Toledo

2 and 3/12/16

Ah, Toledo! What’s not to love? (Well, apart from if you had to walk up that hill with a back pack al la Kronach. But we very sensibly caught the bus!) It is full of history yet has modern comforts and blends Muslim, Christian and Jewish history and culture all in the same place.

The trip from Madrid on the AVE, traveling at a frightening 300 km/h, only took half an hour so we arrived at the exceedingly beautiful train station well before noon. After busing up to Plaza Zocodover as mentioned, we again needed the Google Maps blue dot to navigate the confusing streets to our hotel. The hotel is in a restored 300 year old building and our room overlooks the cathedral. Pretty fabulous. 

We didn’t do many “sights” in Toledo, other than Gary spending a morning at the Army Museum in the Alcázar. Plenty of weapons and armour, and some good stuff on the Romans in Spain. Also interesting was the building itself which was built over and around the Roman ruins that had been excavated and left exposed. 

Other than that, we spent lots of time just walking the streets and exploring, both during the day and at night once all the day trippers had left. Everywhere was fascinating for one reason or another. Dale found a convent that made and sold biscuits and had some for morning tea. Synagogues and churches were side by side. Muslim architecture popped up everywhere. Narrow streets ended in small plazas, locals walked their dogs, buildings had beautiful balconies, roads ended in steep drops down to the river, there were city walls and gates, and often you had to squash against a wall so that a car could pass you in a narrow street. There were more Christmas markets and lots of Christmas lights in streets and shops.

And Gary bought a falcata made from Toledo steel, the ultimate souvenir!

Inside Toledo's train station

View from our window

Cathedral at night

Cambron Gate and city walls

Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes lit up at night...

...and next day in the fog.

The streets of Toledo...

And we found Elmer!!!

Gary and our packs, waiting for the train.