Cáceres

It has been awhile since my last update. I had to go back to see what I had last written about. The weekend after the swordfighting conference, Puck and I hopped a train to Cáceres–a little city between Madrid and Portugal (south-west of Madrid)–to visit our friends Manuel and Chus. Manuel is a doctor who has been putting together a bibliography on Spanish fencing, and he and Chus had also invited me to visit when I was in Spain in 2004 (they were living in Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain at the time). I should note that while many of us in the States wouldn’t think anything of inviting someone to stay at our home, it is a bit against the cultural norm here in Spain. It is even fairly rare to invite friends over to your house to do things together.

This is the view from just around the corner from the Manuel’s apartment--where we would take their pup for walks.

Manuel and Chus absolutely spoiled us, and we had a delightful time playing with their 6-month old greyhound pup Lula. They had rescued her from a breeder that was going to have her put down due to a leg defect. Lula absolutely loves to run and play. She has her own basket of toys, and she’ll pull them out and bring them to you to play. She can also untie knots and has a very long tail as you can see below.

Lula ready to frolick and play.

She's just asleep...really.

They had bought special foods from the region for us to try (a creamy cheese, local jam, apple bread, a dessert liquor, and serrano ham). You can see the cheese in one of the photos below. You have to open the cheese and fold the top back to get at the creamy center. Chus was quite the hostess, and Puck’s Spanish really blossomed during the weekend with them.

Chus slicing up some bread for lunch.

Part of a lovely lunch. You can see the cheese open.

Manuel also took us for walks around the city and told us about the history of Cáceres. The old quarter of Cáceres is also quite lovely and shows “New World” touches. In some of the architecture decorations, you will see Native American statues. In fact, one of Moctezuma’s daughters married a Spaniard, and her palace is in Cáceres.

Manuel and Paco under a stone archway into the old part of the city.

It was a beautiful night with the moon providing plenty of light.

A door for giants!

Do you think they'll hear me inside if I knock?

The architecture in Cáceres at times reflects the influence of the "New World" in Spain. Here a Native American graces the architecture of a building.

There were concerts in Cáceres' Plaza Mayor Friday and Saturday.