If It's Monday it must be Toledo...

Monday, June 4. Sunny.

Correction. Toros not Torros for bulls in yesterday's writing.

Another great sleep last night: this time seven hours straight through! Awake at five and coffee and breakfast and soon out the door to Toledo.

We took a coach to Toledo today. This city in Spain, where it is famous for it's sword-making facilities in days of yore, is pronounced Toledu, not Toledo. [That is the city in Ohio we were told by our guide], so Toledu it is for me. Like Budapesh instead of Budapest I suppose!.

I have wanted to go there for about 70 years, ever since I read about it's fascinating history. I never made it in 1960 so this was a big thing for me today

The coach ride was about an hour. There, we split into two groups: the regular walking tour and one called Gentle Walkers for those unable or unwilling to hoof it up the hill and tackle the cobblestones. 

Toledo was first occupied by the Romans before the birth of Christ. It was a defended fortress on a 300 foot hill, surrounded on three sides by the river. After the Romans left around 500 AD, the Visigoths took over until the Moors then took it over for hundreds of years, Eventually the Christians got it back around 1085 and it has been in their hands ever since. The Jews were expelled in 1492. Quite an amazing history. [These figures are from memory from this very tired and over-saturated brain so if you know better, good for you.]

We have these Audio Vox things that you can hear the guide speaking even if you are some distance away. I tend to lag behind to take photos. Today was no exception. We visited inside the Jewish Synagogue, a first for us. Very interesting history. Built by the Jews obviously before they were expelled sometime around 1492. It was left abandoned for some very long time, until, about 1800, when it was renovated by some forward thinking folks who wanted to keep its past alive for others to see and understand the history.

Next we went to the Toledo Cathedral. Built by the Moors as a Mosque but converted to a Cathedral when the Muslims were defeated. Crazy history here. It is fascinating and very difficult to comprehend.

We had  a bit of alone time at the top of the hill so we had a bite to eat. [Dare I say a MacDonald's hamburger] before we strolled a bit before the final descent to the awaiting coach where many had a nap on the way back.

The weather was coolish today, but good for walking which we surely did. I have fulfilled a goal today, which was to see Toledo, which feels rather good!

**  **  **

I must say that we have been very much impressed with the beauty of Madrid the last few days. There is so much green space and the architecture is outstanding and well maintained. There is not the Western European bustle here, which is nice. The traffic seems to be very much less, not sure why. The people are polite and not in your face, or obnoxious. Most are quiet spoken. A very civilized place.

We ended our stay in Madrid with a dinner out with a single gent, from Atlanta, travelling alone. Quiet, deep thinking fellow whom we met earlier. Together, we had the adventure of eating out in a strange country. We were all outside of our comfort zone until we began to feel relaxed in the ambiance of the place and the pleasant and understanding staff. The wine helped!

I have not captioned all the photos...

Toledo. It took me 70 years to get here but it was worth it.

Crossing the bridge to enter the city itself.

Could be anywhere in Europe, but it has a Spanish stamp on it.

Inside the Mosque-come-Cathedral. Carvings for seats, Catholic.

These are some of the chains that the Moors had on captured Christians. They are on the side of a church built in celebration of when the Moors were expelled.

Inside the restored Synagogue.

Synagogue.

Synagogue.

Synagogue.

Sword mementos everywhere.

Remnants of yesterday's celebration of the Virgin Mary parade.

El Greco painting inside the Cathedral.

Unbelievable adornments inside the Cathedral.

Modern [?] Toledo.

Touring Madrid & Flamenco Dancers...

Sunday, June 3. Pleasant weather indeed.

Is it possible that we have overcome Jet-Lag so fast? We went to bed at 10:00 and both awoke at 5:00, then ordered coffee at 5:30. That is about the same bed and awake time as at home. Hmmm, time will tell.

It appears that there has been a change in the Federal Government here in Spain. No biggie at home but our Hotel is across the street from the Congress in Madrid. Lots of heavily armed Police ready to put down any demonstrations in a hurry. 

This morning, after breakfast, along with those that were able to stay wake, we got on a coach and we had a quick tour of Madrid. The quick tour took several hours. It certainly was an all encompassing tour of this beautiful city. Sun helped the matter for sure.

Madrid seems to be about the only big city that we both are able to enjoy. The lack of cars and certainly bikes certainly slows down the pace. Bikes have their own lanes and do not interfere with what little traffic there is. Not many sky scrapers here as well. The planners left lots of open spaces for their wonderful statues and monuments and planted zillions of trees to offer shade  from the sun.

After the coach tour we set out on foot for a couple of hours, then we left the group and found our own spot for lunch. It was a little off the beaten path and we were the only patrons while our lunch was cooked. We then hoofed it back to the hotel where we hunkered down for a healthy nap before our big night out tonight!

Agog in one of the many 'Squares' in Madrid this morning.

A favourite Sunday ritual for the locals is to Promenade in the streets and squares.

Endless opportunities for photography but too large to capture fully.

I can't even  begin to pretend to recall the names and story behind these buildings.

Just take it all in and enjoy it...

At the Bullring or Plaza del Torres.

Ticket booth in front of the Plaza del Torres.

It holds approximately 80,000 bloodthirsty Spaniards!

Fellette looking for change to buy a small souvenir.

It was just a picture waiting to be taken, so I took it!

**  **  **

Unfortunately, photos were not allowed during the Flamenco Show. However, it was a wonderful evening in spite of that. There was a short period when we could take photos but in the crazy lighting and our position in  the restaurant it was better to sit back and absorb what was happening rather than try and photograph the impossible!

