by Heather DeVaney

Franco's basilica is beautiful, though it was very cool to see a classic (yet only 40 years old) Romanesque basilica.
 
The Monastery of El Escorial was so interesting as well. Once again, I enjoyed the original art, and the pantheon burial hall was breathtaking with the gold-plated sarcophagi stacked up to the ceiling. The town was so quaint and charming. They had a huge Nativity scene made with figures comprised of paper maché. We met with the group for the rest of the drive to Segovia. When we arrived, we saw the aqueducts briefly (which are gorgeous, by the way), as well as some old beautiful buildings — all while practicing our Spanish with the shop owners and locals. We were very proud of how well we were able to communicate.