Santander

It's clear that Joseph Plichter has a passion for writing!

His final paper was packed with useful facts that were tied together into a colorful narrative resulting in a very pleasurable read. Like the fishing / trading port of Santander that has transformed into the lavish resort it is today, Joe went through a similar growth process over the course of the last fifteen weeks or so.

He writes:

* ... The most arduous element of this assignment was deciding what to omit and what to display on only ten slides.

* ... The cathedral is Santander's premier religious monument. It was built during the 14th century, thus its lavish architecture is very much Gothic in its form. Once you are inside... you will notice the immense interior, which can be accessed through a 15-th century cloister... This structure is built on top of a crypt of undetermined origins (perhaps Roman)

* The largest park in the city surrounds the Royal Palace built as a summer home by King Alfonso XIII built in 1909. This palace holds a museum dedicated to Saint Magdalena and there is also a defense castle that overlooks the bay. There is also a zoo here on the rocky cliffs on the northern end of the park. There is also a galleon on the premises that belonged to Vital Alsar, a famous Santander sailor and adventurer.

* The Royal Palace has been renovated and equipped with the latest technology to accommodate the students of Menendez Pelayo International University which now occupies this Palace, however, the Palace is still open to the public and admission is free.

* King Alfonso XIII is responsible for making this quaint fishing town into the luxurious resort it is today. He began the trend of rich upper class Spanish socialites summering in Santander.

* The name Santander originated in the Latinized form of Saint Emeterio, in Latin spelled "Sancti Emetherii" and has passed through many differing versions before it became the name we know today. It started with Sant Em'ter > San Ender > Sant Ander which closely resembles the name now known throughout Spain as SANTANDER.