Wonderful evening, we could not have done it without that nap and a couple of Sangria!

Naps and Things...

Saturday, June 2. Cloudy, clearing in the afternoon.

To bed a bit before 10:00 last night. Both wide awake at 2:00, then to sleep, then awake again at 4:00. Up at 4:30, ordered coffee at 5:00 and had breakfast at 7:00. 

After breakfast, back to the room and napped for an hour and a half before stepping out to get my new computer mouse. Had a nap when we returned from that! An hour later we went on a very long walk to the Prada Museum and the Park del Retiro where we wandered around for a couple of hours before we both concluded we needed, guess what? Another nap!

However we were more hungry than tired so we found a cozy little Tapas place and had a drink and a wee bite to eat. Now fed, we certainly needed that nap! [We purposely came a day early in an attempt to get over the nine hours time difference we experienced yesterday. Our body clock does not move at Jet Speed.]

At 6:00 we went to a Meet-and-Greet with the other 30-odd passengers that have arrived so far and had a wee drink and a snack where Luis, our Tour Guide with Ama Waterways, filled us in on the next 10 days, gave us an orientation tour of the area around the Hotel, which is very central, before dropping us off in an area absolutely full of very, very interesting places to eat and drink if you so desire.

By the way, Tapas are just little appetizers in a very wide selection of interesting combinations: meats, cheeses, pickle, hams, cold meats etc. A Tapas Bar is merely a place where people come to socialize, have a bite to eat and a bit of drink.

The ceiling in the dining room in the hotel where we had breakfast today. 

Very nice!

Artsy stuff around the Prada streets. [Fellette is on the left.]

200th Anniversary of the Prada Museum next year.

The Prada, right.

Old Glass House in the Park del Retiro.

Fountains and massive statues abound in Madrid.

I wonder how many gardeners the Park employs?

We eventually moved to a larger 'table'!

Inside the Tapas Bar where we had our 'lunch'.

Our Hotel from the side. 106 years old. Lovely and not snooty.

An old [1842] Palace that today held a 'One-Woman Show' of paintings that we found terribly depressing. Nice building though.

Have a Sangria Honey...    With our dinner tonight.

The Longest Day[s]

Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1. Beautiful weather.

No complaints, nothing went wrong and it was about as smooth as it could be for us, and, about the quietest plane we have ever been on and the newest as well. An Air Bus 900 or something like that.

It was German Lufthansa plane and crew with a very attentive crew. Business Class, it is expensive but it enables us to endure long flights so it is either business class or no trip it seems.

I won't bother you with the details but the trip seemed to be endless. Finally we arrived by taxi in Madrid from the airport and it was then that I realised we are not going to be able to communicate in Spanish. No way! They talk so fast!

The streets of Madrid are packed with taxis and cars with pedestrians moving at a somewhat less hurried pace than at home.

We checked in, connected to wi-fi and unpacked a bit and then took off to the Apple Store to but a bloody mouse that seems to have eluded our packing efforts at home. How dumb can that be Doug?

The store was a few minutes away but on the way I was fascinated by the atmosphere in the area. Scores of people just being casual and seemingly content with life. No rowdies or bad people. The buildings although not Classical by any means are an interesting change from what we have at home.

We went to bed around nine, dead tired but happy.

My bride at Vancouver Airport.

Our fist sight of Spain coming in this afternoon. It almost looks Medieval.

The entrance to our hotel that is 106 years old this year. Nice but not snooty.

The Lobby.

The Lobby from looking back. 

**  **  **

I realise that this is not what you are expecting to see in Madrid but this is as good as it gets after 30 hours up and nine time zones with four hours sleep! 

**  **  **

I took these rather bad shots on our evening walk to the store! 

I am still trying to figure this one out!

Museum of Ham?

Madrid, 58 years later...

Thursday, May 31. In Langley, BC.

It's a Travel Day for Fellette and me. We are off to the airport this afternoon, scheduled to fly at 6:35 PM via a Lufthansa overnight flight to Munich, Germany and then later to Madrid. 

We get there, if things go as scheduled, at 6:05 PM, Friday, June 1, Spanish time. That will be 9:05 AM Vancouver time,  June 1. [Tomorrow morning at 9:05] 

The explaining of this helps my mind understand it better. It is a long travel time for sure and all sorts of things happen on travel days and sometimes one wonders why we do it. It will take us several days to adjust to the nine hour time difference. 

Fellette and I have been to Barcelona a couple of times for a day on cruise ships but never inland. I was there in 1960 when I was travelling around Europe and we were in Madrid for some time. I never liked big cities but I do remember I was impressed with Madrid and it's beautiful wide streets and architecture, even when I was younger, much younger.

Anyhow, our schedule for this trip is quite simple:

- Four days in Madrid, Spain, and the surrounding countryside.

- Seven days on a River Cruiser with 100 other strangers on the River Douro in Portugal, heading west to the Ocean.

- Three days in and around Lisbon, Portugal, before flying home Friday June 15. 

I hope that I can make Internet connections along the way, if so, it is my goal to send along some pictures and a bit of text daily.

This was what I looked like 58 years ago. [My passport photo.]

Cool dude on the Eiffel Tower with the sports jacket I bought in Spain. 

My Aussie friend Keith. We met on my 1960 trip to Europe and still keep in touch. He is reading this blog as a matter of fact! This was in Italy, under an overpass on a rainy Easter Sunday, 1960, dinner for us.

I cannot easily lay my hands on a Madrid picture.