Zaragoza

On Thursday, Blanca gave me a ride to the train station in Vitoria. I took the Aliva train to Zaragoza, top speed 160 km/hr or 100 mph.  This is their semi-fast train.  I arrived at the train station in Zaragoza, and took the bus to the Ibis hotel, across the river from the Basilica of our Lady of Pilar. I walked around some after the sun got lower in the sky, watched the light change on the Pilar church.

On Friday, I visited Our Lady of Pilar Basilica, the Seo Cathedral, the tapestry museum, the tower for a view of the city, the Roman theatre, the Roman Forum, the Roman port, and the Aljaferia palace. I may have overdone it a bit. ;-)

The Roman theatre was perhaps the most impressive thing that I saw. I had not realized that the Romans had a big presence in Spain.  In Roman days the town was called Caesaragusta, surprisingly enough. 

The Muslims also controlled this area for hundreds of years; the palace is evidence of that, as well as some of the tilework in the churches. 

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Warning: Geek section. The photo compares Ronan cement with modern cement; there is not much diference. 

Also, they have lead pipes that they excavated out of the site, part of the water system which the Romans are known for. It took Western civiluzation more than 1000 years to catch up with Roman technology.