The main reason for our visit to Avila was to see the Shrine of Saint Teresa of Avila (also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus), who was born and spent her years there as a Carmelite nun. Since childhood, I have admired these two female saints with the same name – Saint Therese of Liseux (also known as Saint Therese of the Child Jesus) and Saint Teresa of Avila, and I had longed wished to visit their shrines. Although they were both great women of faith and have dedicated their l

For lunch, my travel amigas and I decided to pick a place closest to the gate where we were supposed to meet our Tour Director. Along Calle de San Segundo, right outside the Tourist Information Office, was a line of hostels, restaurants, and bars, mostly with outdoor patio seating along the pedestrian street. After quickly scanning the menu posted outside, we went to Restaurante Casa de Postas, a steakhouse that had a beautiful, covered terrace, as well as a huge trellis out

From Madrid, we took a day trip to Avila. Avila certainly gave us a grand welcome. As we arrived, we were greeted by the formidable walls dramatically surrounding the whole city with the red tile rooftops of houses peeking out in between the watchtowers and the turrets. I felt like I was transported back to the 16th century. In fact, Castilian writer Jose Martinez Ruiz said the same thing in his book, El Alma Castillana (The Castilian Soul) ,” that Avila is “perhaps the most