Spain - Toledo

Today we headed off for an excursion to Toledo. It was raining like crazy, so it would prove to be an interesting time.













Toledo is a walled hilltop medieval city still having a lot of its fortifications and gates intact.





It's impressive walking up the long winding roads, through the many gates, until finally reaching the main part of the small ancient town.

When you finally reach the top, it is a maze of medieval alley size streets lined with shops. Many of the shops contain swords and armor, as this area has specialized in its manufacture for centuries.

The center of town, like most medieval towns, is a massive cathedral. One of the most impressive things to see in the cathedral is the display of Priestly Vestments. The amount of work that is done on these handmade garments is astounding.

I saw a lot of El Greco art, and though I appreciate it, I am not a huge fan. I did however like this one painting that is displayed in the room for which it was originally painted. It is called "The Spoliation" - Christ being stripped of his garments. It is on a wall in the cloister where the priests would put on their Holy Vestments. It is a powerful piece of art and the location of the art very poignant.









We had a great Jamon con Queso sandwich in a square not far from the church. Our timing was perfect as a massive downpour came while we were under a tent enjoying our food and Mahou beer.



We wrapped up our day a little early because Luis's parents had invited us over to their home for a homecooked traditional Spanish dinner.

They had prepared Jamon, Tortilla, Sardines, Pulpo (octopus), and Chorizo. However, the Chorizo they served was the base filling of the Chorizo before it is made into the sausage. The pulpo and sardines were delicious. The sardines being marinated in Olive Oil, parsley, and lemon Juice.

Luis's father is a wine lover and shared a very nice bottle of Spanish wine. It was a lovely evening despite Luis's parents not speaking any English, and Tony and I knowing very, very little Spanish.