The AAA Tour: Ávila, Alcalá, y Aranjuez

Its been a while since my last entry, so I think this time I´m going to talk about the three cities that I have visited in the past two months: Ávila, Alcalá de Henares, & Aranjuez. Oddly enough, they all start with the letter A and they are all less than an hour away from Madrid which is why in my opinion they make for perfect day-trips. They are also jam-packed with history. Two of them lay claim to giants of Spanish history: Alcalá de Henares is where Cervantes was born and Ávila is where the great Spanish mystic, St. Teresa of Ávila was born and where her hugely influential writings on prayer and The Divine came to fruition. Aranjuez's contribution, on the other hand, was musical as it served as the inspiration for Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo's most famous work, Concierto de Aranjuez, a composition for classical guitar and orchestra.

Out of all three cities, Ávila was probably the most monumental. Its no wonder because the old town is surrounded by the best preserved medieval walls in all of Europe, so you feel instantly transported to the Middle Ages. However, apart from visiting the St. Teresa of Ávila museum and eating lemon cakes, there wasn't that much to do. If you are looking for a nice quiet getaway from the busy capital then Ávila is your choice.

Alcalá, on the other hand, was bustling. Okay, I went to Alcalá with a group of other auxiliares during the Cervantes festival, but I feel it would still be a lively place even at other times because of the university and its reputation for superb tapas. Anyway, as we went during the Cervantes festival, Alcalá was a feast for the eyes. Renaissance booths lined the main streets and squares selling anything you could think of from home-made soap to teas for any type of ailment known to mankind to octopus dishes. People dressed up in renaissance clothing paraded around. Figurines of Cervantes and Sancho Panza of course abounded. Outdoor plays were performed. Cañas y tapas were plentiful.

Despite all of the above, it was a play I saw in Alcalá that impressed me the most. It was part of a series of plays called quijotadas which roughly translates as quixotians, obviously referencing Don Quixote de La Mancha. Yet, what made the play I saw particularly impactful was the fresh new perspective that was put on an old story. The theater troupe, Mirage Teatro, was made up of mostly African actors who related their stories of trying to conquer a new land (Spain) and the numerous obstacles along the way, in effect, mirroring Don Quixote's own adventure and reminding us that this work of literature is forever relevant and forever universal. The performance was so passionate and full of truth that I, along with the audience, laughed and cryed. I laughed during the parts that reflected the minutiae of everyday life and I cried during the last act when once of the actors vividly described his imprisionment and near subsequent deportation which was halted by the pilot who refused to transport someone against their will.

Now, Aranjuez is known for being one of the royal estates of the Spanish crown and since the 19th century it has been a popular spring residence for the royal family. Personally, I think the royals need to consider making it their autumn residence instead. The gardens next to the palace was a maze of trees with orange and yellow colored leaves dotted with marble sculptures. It was like a magic forest. Its no wonder Rodrigo found inspiration there. I mean the palace itself was beautiful and all, at least on the outside, but I was so consumed by the natural beauty of the gardens that I didn't care to go inside the palace (you also had to pay). Unfortunately (and I really mean it) I left my camera in Madrid that day, but I´m planning to go back soon to do some sketching with my art buddy, Sonia. I hope all the leaves will not have fallen by then. Hasta luego.