I have an unexpected opportunity to spend a week or so in the area near Salamanca ... I will be coming in via Madrid, spending two or three days there, and leaving that way as well - with time to do a little exploring on my own once my work obligation has been completed.

I am a 50-something woman, traveling solo. I am a USA citizen, fairly well traveled (Italy, France, Greece, Turkey, Mexico,Central America), but I have never been to Spain. I speak barely passable Spanish (Latin American).

What would you consider a "don't miss" place to see? What would you describe as perhaps "not worth it?"

Any suggestions or advice for my time there would greatly be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi. I suppose it depends on how you are traveling. If you are driving I would head west along the Vera valley towards Placencia and then head north. I walked from Seville to Santiago in August 2006 and gained a sometimes unwanted intimacy with the terrain. Galisteo is haunting. Hervas definitely worth a visit. Banos de Montemayor is great for an overnight. My words of wisdom, easy for a man, are not to dwell on being a woman alone. Enter into the spirit of things. You are very safe in Spain. Salamanca is wonderful, though warm in August. So much to see; so little time. Maybe walk a stretch of the Via de la Plata for a week? Santiago to Zamora and on a bit. You'd love it.

Well, I am from Salamanca and so, what can I tell you? Salamanca in August is quiet, streets full of live, peolpe and terraces and although during the day is hot, at nights it is quite fresh and you need a jacket or a jersey. At nights the Plaza Mayor is wonderful!!!

Raquel

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shannon,

Are you picking up a rental car in Madrid or will you be tied to train and bus schedules?

My response is colored by the fact that I'm an advocate for independent transportation.

From Salamanca you could do daytrips to many great places. My two favorites that are within driving distance are Toro and Medina del Campo.

We drove from Madrid to Galicia in May of last year. It took us four days to get there. Our original plan was to go through Salamanca but we ended up taking a northern route. The towns we visited along the way were Segovia, Avila (overnight)Medina Del Campo, Toro (overnight), Pueble de Sanabria, Carbollino (overnight), O Grove, Cambarro (overnight).

I'm by no means an expert on Spain. But I'll be happy to offer my experiences with the places we have been.

You can learn more about the places we visited from my blog entries in the category of Spain & Portugal 2007.

Among all the traditional places, catedrals, which I also reccomend to visit, "not to miss" in Salamanca proper is the Museo Art Nouveau y Art Deco - if you like that sort of thing. It's collection contains glass, jewelry, bronzes etc. and as an extra treat, all housed in an old modernist building, which used to be a private home. The Roman Bridge is a wonderful place to stroll, park yourself, people watch and gaze to the south over the wheat fields which will be golden in August. Salamance hostals were full when I was there so I stayed several nights in the village of Alba de Tormes, just a little south and a pretty drive.

As an excursion, I suggest driving about an hour to the West to Ciudad Rodrigo which has old defensive walls and lots of palace and civic buildings and a small town atmosphere.

Have no qualms of being a single foreign woman in these regions, your latin american spanish will serve you well, use it all you can and it will be appreciated by the citizens.
KathyK