Friday, May 21, 2010


The city of the two lovers: Teruel

We went to the city of lovers (no, not paris nor rome), actually Teruel, a little town in Aragón which is famous for its two historical lovers: Isabela Segura and Juan Marcilla. Here's a little summary of the Spanish version of our of romeo and juliet:

The Lovers of Teruel is a romance story that is alleged to have taken place in 1217 in the city of Teruel, Aragón.

In the city there were two important and wealthy families, Marcilla and Segura. Juan Martinez was a Marcilla and Isabel a Segura. The two were in love as childhood playmates but when they were both at an eligible age to wed, Juan's family had fallen on hard times. Isabel's father, being the most wealthy in all of Teruel, forbade the marriage. Juan, however, was able to make an agreement with the father in which he would leave Teruel for five years to try to build his fortune. If Juan was able to gain wealth within those five years he would be able to marry his love, Isabel.

During those five years her father pestered her to marry someone. She replied to him by saying that God wished her to remain a virgin until she turned twenty, saying that women should learn how to manage the household before getting married. Because her father loved her dearly and wished for her happiness he agreed, and for five years they waited for Juan's return.

Diego was not heard from in those five years and so on the day of the five years' close Isabel's father married her to another man. Right after the wedding ceremony there was a commotion at the gate. The watchmen informed the village that Juan Marcilla had returned with great riches and with the intent of marrying Isabel.

That night, Juan snuck into the bedroom of Isabel and her husband and gently awoke her. He pleaded to her, 'Kiss me for I am dying' and she refused, saying 'God would not wish me to deceive my husband; I beg you to find another, and forget about me.'

He begged her one last time, saying that he was dying and wished for a final kiss. But still she refused. Upon hearing this Juan could not bear the separation between himself and his love, and with a sigh he died on the feet of his beloved Isabel.

The next day, during the funeral for Juan Marcilla, Isabel showed up dressed in her wedding dress. She proceeded to walk to the front of the church and place a kiss on the man whom she had refused but in doing so Isabel died, falling prostrate on the body of the man whom she loved.

So we saw the lovers' tombs, and the old structures of Teruel and visited Cuenca, another old city famous for its hanging houses that appear to be falling over the cliff.


In other news, San Isidro festivals and the 100 year anniversary of Madrid's beloved main avenue (Gran Via) were a great success this past weekend.

The weather is getting beautiful (now we just have to wait for the pollen to disappear) and I await the arrival of my maternal grandparents, who will arrive within the next few hours to enjoy a nice madrileño weekend of tour busses, tapas, and pastries (: