We took the train to our next city called Zaragoza and checked into the Hotel Pilar Plaza. It is a magnificent low rise building right on the main plaza and directly opposite the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar. Old on the outside and humourously new on the inside, with many reproductions of the street art of Banksy.
And omigosh. We have landed here during the most holy period of the catholic calendar leading up to Easter. There are religious processions taking place every day where they parade large religious floats to the accompaniment of crashing drums and trumpets. The people in the processions wear traditional costumes and/or the liturgical garb of their particular sect, most with high pointed hoods. They resemble the Ku-Klux-Klan in many ways. It's just gone 10 pm here as I write and I can still hear drums pounding away in the distance. Sush an amazing spectacle.
We just got back from a district in Zaragoza called "El Tubo". It is renowned for its tapas bars and eateries. We had our first definitive tapas experience there. Having bought a delicious mushroom slider (with a yummy sangria) we moved to the bar two doors down and had some delicious asparagus and ham croquettes (with another yummy sangria). I think that's how it works. All the bars seem to have a specialty and it's a kind of "progressive dinner" to sample whatever takes your fancy as you mozey from bar to bar. Don't forget the sangria though.
The Calle de Liberdad in the El Tubo area.
Great food and tapas as you move from bar to bar to vary your menu.
How civilised is that?
And omigosh. We have landed here during the most holy period of the catholic calendar leading up to Easter. There are religious processions taking place every day where they parade large religious floats to the accompaniment of crashing drums and trumpets. The people in the processions wear traditional costumes and/or the liturgical garb of their particular sect, most with high pointed hoods. They resemble the Ku-Klux-Klan in many ways. It's just gone 10 pm here as I write and I can still hear drums pounding away in the distance. Sush an amazing spectacle.
We just got back from a district in Zaragoza called "El Tubo". It is renowned for its tapas bars and eateries. We had our first definitive tapas experience there. Having bought a delicious mushroom slider (with a yummy sangria) we moved to the bar two doors down and had some delicious asparagus and ham croquettes (with another yummy sangria). I think that's how it works. All the bars seem to have a specialty and it's a kind of "progressive dinner" to sample whatever takes your fancy as you mozey from bar to bar. Don't forget the sangria though.
Zaragoza station, modern, spacious and clean.
Our hotel on the Plaza Pilar.
The view from our window.
That's the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar on the other side of the plaza.
A couple of statues take time out to relax in the Plaza as well.
The interior decor of the hotel is very modern compared to the outside.
It has a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour too, with street art reproductions of Banksy.
A holy procession. There are many at all times of the day and by differently costumed sects.
All are accompanied by bands of booming drummers and trumpeters.
Some Senoras in traditional costume with gorgeous high mantilla head dresses.
A different sect in their different colours.
Even the kids get into the act.
A religious float depicting the crucifixatiopn of Christ.
Some of the sects are particularly large and their procession may have more than one.
Night time and the fountain at the end of the plaza is illuminated.
Better than that, it even changes colours.
Some of the sects are particularly large and their procession may have more than one.
Great food and tapas as you move from bar to bar to vary your menu.
How civilised is that?
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