So, here we are in Alcalá de Henares SPAIN! You might guess from the streetlight reflection in the street that it has been raining. The long-standing tradition is that every time the Shermans arrive in Spain, it rains. It had been raining this morning when we left for our Sunday meetings, but by this afternoon it had cleared up just enough to give us a little hope that we might get out of the chalet, stretch our legs, and try to shake off the jet lag. No luck! We got a few blocks away from the chalet and were just starting to take some picture for the blog when the wind whipped up, and POW, the rain started come down in sheets. By the time we got back to the bridge that leads to our chalet we were soaked. Oh well, what is life without a few "traditions." According to Jannette the forecast for tomorrow is good: no rain and warming up. We will just have to see about that! Despite our brief foray into Alcalá, we did get some photos just to give you an idea of a few of the interesting things we will be seeing. First, this is the view from the bridge that crosses the train tracks. We are looking down the Paseo de la Estación. During the course of our adventure in Alcalá we will walk this stretch many, many times on our way to the university and to visit the old part of the city. As you walk along this street you can see many diverse and interesting sites. There are restaurants (our favorite being the one that sells doner kebabs [turkish sandwiches], shops, bakeries, a small Rumanian church, and the Centro de Estudios Cisnerianos that is part of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares.


To the left is a photo of the Palacete Laredo where the Centro de Estudios Cisnerianos is housed. The building was designed by Manuel José Laredo y Ordoño and constructed between 1880--1882. The building boasts a beautiful neo-Mudéjar design, with other architectural elements (e.g., Gothis, Renaissance, and Modernist) dispersed throughout its complex design. Frankly it is an odd enclave of beauty along a normally mundane and commercially rich area. All around it are apartments and business. The funniest aspect of this building is that next door and sitting on the corner is an small building where regularly you can hear the sound of dance music. If you look closely you will see older men and women inside dancing to their hearts content!

Just before the rain began to descend on us I had taken a picture of these three towers that are part of the university's Facultad de Derechos (Law School). Located on calle Libreros, the towers belong to what was once the Iglesia del Colegio Máximo de la Compañía de Jesus and is currently known as the Parroquia de Santa María Mayor, which moved to this site in 1936 after its building was burned. Construction on the church began in 1567. Additional work was done between 1602-1620 due to a significant donation from the Mendoza Family. The architectural design is heavily influenced by Italian design. Below are a view of the three towers of the church.





One of the more interesting aspects of these towers are the large stork nests that can be found on the roof of the church. These stork nests can weigh many hundreds of pounds and are used by the same pairs each year. I caught some pictures of them perched on the roof and at the feet of Saints. I really like the one of the cross with the two storks posing around and on top. In Arabic culture the stork (cigüeña) marked the passing of winter into spring. For others, the stork is a symbol of good luck and the adversary of evil. I guess that with the latter symbols the presence of the storks on the Church represents an important combined symbolism. Especially the one of the stork posing on the cross. Interesting connection.