2009年7月24日
A Shellfish wall in Salamanca
Hand made leather store.
From the old town across the bridge, you can find the different view. The bridge is very old, how old? I already forgot. Google it if you wanna know, then tell me.
Salamanca is another UNESCO World Heritage City in Spain, click here if you wanna read more info about it.
So far Salamanca is the best city in Spain for me. I found there is a shellfish wall in the old town area, I love it very much, even bought a postcard with its image.
You can find small shellfish under the windows, so cute.
And I noticed there are many shops sell frog stuffs, after google it, it comes from the enormous facade dominated by the Catholic Monarchs in Salamanca University, people say if you can spot the frog without any help you can get good luck and will marry within a year, haha, it seems you can find the similar things around the world, click here to read more.
How to reach Salamanca?
The bus company is Avanzabus(or auto RES), click here you can check schedule, price and buy it online. It it 1.5 hour far from Avila by bus, which cost around 5.81 euro. From Salamanca you can reach Madrid, Valladolid, Segovia, Avila...easily, even Portugal.
Where did I sleep?
Navasfrias Hostel, 25 euro/per night, double beds with bathroom. This one star hostel located very close to the bus station, accoss the road, then turn left, and you can see it.
The round city wall in Avila
In the old town area.A greedy and unpatient girl like me, didnt stop in Segovia though it is nice, I went to Avila in the afternoon at the same day, almost one hour I arrived Avila, another World Heritage Site which is famous for the 11th century city wall.How to reach Avila from Segovia
Did you see there was a bird on the top of the church? What a great view it has.
Spanish fries snacks, with sugar 2euro/one pack. can choose chocolate or other sweet sauce. I like it:)When I arrived Avila it was almost 1900pm, I have no idea where to sleep so I was doing sightseeing and finding a place to sleep in the same time. After 2 hours I still didnt find a cheap hostel. The hotel/hostel in the old town they all mark "two stars", the price was up to 55 euro per room.
At the memont I was thinking if I was travelling with someone else then we definitely will take it. And I dont have to keep asking for cheaper room. Traveling alone still have some problems like nobody could share cost with you, or if you wanna talk then you can only go to ask for direction or go to shop buying something you dont need. "Excuse me, where is the toilet?" I did it many times when I really need to talk to someone.
I still didnt find a hostel, I went to the train station and wondered should I go to Salamanca directly? It was 2200 already, if go there, will arrive at around 2330pm, I need to hurry. But I have no idea if I could find a hostel in Salamanca or not...ohhhh, it was a trouble, then I looked up saw there was a hostel sign, just located the second floor of the train station! I went to the front door, it was locked, there was a piece of paper wrote some Spainish words and phone number I cant understand, but I suppose I can phone them. So I made a phone call, one old guy answered, then he spoke Spanish, I spoke English, of course we cant understand each other, I cant even show him my perfect "body language" cause we talked by phone. Then we hung up the phone, I guess he want to to wait in front of the door, after 10 mins he came. Sometimes I think I can read people's mind, even I dont understand what people said but I could feel what them want...haha. The room price was 25 euro per night by cash, with credit card you will need to pay the handling charge around 5% I guess. I got my own toilet, two single beds and TV! I took a hot bath then laid on one of the beds, touched the old wood cabinet, the old matel handles were with old fashion design, I love it very much.
I went to a shop and the owner was from China, we chatted a bit about this city, the famous local food, the life here...etc. Then I went back to hostel. The night was coming, I still felt terrible if staying outside at nihgt. That night I fall sleep with a boring movie.
Bus Schedule from Segovia to Avila (5 times per day during Mon to Fri)
Mon-Fri: 0730, 1030,1400,1630,2000. on Sat/Sun: 0900,1800. Festival: 2030; cost 6.69 euro/one way, 12.45/return, whole trip would take you one hour.
The hostel I stayed: Estacion Hostel (one star/25 euro per night by cash), just on the second floor of the Avila train station.
