I arrived in Salamanca two weeks ago. Salamanca is located 2 hours west of Madrid. The University of Salamanca is the oldest and the most famous university in Spain. It is after the University of Bologna in Italy, Oxfod University in England, and the University of Paris, as one of the oldest universities in Europe. The city is quite small, about 180,000 people. However, there are several interesting cathedrals and buildings. Among them, I have visited the Catedral Viaje (The Old Cathedral), the Catedral Neuva (The New Cathedral), the Casa de las Conchas (The House of Shell), Plaza Mayor (The Main Square), Edificio Historico de la Universidad de Salamanca (The historical building of the university of Salamanca), and Puente Romano (The Roman Bridge).

Because the city is located in the interior of the Iberian peninsula, the weather can be bone-chilling cold in the winter and changes rapidly. The first Monday when I arrived here, it was -8. Despite having a sweater and heavy leather jacket, I was still very cold. Now, the weather is much better. However, it can change from spring to winter in the brink of eye.

Although this is one of cultural centers in Spain, the museums are unimpressive. However, there are many street performers and musicians. Some of them are quite good. The city also has many bars where college student hang-out in the night. When a student did not study enough, he/she prays to the lucky frog on the top of the skull on the outside of the historical building of the University of Salamanca.

This week is Samana Santa (Easter Weekend). The entire Spain is celebrating. Every day and night, there are processions and parades. Most of which includes a band playing sad music and penitents carrying a heavy float (~40 kg per person). Because I live on the Rua Antiga, which is on the route of the most of parades, I got to see a lot of parades everyday.