Hola de Madrid: Miércoles

This morning was not too eventful, as we made our train and were off to Toledo! Minor details, while sitting on the train we had stuck our tickets in the back pocket. Somehow, Michelle happend to tap hers just right, to where it slipped down the chair behind a plastic piece (see figures below).

Ticket Chilling

Ticket slipping behind plastic piece (No, at the time no one was really holding the other end)

So you are thinking, this may not be that big of a deal right? I mean we're already on the train...incorrecto! Did I mention the return ticket was also stapled to this ticket? I'm not sure how she did it, but Michelle managed to reach her hand in, per the picture below, and retrieve the ticket.

In about a half an hour we're in Toledo! We get off the train, to realize there was no atm close by and we were a little short on Euros....so we started to walk. The benefit is you can see different things and aren't zoning out on a bus.

Outside the Train Station

Old Toledo...Most of the tourist part in background

Most people live in this newer part of Toledo

On the other hand, when you walk, you may end up climbing a lot of stairs and going up hill most of the time.

Michelle mentioned I was not going the correct way, way she had gone before, but failed to mention that I couldn't get up this way prior to climbing the stairs to the top and seeing tons of graffiti at the top (both English and Spanish....what I could read not very nice). Toledo is a very up and down city (i.e. not flat even once you're inside). I'm not sure she really knew what we were going to see, but she at least pretended she did. Of course, I asked if we could go up the other stairs and she said she didn't think so, but after our walk along the road we we're both thinking we may have been able to.

Stairs we climbed up and back down....at least we got some good pictures!

After walking a mile maybe, taking lots of stairs, Michelle says I "think
we go up the hill (one the parking sign is pointing), but am not sure. haha...I was like uh.

We did eventually make it inside the city, got some money and some breakfast!

Coffee and bread! It's like this place was made for me :)

Michelle and I can share a lot of food, because she can't eat a lot of the food I like and I don't like to eat a lot of the food she can eat (she has lots of food allergies).

Once nourished, we were ready to explore the beautiful city, which included the Cathedral of Toledo, the church of Santo Tome, Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue and Alcázar.

When the light is red, that pole in the middle of the street goes up. I thought it was cool once I knew what it was...was pretty weird when something just started rising out of the ground.

Cathedral of Toledo

Greco had painted all 12 apostles, which were on display. His art differs from Michaelangelo, as he didn't use the same color scheme. El Greco painted the twelve apostles using dark colors to show how the apostles view their own soul. It is said that as a person becomes closer to God, they feel farther away. Thus el Greco did not paint them in the traditional bright colors to demonstrate the human side of the Saints and to help his audience relate to them, God, and the Church (especially during the Counter-Reformation). Also, El Greco painted the apostles as old men to show the effect of their personal struggles and inner turmoils as they tried to reach holiness. In each apostle painting he put something in their hands to symbolize the person and the work that they did for God in order to achieve holiness. On the other hand, in Jesus's painting there was nothing in his hand to symbolize his divinity, but he did make the sign of "majestad" (as they call it in Spanish) or of his Majesty or divinity. El Greco also painted Jesus as a young man and in brighter colors to show that he is divine, and to distinguish him from the twelve apostles.

A statue of the virgin and Jesus, which is different from many, since joy is the emotion depicted between mother and son as the baby Jesus is depicted in a playful way with his mother.

Ciborium used at WYD 2011. A little insight from my sister. There was some concern to move it from it's home in Toledo to Madrid for the Vigil/Adoration, as it is very fragile.

Super gorgeous...I even went back for another look at the intricate detail.

Walking/Break

I may be a little addicted to Fanta Naranja. It's not like the states Fanta Orange and is simply delicious! I had to google it...apparently I'm not the only one that has experienced this haha.

Toledo Sword! Not like that silly one from Breakfast Club.

Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue

Not as cool as I thought it would be upon entering, but this picture makes it look awesome I think!

Leaving Toledo?

So we head back to what we thought was the city center per people directing us, to discover it is a whole different/new place then where we started. Michelle said this is where she expected us to start. I knew we had found the true tourist drop off when I saw McDonalds. We were actually planning/trying to catch a taxi before making it to this area with the buses, but didn't see one at the time.

Official Big Mac face

So I see a sign for the Alcázar....Michelle tells me it's down the hill and she's not sure we'll make it back (we had a return train ticket). Do we go for it? Of course!

Alcázar

As we walk through, we realize we are down by the newer Toledo section and find taxis! So we start walking around, but also realize that most places are closed for vacation or siesta time. Bonus...the taxi was cheaper than the bus for both of us I'm told!