I realize that you probably know that we're already home, but I thought I should finish off this blog, if for nothing else, my students will be able to look at this later (and I can show it to others-and so can you).
So on Friday we traveled with our hosts by bus to the medieval capital city of Jaca, located about 15 minutes from the French border in the Pyrenees. The bus ride is beautiful, if you like curvy bus rides through the mountains! Here's a little map showing where we went:
Jaca was the capital of the kingdom of Aragón (think Fernando and Isabel), dating back to the 11th century, and from the mountain passes of the Pyrenees the Christians mounted the eastern Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula that culminated in Fernando and Isabel's victory in 1492. Today Jaca is a springboard into the Pyrenees for hikers, bikers, and skiers, and sits at the southern end of the Somport Pass that leads into France.
We visited the cathedral and medieval streets, had lunch, visited the outside of the massive Ciudadela fortress, and headed back to Zaragoza for our final evening in the city. Tomorrow: Madrid!
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