ungkler: A View Across the River

Toledo
Autumn 2011

On the viewing deck overlooking the walled city of Toledo across river Tajo
(Nov-2011)

Journal Entry... Old town of Toledo sort of reminded me of a theme park. How else would you take the walled city surrounded by water, a stone bridge to link to it, a towering fortress that dominates the city, and Señor Cervantes statue out in main street, like the "mouse-cot" in a theme park? When a red Bus Turistico awaited the visitors... I knew it!

4-nov: Day trip to Toledo... Toledo was an hour away by train, from Madrid. It was drizzling rain when hubby and I stepped foot in Toledo.

The Alcazar is seen towering above the rest in the old city of Toledo

Photo-op with
"Señor Cervantes"

Walled city was not walking distance from the Toledo train station, especially on a day when autumn weather had rains for special effects. We had no choice but to hop on that red Bus Turistico. Bus circled the walled city from across river Tajo first, before entering the old town to the bus stop in front of the Alcazar de Toledo (fortress).

Bus tour in Toledo

Because it was still raining outdoors, hubby and I stayed inside the bus as it went for another round, that of picking visitors from the Toledo train station and circling around, before entering the old town. By the third round, I've had enough of the bus tour, as well as of the interactive game I was playing aboard the Bus Turistico, that of poking the pool of rainwater filling up the tarpaulin roofing in the upper deck of the bus, and doing musical chairs to avoid the splash of rainwater from the open sides in the upper deck of the bus. By the third stop of the bus in front of the Alcazar, hubby and I hopped off to get on with our much delayed walking tour of the old town.

Catedral de Toledo inside the walled city

Toledo is known for its sword making industry. So, expect most of the shops to showcase these swords, alongside the hometown character of Don Quixote, which was either sold separately, or packaged with a horse and his human sidekick, Sancho Panza. Hubby had wanted to purchase a Toledo sword, as the sword would be a perfect souvenir from Toledo. But, it became uncertain whether the sword will be allowed inside the train back to Madrid; it is a real sword, after all. We were only midway in our trip around Spain, that meant taking the sword aboard other train rides to our destinations. Shopkeeper was also uncertain about it, so hubby let the idea of purchasing a Toledo sword slip. I did not want to end up feeling miserable when the pricey sword gets confiscated in the train.

Two Peas in Toledo

Hubby and I did get to have that one special souvenir from Toledo-- a "white ceramic plate" from the restaurant where we were supposed to have a quick lunch of paella. Food order took longer to arrive than expected... I kept asking the restaurant owner if it'll be ready soon, whilst he, who would holler down to the kitchen, would tell us it was coming out soon. I explained to the owner that we had a train schedule to catch to Madrid, from Toledo. When the paella order finally came out, I told the owner if it can be wrapped for takeaway instead. As the restaurant did not have a takeaway container, the owner went to instruct his son, who as it turned out was the one who cooked the paella, to (just) wrap up the "ceramic plate" containing the paella serving. Owner's son slightly resisted his father's idea to give away the "ceramic plate", still, the father insisted upon it. Toledo restaurant's ceramic plate ended up traveling with us... as nobody and nothing gets left behind on the Spain trip*wink;)