*If you are looking for accommodations on the street in Spain, you need to watch carefully for the sign "HR", which means "hotel" in Spain, and under "HR" you can see the small star which mean the level of their rooms.
Amazing Roman Aquduct in Segovia
Local ladies sell laces in front of the Cathedral
The store in Segovia
It is quite easy to reach Segovia from Madrid. even can consider as a one day trip. I mean you can leave your stuffs in Madrid then get a return ticket by train or bus to Segovia. 
Segovia is famous by its own Roman Aquduct, an UNESCO world heritage site.
From the bus station just follow the sign "Roman Aquduct", you can see it from far away cause it is really huge, once you reach the square in front of Roman Aquduct, there is a Tourist information center, go there to get some maps...etc. After got a map (maybe its on a business card/flyer from a hotel/hostel) then head up to c/Cerrantes, up to Plaza del Corpus Cristi, then you can see the main square "Synagoga Mayor", there you can find the Cathedral as well. 
Then follow the sign you will reach Alzcazar, that big castle. I met an old guy in the entry of Alzcazar, he was curious about why I was here and offered to show me a secret rose garden under the Alzcazar. I didnt agree but he was so funny.
He said: I dont believe you came from Asia! Asian women they are white, always take a umbrella, with a hat...but you look so tanned! and where is your umbrella and hat?
If you see some local shop dont forget go inside to see what special, in Spain if you buy a small 
bread and take it away, usually they wont pack it, just put the bread on a tissue with their shop name. It is more convenence, you can eat it immediately and no need to wash your hand. And no plastic or paper bag, no rubbish.
bread and take it away, usually they wont pack it, just put the bread on a tissue with their shop name. It is more convenence, you can eat it immediately and no need to wash your hand. And no plastic or paper bag, no rubbish.I was getting used to be a superstar, or a E.T., cause no matter where I go some people will keep their eyes on me and open their mouths, it might be weird for them to see a Asian girl travels alone with heavy backpack.
How to reach Segovia from Madrid?
By Bus: La Sepulvedana company from Madrid "Principe Pio station", one leven under the metro station, then you can see the ticket window, cost 6.69 euro/70mins one way
By Train: AVE train from Madrid Atocha train station, cost around 9 euro/115mins one way; other trains cost more but faster. check out train schedule here
2009年6月4日
被狗咬了之後
最近更新很慢，因為我電腦掉了，我在Madrid被搶了。
5/15， 一個大節日前夕的晚上11點左右，街上滿是慶祝的人群，我剛離開網咖準備回旅館，走在一條有路燈也有路人的街上，被搶了。
我只記得有人從後面很快地把我抱起來，我雙腳懸空然後發現面前站了約17-8歲一個西班牙年輕人朝著我一直笑，手向我包包伸過來，我對他喊：hey im just a girl！然後我就不醒人事...昏倒了。因為我後面那位壯漢把我勒昏了。
不知過了多久，我聽見有人在大聲說話的聲音，睜開眼只看見黑色天空跟在昏黃燈光映照下的街樹，搞不清楚身在何處發生什麼事。身邊圍了幾個人不停問我問題：妳哪從哪裡來？叫什麼名字？ 妳還好嗎？要不要去醫院？....
