Ávila city tour continues

 I had about 90 minutes walking left on my walking tour this morning. My train leaves at 1pm so I gave myself time to stop at interesting things along the way.  I will post later after going through all the photos I took this morning. But here is the money shot.  The finger of St Teresa of Àvila. 

She was/is a very interesting figure in the pantheon of saints. Born into a converso family (Jews who converted versus being put to death during the Inquisition.) She was quite spiritual from an early age and went into the convent at 16. Through a series of events she was visited by the Holy Spirit and started writing about her direct experiences with God. She reformed her convent which had become (shall we say) more secular than religious. 

She wrote extensively. Her focus was on the direct spiritual connection with God through meditation and prayer. Many liken her work to teachings of other mystic sects such as the Kaballah.

She's the big cheese around Àvila so I knew everyone would want to see her mummified finger. 

I also did some walking around the city and saw a number of sights- 

The Small Market Square located inside the walls. (above and below)

There are many stone Boars from the Roman era- the current thinking is that they were to mark seasonal migration pathways for the boars and also, when placed in pastures, to protect them from predators. 

 

in case you wondered- 

View from the outside of the wall along rhe wall walk at "ground level"

The Great Market Square (outside the walls) and looking directly at the House of the Butchers at the Flour Gate

The House of the Butchers (now the visitors center for the Wall walks)

Bakery window

one last tour past the Catheral before I leave

Back at the hotel, I have a snack before my cab arrives - an excellent Cafe con leche and a croissant 

then I headed to the train station where my train to Madrid was 25 minutes late, but- I wasn't on a schedule so no big deal, time to read and review some of the photos of my Ávila journey.