Holaaaa,
When learning about baroque architecture in my Salamanca art/literature class my professor said something along the lines of the following:
1. Meeting new friends
Through language exchanges, the local theater group I participate in and meeting friends of friends, I have been very fortunate to make several Spanish friends throughout my time in Salamanca. Almost without fail, we make plans to meet up under the clock of the Plaza Mayor. As my host mother Candelas says, "Todos de Salamanca se reúnen debajo del reloj en la Plaza Mayor... ¡TODOS!" [Everyone from Salamanca meets under the clock of the Plaza Mayor...EVERYONE!]
"For many centuries, the Plaza Mayor has served as the central meeting place and hub of activity in Salamanca."
Here are just a few snapshots of the truth of that statement as I have lived it over the past few months --
Through language exchanges, the local theater group I participate in and meeting friends of friends, I have been very fortunate to make several Spanish friends throughout my time in Salamanca. Almost without fail, we make plans to meet up under the clock of the Plaza Mayor. As my host mother Candelas says, "Todos de Salamanca se reúnen debajo del reloj en la Plaza Mayor... ¡TODOS!" [Everyone from Salamanca meets under the clock of the Plaza Mayor...EVERYONE!]
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| Nos quedamos en la plaza, debajo del reloj [Let's meet up in the plaza, under the clock] |
2. Protests of the General Strike
This past Thursday, all over Spain general strikes took place in protest of the government's austerity measures. Although the protests in Salamanca were relatively calm (especially compared to cities like Madrid and Barcelona) the Plaza Mayor was packed with protesters throughout the day. Signs reading UGT and CCOO, two of Spain's largest labor unions, flooded the Plaza.
3. Semana Santa Processions
Today I went with Candelas to watch the first processions of Semana Santa (Holy Week). At first it struck me as ironic that just a few days ago I stood in the Plaza packed with protestors/strikers and today it was almost filled to capacity with spectators of the religious processions of Palm Sunday. Then I realized that this exactly is the point of the Plaza Mayor, that it is truly meant to serve all purposes of the community.
4. Meeting old friends
If you're lucky enough and you happen to be in Salamanca at the right time, you just might find a special someone who you know way from the other side of the ocean waiting for you in the Plaza Mayor. Here's to meeting old friends in new places!
Un abrazo (a hug!)
Abby
This past Thursday, all over Spain general strikes took place in protest of the government's austerity measures. Although the protests in Salamanca were relatively calm (especially compared to cities like Madrid and Barcelona) the Plaza Mayor was packed with protesters throughout the day. Signs reading UGT and CCOO, two of Spain's largest labor unions, flooded the Plaza.
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| Main protest -- General Strike of March 29, 2012 |
Today I went with Candelas to watch the first processions of Semana Santa (Holy Week). At first it struck me as ironic that just a few days ago I stood in the Plaza packed with protestors/strikers and today it was almost filled to capacity with spectators of the religious processions of Palm Sunday. Then I realized that this exactly is the point of the Plaza Mayor, that it is truly meant to serve all purposes of the community.
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| Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) children's procession |
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| Domingo de Ramos -- Procesión de la Borriquilla |
If you're lucky enough and you happen to be in Salamanca at the right time, you just might find a special someone who you know way from the other side of the ocean waiting for you in the Plaza Mayor. Here's to meeting old friends in new places!
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| Carol Platt and I reunite in the Plaza Mayor (Photo courtesy of Dylan Keller Benson) |
Abby
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