An Enthusiastic Jacopo Exploring Aragón: Albarracín and Daroca.

Martedí, come da programma, é stato il giorno della gita ai pueblos medievali di Albarracín e Daroca, entrambi nel territorio aragonese e raggiungibili in giornata via corriera.

Sveglia leggermente anticipata per motivi tecnici (hey, non posso mica mettere pancetta cruda nei panini!! ;) ) e solita camminata.

Il ritrovo in Universitá era previsto per le 8.50 e l'ipotetica partenza era fissata per le 9/ 9.10. Morale? Siamo partiti alle 9.40!

Comunque, dopo esserci piazzati in fondo alla corriera, nei posti piú tattici, ci si rilassa un po', chi parlando e chi ascoltando musica. 

Eeeee... SI PARTE!!

Personalmente, durante i viaggi in corriera (o in macchina, quando possibile) mi diverto molto a fissare il paesaggio circostante e a fare foto. Trattandosi di un paese straniero, poi, la curiositá era doppia.

Una prima grande differenza rispetto all'Italia é chiaramente riscontrabile appena entrati in autostrada. Sembrava di stare in mezzo al deserto. Terreno brullo, vegetazione rada. Niente a che vedere con l'acceso contorno verde delle campagne venete, ma comunque apprezzabile proprio perché diverso.

Per Albarracín erano circa 184 km di viaggio, per cui il paesaggio non sarebbe stato sempre lo stesso. Infatti, dopo aver attraversato una zona montuosa (vette molto basse) intorno a noi cominciano ad apparire i primi campi e i primi vigneti. 

Molto belle le tonalitá rosseggianti di alcune zone, grazie anche alla luce del sole, in parte coperto dalle nuvole e in parte no.

Comunque, dopo due orette e mezza di viaggio arriviamo finalmente ad Albarracín.

Giá dalla corriera si notavano le mura medievali. Wow!! Sembravano davvero imponenti e ben conservate! 

Mi soffermeró brevemente sulla prima parte, quella della visita "guidata" perché é stata la piú noiosa. I meriti vanno tutti all'ottima e competente guida assegnataci e al fatto di muoversi tutti insieme (due comitive, più di 60 persone) per le strette stradine del pueblo. 

Alcuni edifici, comunque, meritano davvero di essere visti. Si nota facilmente il loro valore storico e il fatto che risalgono ad un'altra epoca. 

La cappella del paese, poi, era molto bella. Piccola, ma ricca di decorazioni. Il soffitto, poi, in seguito ai restauri, si presentava multicolore, in contrasto con il girgio della versione precedente.

Pausa pranzo a precedere la visita obbligatoria (non puoi andartene da Albarracín se non le vedi ;) ) dell'altura dove ancora oggi rimane buona parte della cinta muraria, con le annesse torri, che secoli fa proteggeva la cittá.

Non c'é bisogno di dire che sono state le due ore piú belle. Davvero, mi é sembrato di ritornare bambino/ adolescente ai tempi delle camminate in montagna e delle visite ai castelli in Austria e Germania (tra cui gli splendidi Hohenschwangau e Neuschwanstein).

É ritornata fuori la mia indole da Giovane Marmotta esploratrice, insieme alla camminata da capretto di montagna (che significa che salgo dappertutto, anche con le scarpe da ginnastica :):) ). 

Dalla cima delle mura si poteva godere di una vista eccezionale. Da un lato, il paese in mezzo alle due pendenze, dall'altro una grande valle.

Camminare senza protezioni a quell'altezza faceva anche un po' impressione, peró ne é davvero valsa la pena. Il vento, poi, era davvero molto forte su in cima.

All'ora stabilita, il ritrovo nella piazza del paese (alla fine i prof arrivano in ritardo, alla faccia delle raccomandazioni sulla puntualitá) e la partenza (anche questa ritardata per via di alcuni studenti della comitiva cinese "infiltrati" nel nostro autobus e di un altro paio di loro che mancavano all'appello).

Visto il ritardo nella tabella di marcia, il tempo per visitare Daroca era insufficiente e cosí ci siamo dovuti "accontentare" di due chiese. Peccato, ne sarebbe valsa la pena.

Viaggio di ritorno in versione fotografo zombie sonnambulo, questo perché sono riuscito a fare un paio di ottimi scatti pur in condizioni pietose e dalla corriera.

Siamo rientrati a casa sulle 21.30, abbiamo cenato e, stanchi morti, siamo andati a letto.

É stato davvero interessante e divertente visitare Albarracín. Spero ci saranno proposte altre gite simili!!

Ps: ora ci si prepara per le Feste del Pilar, che si preannunciano essere qualcosa di grande! :)

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Tuesday, as planned the previous week, saw my class visiting the medieval pueblos of Albarracín and Daroca, both of them in Aragón and easy to reach by coach.

