Arriving in Spain
We started our journey yesterday afternoon on a plane to Madrid from Miami. I forsaw a grueling flight but it was alot more pleasant than I expected. I have had the urge to write since I boarded but I have simply lacked the energy to do so. Now we are at Antocha Renfe in Madrid. We've taken 3 trains on the metro which are like subways. In a few minutes we will be boarding the train to Toledo and our first stop.
While we wait we are drinking Cafe con leche and hot chocolate at the railway station. The chocolate tasted silky and opulant like the bars my grandmother in Puerto Rico used to melt to make the thick liquid. I remember the pieces of hard yellow cheese my grandmother would put in the drink like floating marshmellows and can taste it in my memory.
I can't help but think this is how the brave and adventurous see Europe. No plans, no reservations... just flying by the seat of your pants. Not in the warm conformist safety of a tour. I feel better because we are fluent in the language. I don't know if we would make it otherwise.
So it turns out … Toledo is located in the community of Castile-La Mancha. My mom starts to try to educated me to it’s importance and informs me it’s where El Greco was born and lived out the later part of his life, as well as where the royal court was located until the mid 16th century.
What impressed me most was that the old city was located on a mountaintop and the magnificant views of the valley below. It is surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River and there are escaltors located in the city walls to help people come up and down.
As we walk the city , a chill fills the air but it is plesant as we walk. We decide to grab a bite at El Forno de Toledo right on the Plaza Zocodover which is a central market place in the town. Our Hotel, The Carlos V, is only about 100 meters away and we are pondering what else we can fit in today.
After lunch we walk the city and end up at the Cathedral Alcazar or Primada as I noted on the maps, the main Cathedral in Toledo, which was built between 1226-1493. We walked the 4 museums and see paintings by El Greco. Mom says historians think he had a stigmatism because he painted everyone with elongated faces. I think his paintings have seaped into my subconcious since childhood because all I can think of it that is what Spainards should look like.
We were lead there by our new friend Stella who we met at the Train Station once we arrived in Toledo. It is very well located in the city with a wonderful view of the Cathedral and everything within walking distance.
Hotel staff was kind and very helpful.
