon:

• Visit the Cathedrals: Explore both the Old and New Cathedrals of Salamanca. Don’t miss the astronaut carving on the New Cathedral.
• Lunch with Tapas in Plaza Mayor or Calle Van Dyck: Enjoy a variety of tapas in these popular areas.

Evening:

• Visit the University of Salamanca: Look for the famous frog carving for good luck.
• Optional Visit to Museo Art Nouveau y Art Deco: Explore this museum’s eclectic collection.

Day 5: Segovia

Morning:

• Explore Segovia: Refer to episode 337 of Amateur Traveler for detailed recommendations.
• Visit La Granja: If possible, arrange transportation to this palace in a style like Versailles.

Day 6: Burgos

Morning:

• Visit Burgos Cathedral: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site with its impressive architecture.
• Mirador del Castillo: Walk to this viewpoint for a panoramic view of the city and cathedral.

Afternoon:

• Lunch with Tapas in Plaza Mayor: Sample more local tapas, including Morcilla.
• Visit the Museum of Human Evolution: Learn about human evolution at the world’s largest museum of its kind.

Evening:

• Visit Monastery of La Cartuja de Miraflores: Explore this historic convent.

Day 7: Valladolid (Relaxed Day)

Morning:

• Walk through Parque Ribera del Castilla: Enjoy a relaxing walk along the river.
• Lunch at Bar San Pablo: Try a Plato Combinado, a typical local dish.

Afternoon:

• Visit the Science Museum: Explore interactive exhibits, great for families.
• Stop by La Tortuga: See this building shaped like a turtle, the venue for the world tapas competition.

Evening:

• Picnic at Cerro de las Contiendas: Enjoy a picnic with Spanish cheese and meats while overlooking the city.
• Try Tapas at El Corcho and Jero: End the day with the best croquetas and pinchos in Valladolid.

This itinerary provides a mix of historical exploration, local culinary experiences, and opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture of Castilla and León. Enjoy your trip!

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Show Notes

Castile and León
Province of Valladolid
Ávila
ÁvilaCard
Route around the walls – Muralla de Ávila
Ávila Cathedral
San Vicente Basilica, Ávila
Taberna Restaurante Las Murallas, Avila
Los Cuatro Postes
Monastery of La Encarnacion
Yolks of Saint Teresa
Yemas de Santa Teresa bakery
Real Monasterio de Santo Tomás
Restaurante Chocolateria El Castillo, Valladolid
Iglesia de San Pablo, Valladolid
Valladolid Museum
Valladolid Cathedral
Santa María La Antigua
Aceitunas Olibher Degustación (for a ham sandwich)
Turrones Manuel Iborra (ice cream)
Campo Grande (Valladolid)
Oriental Museum in Valladolid
The San Lorenzo Grill
Ríos de Luz
Mercado del Val
León, Spain
Casa Botines
Palacio de los Guzmanes
León Cathedral
Barrio Húmedo
El Castro, Carucedo
St. Isidore’s Basilica
Convento de San Marcos (León)
Salamanca
Casa de las Conchas
New Cathedral of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
Calle Van Dyck for Tapas
Casa Lis Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum (Salamanca)
Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso
Cochinillo: Spain’s Roast Suckling Pig
Travel to Segovia and Toledo Spain – Episode 337
Burgos
Burgos Cathedral
Mirador del Castillo
Museo de la Evolución Humana
Archaeological Site of Atapuerca
Cartuja de Miraflores
Ribera de Castilla Park in Valladolid
Bar San Pablo
El Cerro de las Contiendas (Park in Valladolid)
Valladolid Science Museum
International Tapas Festival / National Tapas Competition in Valladolid
Bar El Corcho (Valladolid)
Jero (Bar, Valladolid)
El Cafe de Amable – language exchange Mondays (Valladolid)
Rondilla de Santa Teresa (neighborhood)
Harvest Festival Rueda
Seminci Film Festival

Community

Good day Chris!  While I’m not a regular listener, I greatly enjoy every chance I get to listen to Amateur Traveler.  I like to hear about travel that is beyond the normal tourist spots/off the beaten path, and your guests do a fine job of providing those vicarious experiences!

I listened to episode 902 this afternoon because I loved my two work trips to India and I am chomping at the bit to get back there.  At the end of the episode, you read a letter and mentioned that you had not yet been to Antarctica.  While I am certain you have many resources by which to get there, I will gladly tell you about our experience (briefly…. because it’s truly a long story) with Hurtigruten.

In Oct 2022, we took Hurtigruten’s Antarctica trip that starts in Santiago, hops down the coast of Chile/Patagonia, stops in Ushuaia, and then heads south to Antarctica.  After a few days on the white continent, you head back to Ushuaia and then back to the US.  We were nearly to Antarctica, literally hours away, when our ship had to turn around due to a critical medical emergency on board.  The captain addressed the passengers and explained every measure they considered to evacuate the passenger and why each failed/wasn’t an option.  Disappointed? Absolutely!  But we didn’t expect what happened over the next few days.  In less than two days time (the time it took to get through the Drake Passage back to Ushuaia), the crew had worked tirelessly to find excursions for passengers to take every single day until our scheduled departure.  Adding to that, Hurtigruten offered the opportunity to hop on the sister ship which was heading to Antarctica from Ushuaia the day we arrived, offered a great discount on a future Antarctica trip in 2024/2025, and offered a “free” trip on one of two sailings in 2023.  I say “free” because we had to pay for our flights to/from Buenos Aires, as well as the charter flight (which was disappointing because we weren’t given the option to handle this piece ourselves), as well as the hotel.  We chose to return in 2023.

The way they handled this unprecedented situation was amazing!  Several crew members said that they were up all night calling their HQ in Norway to help with the situation as well as calling favors/fellow travel professionals in Argentina to help arrange our activities.  Naturally, we had some folks who were mad/mean/angry/nasty, but in reading the fine print of the contract, in cases of force majeur Hurtigruten owed nothing  which made this even more impressive.  Like I said, this was truly a brief account of our 2022 trip because there was so much to tell.

We took our trip in November, this time leaving from Ushuaia, hitting Antarctica for 5 days, and then heading to the Falkland Islands.  It was amazing, it was a privilege to see Antarctica, walk on the continent, and camp on the continent.  Yes, we camped one night!!!

If you want to read details of our two Hurtigruten experiences, you are welcome to read our blogs at http://www.kctravel32.org (this is NOT a sponsored blog.  It is created solely so our family and friends can keep up with us when we travel).  I HIGHLY encourage you to visit Antarctica, particularly with Hurtigruten.  They were great and our time on Antarctica was beyond a dream.  You would have no regrets, I am certain.

Take care, safe travels, enjoy ‘retirement’, and please keep inviting fascinating guests!!!
Kindly,
Jay

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