Toledo Day Two!

From Toledo

From Toledo

Toledo has captured my heart. It is a town rich in history and full of Spanish pride that is apparent on the faces of the locals who gladly serve you café, cream puffs (my constant quest to find the best continues), or drive your bus to the station. The people are genuine and simple and happy. Tourists flock Toledo by day, but once they depart, you have the town essentially to yourself. Music vibrates through the restaurants and laughter fills the empty spaces of silence. People are alive here. They take time to wander and smile and hold a hand and give a hug. They are not shy people in the least. They wear their emotions on their beautifully ironed button up shirt sleeves, with their lovely wife on the arm of the other sleeve beaming up proudly as they walk.

From Toledo

From Toledo

I went to see the Cathedral (spelled Catedral) today. I can not recall a moment in my life when I actually lost my breathe from the sight of such magnificence. (Luckily none of my ex boyfriends are likely reading this and won’t be insulted by this discovery). But the word magnificence can not even come close to describing the interior of the Catedral. My stomach felt like a thousand butterflies had been released, but an overwhelming sense of peace was felt simultaneously. Peace and the most intense excitement I have experienced.

I have to break to tell you what I find to be a funny story. Last night I saw them and then again today and I am compelled to share. There is this 40ish year old woman, who I am assuming is the grand daughter of the lady she pushes around in a wheelchair. Last night when I saw them, the grandma looked dead (seriously dead) as she was pushed down a cobblestone road, her head bobbing up and down and every which way. I almost said to the “pusher” you realize she is dead, right. But I refrained as I am learning to silence the inside voice. I am now writing this on the plaza and again I see the grandma, again being pushed around in her wheelchair and again looking gravely dead. I don’t have the heart to advise this “pusher” as she may be so upset.

Anyway, back to the Catedral. The ambiance inside the Catedral was somber (in the happiest of ways). There were groups of well-mannered school children with bulging brown eyes, sacred smiles and carefree hearts. Tour groups gathered together and whispered their “ohhhs and ahhhs”. At one point I felt frozen when I sat in front of the High Alter. I kept thinking about the people who put their lives into building this intricate and delicate structure of marble and stone. Oddly to some perhaps, I found myself caressing the rounded corners of the pillars and running my fingers on the faces of the carved angels. It was surreal. Unfortunately, they do not allow photography inside the church. I tried to snap a few outlawed shots, but they didn't turn out. If I go again, I will be sure to wear my nose-cam or bra-cam so I can get some pic's to share. For now, if you are interested, just google Toledo Catedral and click images. You are sure to find some successful illegal pictures.

Here is my meal of the day:

From Toledo

When I left there, I wandered. I neglected (on purpose) to take out my map and I just strolled around. I ended up by the river (exactly where I wanted to be) and I sat and read my book for a while. The Tajo river pretty much surrounds the town of Toledo. From what I understand, the location of Toledo was selected so the river could act as a moot (is that how’s it’s spelled?) to protect the town.

From Toledo

I took tons of pictures today of everything from what I ate (a charming little restaurant near the river) to a young girl screaming for her “ma ma” from her window. She was too cute. Once she saw I was snapping her picture she became goofy and was being quite the poser. I wandered into open doors and looked around, I skipped by the river and I ate like a queen for 11 euros. Today was a magnificent day (largely because of the Catedral but also because I got my Nick-fix).

From Toledo

The police here make quite a presence. I have to admit, there is graffiti here as well. I would think that if these vandals are caught, there could be a return to the burnings and the squeezing the air out of their bodies, while the public looked on. It is such a tragedy to see graffiti on the 500 year old buildings. However, I did have this thought today (while I do not in any way condone the spray paintings). Perhaps, the graffiti of today is our expression of art as was the carvings and drawings the expression of art during the 16th century. Maybe, just maybe, when Indians left pictorial images chronicling theirs lives on the walls of caves, this was their expression. I can barely fathom the notion that someday, 500 years from now, people will travel to America or Spain or India to view the drawings of these vandals, but who knows. Maybe someone had that same doubt when these churches were erected and filled with cherubs and gold plated gates. Just a thought.

From Toledo

From Toledo

Anyway. GOOD NEWS. Grandma is alive. I just saw her hand move ever so slightly to shoo away a fly. Thank goodness my observations were wrong (again).

From Toledo