Avila

Ávila is a Spanish town located in the community of Castile and León, and is the capital of the Province of Ávila.

It is sometimes called the Town of Stones and Saints, and it claims that it is one of the towns with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain.) The writer José Martínez described it as "perhaps the most 16th-century town in Spain", and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, author during the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer.  She was born in Avila and her convent is there. 

OK, so here's my take on Avila.  Great town, very interesting.  Mucho Santa Teresa everywhere!  You could even get your photo made w/your head sticking out of a nun's habit.  I was tempted.  And the walls.  Very cool (but it was so hot today).  They completely surround the old town and inside the walls (ahem... where the term intramural comes from!) is all pedestrian.  Shops. restaurants, etc.  And churches out the wazoo.  The windows, of course, are spectacular as are the stone and wood carvings.  The baptismal font shows the baptism of Jesus.  Splendid!

I had lunch and yemas (the Avila treat that's basically cooked sugar and egg yolk...omg they melt in your mouth.  

The one thing I did see in a shop I soooooo wanted but I have a reputation to uphold (and not as a cat lady!) but those pieces of luggage.... OMG I wanted them.

On the way back to the hotel (buses are cheap and efficient) I stopped at the Carrefour hypermarket (kinda Walmarty but nicer...it's a French chain) and I had to look at stuff.  Kitty food, of course, the the brand I shot is called Brekkies, which is Australian slang for breakfast.  IOdd.   And tons of ham (jamon) and cheese and sausage...local stuff.  Very nice.  Care for a pig leg?  Take one!