A Visit to Spain–Segovia
The Roman Aqueduct
I was determined not to let the loss of my wallet ruin the rest of our stay. The next day, we took a fast train to Segovia as planned. I was relieved to find Segovia a much more open and brighter city than Toledo. When I finally saw the well-known Roman Aqueduct, another marvel of human history, I became excited again. A close friend of mine had suggested that we visit Segovia. Besides the Aqueduct, he had mentioned the local specialty of “suckling pig.” We found Jose Maria, the best “suckling pig” restaurant recommended in the tour book.
The famous "suckling pig"
We were lucky to be seated—the place was so packed at lunch hour that one had to squeeze in or out. I took a picture of the entire roasted baby pig before it was served. My friend was right—the crispy and tender “suckling pig” was the best I had ever had. We ate to our hearts’ content and nearly finished a bottle of red wine—I have zero tolerance to alcohol and rarely drink. But that day, I had a glass of red wine while Francis, who usually had one glass over dinner, finished two. Our faces turned red at the end of our meal. When he finished his sorbet and I, a Tiramisu, we pushed our way out of the restaurant, jolly and happy.
The Alcazar, a former fortress that serves as a military institute today
We spent another day in Madrid before returning to Chicago. It was a Sunday and we visited the large “flea market” mentioned in the tour book. Unlike the market in Florence, we were disappointed that the items for sale there were of poor quality. We left the market soon, with a Chinese made flashing bike light as the only souvenir.
Despite my misfortune, I enjoyed the trip to Madrid, Toledo and Segovia. On the way back to Chicago, I began to think of a trip to Barcelona next year.
Jian Ping, Author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. www.mulberrychild.com. www.moraquest.com
Mulberry Child is being developed into a feature-length documentary film by director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011.
Tags: Barcelona, Chicago, China, Florence, Madrid, Roman Aqueduct, Segovia, Suckling pig
