Segovia; Sunday, 17 March, 2024

As my coach back to Madrid was booked for 1pm, and I didn’t have to check out until midday, I decided – after another almost deserted breakfast – to head out into town first and do some further exploring before checking out.

I headed back down part way towards the Alcázar to stop off at the Museo de Segovia. The museum is housed in an old building located directly on the city walls, the Casa del Sol. The museum has exhibits on the history of the area from pre-historic times through to the late 19th century as well as some stunning views across to the Alcázar.

I spent just over an hour looking round the museum, and then it was time to head back to the hotel, but before I went to pack my bag I took advantage of one of the benefits of staying where I was to head up onto the roof garden of the hotel, from where there were stunning views right across the city – the only thing not visible being the Alcázar, blocked from view by the imposing might of the cathedral.

Need for views finally sated I headed back down to my room to pack, checkout and wander down to the bus station to catch the coach back into Madrid.

When I’d originally booked my train tickets there was a gap in the service with the option of either a train at 10:25 or nothing until 15:00, which would have been cutting it really fine to make it back out to the airport in time, so I’d booked the coach. As it turned out a few weeks later Renfe opened up additional trains, but given these were already selling at €30, against my €4 coach I decided to stick to the bus.

It turned out to be a good choice as I was able to get the front row seat for a very picturesque journey up into the mountains that divide Segovia from Madrid, albeit at some point the motorway builders decided they were fed up with all the uphill and downhill building so a significant part is cut off by a long tunnel through the mountains.

Back in Madrid I hopped on the metro from the Moncloa bus station back to Nuevos Ministerios to pick up the airport metro out to Madrid-Barajas and my flight home.