University of Salamanca

Salamanca.  Our final stretch before we head down to Madrid for our farewell dinner.  It was searing in the 100s, with extremely high humidity in the shade.  Everyone in our tour was melting.  My thighs were starting to weld together from the heat.  I could hardly walk without looking like an old seasoned cowboy who has never gone down from his horse except to pee.  No wonder Don Quixote got crazy.  It was not dementia but the effect of the hot Spanish weather.  Interestingly, Salamanca is known to be terribly bitter cold in the winter. I remember not wanting to leave the coach the last time we were here.  It was very very cold.  The thought of it made it easier for me to deal with this heat.  Finally, our great tour director went and bought us bottles of cold water.  Thank you, Pascal.

The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the city of Salamanca, west of Madrid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest university in the world in continuous operations. 

Salamanca draws undergraduate and graduate students from across Spain and the world.  It is also known for its Spanish courses for non-native speakers, which attract more than two thousand foreign students each year.  Hence, the place is essentially a college town.  We know what that means.  The night life can be wild.  That night, we were told, that the town will hold an all night light show with loud music to celebrate Corpus Christi Day.  Maybe the Rolling Stones will show up.