Yesterday we traveled from Toledo to Sevilla by way of Madrid because there are no direct trains.
The first challenge was getting a taxi to the train station without anyone in our group being fluent in Spanish. No taxis at the taxi stand on Sunday morning.
The train station was quiet
and kind of interesting.
Rolling hills
Orange groves
and more orange groves passing quickly past.
The Cathedral, just across the street from out apartment. Orange trees throughout the city have a wonderful fragrance. We are told that, unlike the oranges grown in the countryside, they have a bitter taste.
The street in front of our apartment. A pedestrian street with a tram. Perfect location.
We spent today exploring Sevilla. Lots to see and that will be the subject of our next post.
We flew from Minneapolis to New York on Wednesday morning. Despite the ice storm and delays from the FAA problems, our flight left on time. After a couple hours in New York it was just six hours to Madrid; then a van took us to Toledo.
We arrived in Toledo in late morning so we had time to explore. This is a street scene close to our apartment.
Cathedral in Toledo. According to Rick Steves it is the best cathedral in Spain. Lucky we got pictures on Thursday because a cooking show (Master Chef) was filming in the plaza in front of the Cathedral on Friday and Saturday.
City Hall, across from the Cathedral
A closer view of the Cathedral’s main entrance.
Not many people seem to speak English so it is easier to eat dinner at McDonalds. In case you didn’t know, we are travelling with Kate and Steve and their children, Josie and Teddy.
On Friday we toured with a guide. Our first stop was synagogue, preserved as a museum. There are only three historical synagogues in Spain and two of them are in Toledo.
A display showing how the Torah was stored
El Greco’s “The Burial of the Count of Orgaz”, inspired by the story of the miraculous lowering of the Count into his tomb by Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine with the actual tomb located directly in front of the painting. This is in a simple chapel, Santo Tome.
The pictured mourners in black were actually men of Toledo, including El Greco and his son (looking at us). Above the men an angel guides the Count’s soul to rebirth into heaven.
The Cathedral, built in the 1200s, is on the site of an earlier mosque. This is a view of the main altar as seen after entering through the main doors. The altar, if you can see, is almost hidden behind a grill.
The choir stalls are on two levels – balcony and the lower level.
A series of wood carvings on the lower stalls depict scenes from the conquest of Granada between 1481 and 1495.
The main altar
A monstrance that was owned by Queen Isabella. The lower portion is a table to support and display the monstrance.
Our guide, Christina, included the children in everything.
The Cathedral tower viewed from the cloister
A small part of the Christmas creche.
The Cathedral is huge. Below this chandelier is a cardinal’s hat. The cardinal is buried below. There are many of these throughout the Cathedral.
The weather has been chilly, in the 30s in the morning and very foggy. This is the view from our apartment in the afternoon, after the fog has lifted.
Josie helping Grandma hand the laundry.
Saturday, January 14, we started the day by visiting the shop of some artisans.
Making gold and silver jewelry.
A few of their pins.
A view looking back at the Cathedral.
Toledo is mostly encircled by the Tajo River that protected it from attack in earlier times.
Travels of the Elderly 