Friday 13 October: Salamanca

 We wake at 8.15 local time but feels like the usual 7.15. It’s really quite fresh with a NE breeze and I relocate my warm fleece that I discarded last night thinking I wouldn’t need. Breakfast outside before cycling into Salamanca. Despite having done it before we still go wrong but it’s a pleasant ride mainly along the river on cycle tracks. We start with another tour up the tower of the old cathedral and the new cathedral with fine views outside over the terracotta tiles and sandstone walls of this beautiful city and inside into the ornate religious interior. Then on to the Plaza Mayor where we have a Cafe con Lecce in the sunshine and do a bit of people watching. It’s sunny but still quite cold! We wander the streets and then do a tour of the Convent of San Esteban with beautiful cloisters, staircase and very ornate alter. We fancy Tapas and find a small restaurant filled with locals called Cuzco Bodega where we have pork in various forms! Actually delicious tuna and cod tartare and then pork tenderloin with Roquefort, and with goats cheese and pork shoulder with Pedro Ximanes sauce. All really delicious despite being perched on a high stool! Further wandering taking in the picturesque sights before cycling home. Bread and local jamon for supper! And pork scratchings of course.