Hello from Segovia. We are in Segovia for one night and hoping to recoup from our long trip from San Francisco to Madrid. We now know on future trips never to lay over at JFK airport in New York. Segovia is about a 75 – minute drive from the Madrid airport.
We are in Spain for a four-week adventure in food, wine, and discovery. Spain has always been known for its food and wine but today even more so than ever before. The world famous El Bulli restaurant in the Costa Bravo with its 22-course meal has brought attention to Spanish cuisine; and there are a slew of great young chefs making waves in the food centers of San Sebastian and Bilbao. There are a batch of new ”˜”Wine Spectator”type wineries in the wine regions of Somontano and Priorat. Then, there are the many old family wineries in La Rioja, Ribera Del Duero, and elsewhere that are reinventing themselves, abandoning old wine making methods and revamping their wineries with modern winemaking ideas and equipment. Spanish wines are “in.”
We are setting out to explore the northern half of Spain. We hope to use the Wine Traveler to tell you about tapas, wine, and other discoveries we find in Spain.
In Segovia, we are staying at the Parador de Segovia. It is not all that great for the 120 Euros we paid. It is about three miles from the city center, so too far to walk. Next time in Segovia, we will stay at one of the many small hotels that are either in or close to the center.
Segovia sits up on a hill is a very beautiful city and a great walking city. The main attractions in Segovia are the amazing aqueduct, the beautiful and very massive cathedral, the Plaza Mayor, and the Alcazar, an old Castillian fortress. The Alcazar is fascinating and a “must see”if you visit Segovia. The Plaza Mayor is small but very lively and fun during the evening hours. The entire area is filled with restaurants and tapas bars. The small and narrow streets leading to the Plaza are very lively and fun.