Toledo... and the suburbs

Whoot whoot whoot.   Saturday I took a day trip with four other girls, Jess Julie Julie and Kate to Toledo.  It is an incredible city!  I know not everyone likes the whole history thing but I love it so for my own memory sake, I'm going to recount some of it...

Toledo used to be the capital of Spain.  It has a rich history including an intricately designed cathedral, Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada. Inside this cathedral is a museum filled with the art of El Greco.  El Greco's art didn't fit in with the other art of the day, it was more real or true to reality than other art.  Greco didn't elaborate with mythology, or diminish the flaws of those in his paintings.  Also in the cathedral was an incredible choir loft.  What a beautiful sound should be coming from there, unfortunately it was quiet and cold inside.  

I also was able to visit, just briefly, the Santa Cruz Museum.  Not the normal art museum, Santa Cruz holds artifacts, such as the organic chemistry kits of the early 1800's as well as clothing worn during that time.  Everything from fashionable fans to the evolution of compasses.  It was really neat to see so much of the day to day things had been preserved, and just how little has changed.  For instance, in one display there were two large vases as well as a salt shaker, it was a dining set, vinegar, oil, and salt for the salad.  Virtually the same as in every restaurant and home in spain!  

Also the shopping was incredible!  Spain has a system of sales where only twice a year, for a month each time, do stores put their clothing on sale.  Then two weeks of 30-50% and then the 2nd half of the month about 70% off!  It was during the 2as rebajas, as they call them that we were in Toledo!!! I didn't get anything but it sure was fun!  

Now the trip home... after taking a bus from madrid to toledo, we had to take a bus up the hill to the center of toledo.  So on the way back we assumed/I assumed since I somehow became the translator (bad idea) that all the buses go back to the bus station on their route.  This was confirmed by the bus driver, "the second stop" he told me.  Well the second stop came and went and the five of us never got off... we went across a river, saw a sign that said Madrid ---> passed numerous roundabouts, hoping that one would take us back around to where we had just come from.  Finally the bus came to its last stop in the far out suburbs of toledo and the five of us had to get off, pay again and travel the 20 minutes or so back to the "second stop."  

Well that was my day in Toledo! 

Pictures on facebook!