marksabout

“What are you going to do in Segovia, see the Aqueducto?” 

“Yeah, that and maybe sample some typical food.”

“Cochonillo?”

“Yeah, probably” I answer, pretending I knew what it was… So went the first conversation I had with a friend while I killed time on the train from Madrid to Segovia. The second was similar:

“Why are you going to  Segovia, to look at the Aqueducto?” 

“Yeah, I like Roman ruins! That and eat something local…? (Spain is very regional, food and otherwise…)

“Oh yeah? Cochonillo?”

“Yeah” Without knowing what it was, it was obvious I had to try cochonillo.

Segovia is big enough that the station isn’t near anything of much touristic interest. The station’s environs offer even less for a tourist with some kind of exhaustion bearing mystery virus. With no sign of a tourist office, I decided to walk up a hill. At the crest I saw an old looking church and headed in that direction. It was the right decision. After about half an hour I’d passed the business end of town and entered a wide paved street with aqueduct glimpses. Nearly starving, I easily stumbled across a few cochonillo options and got straight onto eating. Cochonillo is suckling pig. And it’s just so yummy!

Lunch took about an hour, and cos the train from Madrid took 2.5 hours, I only had 40 minutes left to explore before having to head back. I later found out that there’s a fast train that only takes 30 minutes, too late, though, and probably too expensive. And the trip up to Segovia is really pleasant! With only 40 minutes, I didn’t really have to opportunity to discover if Segovia has more to offer than an old aqueduct and young pork, but I’d recommend anyone within the vicinity of Madrid take the trip, fast train or slow train…