The day began as every other day, except for the anticipated alarm because I needed more time to deal with some key issues (hey, I had to cook my bacon to prepare good sandwiches!! ;) ).

We were supposed to meet up at University at 8.50 am and the leaving time had to be 9/9.10 am. Well, we left at 9.40!

Anyway, having conquered the top seats of the coach (everyone knows the last row is the best), we tried to relax a bit, by talking or listening to some music. Someone took that chance to gain a couple of hours of sleep ;).

Aaaaand... LET'S GO!!

Speaking for myself, while I'm travelling by car (or by coach, like now) I can't sit still. No, my way of living the trip is by enjoying the countryside around and taking pictures of it. Moreover, being in a foreign country had made me even more curious and impatient to be launched in the middle of the Spanish countryside ;).

The first and most clear difference compared to Italy was easy to notice as we left the town to reach the highway. What is this? Who the hell did put a desert here?? The ground was arid and the dominant colour was brown. Almost 0 flora. Being accustomed to Italy and its colourful countryside, I was shocked by such desolation, but at the same time I was fascinated by this diversity.

Considering we had to travel for more or less 184 km, I was even more excited by the perspective of seeing a gradual change in the landscape just outside my window. When we reached a mountainous area, the desert had seen its size decreasing, being replaced by rare, but real, green flora and fields.

I really appreciated the several shades of red of some areas, which were made even more beautiful thanks to the combined action of sunlight and clouds.

Anyway, we finally reached Albarracín after almost 2.30 hours.

I was so excited while walking out of the coach. Why? Because I had noticed the medieval walls on the hills around the city! At first sight, they seemed really huge and well preserved. 'Wow! I can't wait to be standing on top of them!!' (I was already in childish mode).

Childish mode ON!!

I'm going to quickly go through the first part, the guided visit. The most boring one. That's really a shame, but it can happen when you are given a guide who can't "guide". I mean, he was completely and utterly unable to deal with 65 people at once (I know it's not easy, but they should be prepared for situations like this).

See? The place is lovely :)

Nonetheless, I still managed to appreciate the historical and cultural value of some of the sites and 
buildings he showed us (isn't it amazing when you're given the chance to see something of another time which is still here in 2015? Something which has a unique style? Something that came out from the combination of Arab and Christian architecture? I'd say 'yes').

Albarracín Chapel, then, was lovely. Not impressive for size or dimensions, but for its decorations. The ceiling in particular stunned me. Apparently its actual color (white + several other ones) came out after the renovation. Before there were only white and grey. Quite some contrast, isn't it? :)

Lunch and then 2 hours of free time. Oh don't worry: we knew exaclty how to spend that time. Climbing upon the hill and visiting (and taking massive amounts of pictures) the medieval wall and its towers was on our 'absolutely to do' list.

No need to say how much excited I was :). The best two hours of the day. Really, I was feeling like a child again, when I used to enjoy a lot our holidays and walks up in the mountains. Not to mention the visits to several Austrian or German castles, like the astonishing Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. I had just gone back of 10 or so years :):).

My 'Young Explorer' nature came out again, together with the 'Mountain-Goat' walking style (which means I can climb up and reach everywhere even if I'm only wearing trainers quickly without falling :) :) ). The only downside is related to the bad conditions of the aforementioned trainers after such a thing.

But it was worth it. From the top of the wall I could stretch contemplate the whole valley which was stretching itself right under my feet. Such a breathtaking view!! 

I could've stayed here for days <3 

From my point of view as (noob) photographer, the village right in the middle of the valley was the perfect subject in the perfect setting. 

Walking freely on the top of a 10 m high was quite an experience, a bit scary, but, again, worth it. The wind was so strong I thought it'd carry me away in a few moments :).

It's even better when you're with an
amazing group of people :)
PS notice the wind

As planned, we were back in the main square on time (teachers were the ones being late. Hey, what was that thing about being punctual??) and we got back to the coach (again, some more wasted time due to some idiots from the other group who were in the wrong coach and to two Chinese students who were missing).

Seen we were (way too much) late, it was impossible for us to visit Daroca, except from a couple of churces. A pity, I'm sure it would have been interesting :(.

I made through the whole way back as a zombie-sleep walker-photographer (and I still don't know how I managed to take those good pictures... Lucky me I guess :) ).

This is my favourite. The sky was just amazing!

We arrived at home at 9.30 pm, had a light dinner and we collapsed on our beds (because we were supposed to have class the following day :( ).

Anyway, I really had a wonderful time visiting those two pueblos. I hope I'll have the chance to enjoy other trips like that! :):).

They say: "Travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." I cannot find more appropriate words.

PS now the city is going throught "Las Fiestas del Pilar". A lot of people, a lot of celebrations, a lot of things to see and to photograph, a lot of fun and a lot to write on the blog! ;);)