我腦袋一片空白，原本試著要站起來但雙腿無力，乾脆便坐在地上像個小朋友一樣大哭起來。 我一直哭一直哭一直哭，停不了。然後一個男子說：要不要來支香煙？我邊大哭邊抽抽嗒嗒的回說：我自己有！然後才想起煙也放在包包裡，一起被搶走了。連支安定心靈的煙都抽不了，太委屈了吧！我哭得更大聲了。
這實在太可怕了，雖然後來我很Man的邊哭邊問警察局在哪？然後一位好心以色列男Udi陪著我去報案--他也只是遊客，告訴我許多被搶的好笑故事，他說：至少妳人是平安的,要知道可能會發生更可怕的事...and said：要是妳被街上的狗咬了，妳會跟牠生氣嗎? (Well，發現有人看不懂以為我真的被馬德里的流浪狗咬了一口 Orz...他的意思是那二個搶匪就像路上的狗一樣隨機咬人，我只是倒楣被挑中而已)
而我只能說馬德里警局對於處理遊客被搶事件十分的國際化，他們也不像台灣報案也要分區，找一間最近的警局就對了。在抵達警局後，首先要拿一張粉紅像小飛標一樣的號碼牌，我抽到的是83號，Udi搞笑的說：妳看，光是今天就有83個人被搶了。然後撥打警局內的黑色國際報案電話：有四種語言別可以選，英文，西文，德文等。按了語言鍵後就等國際報案中心接通，然後他們會詢問詳細被搶內容，包括怎麼被搶的，在哪，被搶了什麼，損失多少等等，結束後會給一個檔案編號，要抄起來。然後就是漫長的等候。大門口站了一大票警察在喝咖啡抽煙等下班，報案室裡只有1-2名警員在處理，已經凌晨一點了，陸陸續續進來了許多其它倒楣被搶的人們，有單獨的男子，有倆倆作陪的女孩子們，有提著塑膠袋的中年媽媽...同是天涯淪落人阿！看到他們覺得份外親切。Udi為了安慰我，指著旁邊幾對女孩子說：看，她們都是二個二個的，還不是被搶了。他人真的很好，等報完案後已經是凌晨三點了，還送我回Hotel他才自己回去。原本想約隔天一起出去，但我想立刻離開馬德里而作罷。
隔天為了補電腦序號我又來到了警局，警察比手畫腳的示意就算只是補序號，一切也要重新再來過。Shit。於是從頭來過，又是另一個三小時。再度見識到西國悠哉跟不會轉彎的生活態度，深深覺得活在台灣真幸福。
後來幾週我一直處於驚弓之鳥的狀態，睡也睡不好，如果有人靠近我，我就會像生氣的貓咪一樣整個弓起身子來。一直到在巴黎見到艾瑪小姐為止才變好一點。
2009年5月14日
真的有龍騎士嗎?我也想要一隻~噗哈-托雷多Toledo
圖片：這裡有騎士，老少任君挑選。
圖片：Karina及佩G寶貝獻上暮光之城西文版，請笑納:D 我一看到這就想到妳棉。來亂的西文教學：SALIDA=出口，各大捷運站及車站都會看到。
因為錯過飛加納利班機又不想買貴俗俗機票，我多了九天在馬德里，今天我決定去離馬德里車程約1小時的托雷多。
圖片：看到這個城牆走進去是瘋狂陡的斜坡，不想走斜坡的請不要進去，直接右轉，靠城牆走約五十公尺即可看到手扶電梯入口處，懶人切記。
圖片：這就是手扶電梯入口處，上下皆可搭。
去托雷多可搭火車或巴士，若選擇搭火車，要先坐metro到Atocha RENFE站，出站後往火車站走，提早買火車票有優惠40-60%不等，據網路上舊資料單程要8歐多；坐巴士則要搭L6到Plaza Eliptica，在出口Plaza Eliptica的level 2找ALSA巴士公司售票處，就在捷運出口前方，單程票4.71歐，來回票8.42歐，班次每半小時一班，行駛時間由0630-2230，出了巴士站往SALIDA走，先走上長長的上坡樓梯，然後左轉就會看到進入舊城的城門。
