zamora's rainy-day blues and my broke student survival guide
okay so you know that feeling when you're skint and the weather's being extra? that was me in zamora last weekend. i just checked and it's *11°C with dampness that seeps into your bones, hope you packed thermals because this town ain't messing around.
first things first: food. as a perpetually broke student, i lived on tostones (fried green bananas) from this tiny stall by the river for €1.50 each. legit life-saver. someone told me that the mercado central has free fruit samples if you lurk near the organic section long enough - and they weren't kidding. i filled up before hitting the free museum days. speaking of which, the castillo? free entry on tuesdays. climb that thing for views that make your hostel bed feel like a prison cell worth escaping from.
if you get tired of zamora's cobblestone streets grinding your cheap sneakers down to nubs, puebla de sanabria is like an hour bus ride away and has this castle that looks straight out of a game of thrones knockoff. cheaper than therapy, honestly. though i heard that the local bus drivers are secretly evaluating your life choices when you flash the student discount - my theory's unconfirmed but trust me, dress the part.
now let's talk survival tips. la catedral has those famous ceilings but they charge €7 to enter - skip it. instead, find the back alley where the street cats live and get a free show of territorial drama. way more entertaining. also, the hostel i crashed at (hostel zamora backpackers) had a kitchen where i made pasta for €1.50 total. pro-move: bring your own oil because theirs tastes regret.
someone warned me that bar pacifico gives free tapas with drinks if you order during their weird 4-5pm window. it's true but the patatas bravas are basically glorified potato chunks. still free food. also, i overheard this gem: 'the mirador del río is worth the €2 bus fare but only if you time it with sunset.' did it. 1000% worth.
for more budget wisdom, this yelp guide actually saved my life when the tostone guy was closed. and if you need cheap stays, spain-holiday has hostels cheaper than my dignity.
so yeah. zamora's got this gray-stone charm that grows on you like mildew. wear good shoes. bring snacks. and maybe a jacket because that feels_like temp* of 10.87°C is no joke. peace out.
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