Toledo

I’m trying to post only once a day, as I don’t want to overload you guys. Since yesterday was busking, today will include last night’s dinner. OMG, y’all.

I was wandering around with my groceries, trying to decide on a place, when a waiter invited me to sit and have a drink. I ordered a tinto verano (It was HUGE) that came with slices of Parmesan cheese. (They were on the empty plate.) I sat awhile, then ordered a salad.

Endive, radicchio, goat cheese, caramelizad pears, walnuts, pineapple…oh!…It was sweet, salty, crunchy, smooth…all the complexity of tastes I love. Gaze upon it.

I didn’t take a picture of the fried Gouda cheese sticks I got at McDonald’s, but I did take a selfie with my mango ice cream.

Yesterday was about getting my phone sorted out (can’t get a Spanish SIM card till my contract is up in fourteen months. HOWEVER, my phone has dual chip capability, so when it is I can get a Spanish SIM card and have a US number and a Spanish one, all in the same phone) and my bus tickets. I now have a discounted international plan with Verizon (three months for the price of two,) and tickets to Cangas del Narcea, where Stef will pick me up.

I ate too much for my Ambien to work well last night, so I’m a little short on sleep, but I’m excited about today. Mom, Aaron, this is what your birthday money bought me.

Here I am waiting on the bus to Toledo.

Toledo is one of the most ancient cities in Spain, and one in which Christians, Jews, and Muslims have co-existed for almost 1,000 years. Witness the Catholic church with Muslim-influenced architecture.

The terrain around the city is quite hilly, as you can see here.

I had forgotten that Toledo is known for its sword-making. We stopped at a factory where they gave a small demonstration .

Z, let me show you the souvenir you aren’t getting.

There is a decorative technique called Damascene, which involves working gold thread into other metals.

Mom & Sarah, you might be getting some.

This might surprise you, unless you know that the armor for The Lord of the Rings was made here in Toledo. I didn’t till today.

I was really tempted by the LOTR jewelry, but I was pretty sure I couldn’t afford it.

Now I’m sitting sipping more tinto verano (literally “summer wine.” It’s red wine and a citrus soda) trying to decide between a pork bocadillo and tortilla.

I got neither. The kitchen wasn’t open. But the waitress gave me this.

As I sat sipping I realized my battery was at 22%. Not enough for blogging and pictures and navigation. So blogging went away first. Then pictures, because you guys know, navigation is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

I did not want the thing I thought happened at the sword factory…

…to happen in reality.

So I didn’t tour any of the sites on my own, like the cathedral, mosque, or synagogue. I may do them another time. Instead I did this!

I talked with the woman in front of me, as best we could with each of our limited languages, and I took a video of her. So we took a picture together.

I did finally get something to eat.

There is a lot of busking in Spain. I actually saw this guy walking in, but I had to keep up with the tour.

I was about out of battery, but I knew how to get to the bus from there so I risked a few seconds.

I took this video first.

After I found the bus (or more accurately, where it was going to be) I went back in town and got a Coke Zero and some water from McDonald’s and used their facilities. My phone was completely dead by that point so I got to the meeting place way early. I was not missing that bus!

In that same spirit, I got off the bus at the first stop, Gran Via, instead of the second stop, Fountain of Neptune, where I got on. I knew how to get back to my hotel from the Gran Via. I wasn’t so sure about the fountain.

When I got back the maid had emptied the trash and given me clean towels. I’ve always been here when she’s done her cleaning before. Now I’m debating between going out or eating the pasta salad I bought yesterday. I think the salad’s gonna win.