托雷多是以許多古老的教堂，修道院等成為世界遺產城市，所以來到這裡就要使勁的走啦，在各條小徑散步。舊城也位於山坡上，也就是說要不停的走上下坡跟樓梯，很幸運的是這裡有手扶電梯可以搭，不過以我鳥人個性就是愛走路阿，就算迷路我要用走的，醬子才能發現特別的點。
這裡的顏色很多樣化，不像托斯坎納那麼統一，但當我走在舊城小路裡，居然有種回到托斯坎納的感覺，家家戶戶的鐵窗雖然是新式的但花樣很多，窗口很愛放各種盛開的色彩鮮豔花朵，有的直接繫二種不同的草在窗口，我不懂這是什麼意思，看起來很像台灣的端午節在門口掛艾草一樣，也有凸出來的窗戶，一律是透明玻璃，大門也幾乎都是木門或鍛鐵門，餐廳招牌很多樣化，不像台灣一樣單調。
舊城裡的路幾乎都超小條，但住這裡的人很厲害，車照開，有的路僅容一輛車通過，路人只好趕
快走過，不然就站在人家大門口讓車先過。這裡也是充滿西人悠閒的生活習性，到處都有坐椅跟兒童遊樂區，一團團的大小朋友們到這裡郊遊，我看到的老師都是男的居多。大教堂外觀是石頭堆成的,跟台灣的廟一樣裝飾著許多人像，只不過是用白色大理石雕的且風格大大不同，但那些雕像跟義大利的看起來差不多哩，前面的廣場就小了點，不像托斯坎納那樣大到讓人目瞪口呆，老實說我還真想再回去佛羅倫斯內，去了那麼多地方還是那裡最漂亮，最舒服，最讓人心情愉快。
這裡的紀念品店居然有賣刀，鎧甲等古代武器，真不知道誰會買。還有賣很棉(man啦)的，用五芒星或是家徽什麼的做成的耳環項鍊等首飾；當然也有普通的陶瓷或木頭牆面裝飾物，內容是聖母與聖子啦，或是托雷多的古代故事；還有佛朗明哥舞服跟披肩，金光閃閃的首飾壁飾等，我還看到關公像哩，真是有種賭物思鄉的FU...里里摳摳一大堆。
走到尿急，麥當當離我很遙遠又怕迷路，於是我挑了一間看起來不怎樣的咖啡館進去上廁所喝咖啡順便充一下laptop電，然後就醬把我的轉接頭留在那裡，等我發現已經一個小時後，我臨走時他們已經在打掃收店了，我一邊急忙的找路回去又擔心他們已經關門，果然又是一陣大迷路，怎麼走都走不到那條超小路阿！等我滿身大汗的找到那條路已經是40分後的事，果然已經關店了，真有種很想死的fu(都是上坡路耶，害我今天腳超痠的哪都去不了)。
幸好我還有帶德規的轉接頭而hostel裡也可以用。有時覺得自己真的是白目到不行，能平安的旅行到現在真的是老天保祐內。原本想在托雷多看夜景的，為了轉接頭一陣忙亂後我累極了，決定還是先回去休息，幸好回巴士站是大下坡，不然我一定會一邊走一邊哭，然後等巴士時我又自以為聰明的沒問在幾號月台等，想說認巴士外觀就好，搞半天巴士外觀不是ALSA，是Continental-auto啦，我又記錯了，因為過了六點半沒看到ALSA的車又上去問，在月台28號，害我多等半小時，幸好我是一個人旅行，自己罵自己呆也就算了。真是風波不斷阿。
圖片：這是通往巴士站的樓梯一部份，最尾巴那個紅色門再走進去還有樓梯歐，走到底就會到巴士站。攜帶行李的旅客就去搭巴士吧，不然會走到哭。
圖片：巴士角落火腿店，那位先生原本不讓我拍，我說我要連他一起拍，他就說答應了。西班牙的火腿也像義大利一樣在店裡掛得亂七八糟的。不過店裡比義大利明亮一點。
最後來玩個有獎問答送小禮物的遊Ｃ感謝大家準時收看，問題如下：
請問，以下圖片有哪一個地方假假的呢？
５月18日晚上12點截單，以留言順序排名，請直接在留言處留下尼的地址跟姓名，不然就寄到吉兒信箱gill_lu@hotmail.com
答對的前三名送吉兒充滿愛意的馬德里或其它西班牙城市明信片一張，我會畫上Q版圖案呦。
什麼？不知道答案？那麼容易還不知道答案？自己打去問艾瑪小姐好了。
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)
