"Holy Toledo!"

as usual, i am ridiculously behind on blogging. we went to Toledo February 17th, and i am well aware it is almost a month later. oops. im having trouble getting internet access for some reason, but im doing my best. excuses, excuses, i know. BUT! you have Lisbon, Sintra, and Barcelona to look forward to! AND i will be going to Seville for Semana Santa which will probably be one of the most interesting experiences of my life. so stay tuned.

Toledo: this breathtaking city is known as The City of the Three Cultures, a name which refers to the unique harmony that existed between Christian, Islamic, and Jewish cultures for centuries. Toledo was once the capital of Spain and was also home to the famous painter El Greco.

(i cannot take credit for any of the following pictures. i snatched them all from dear friends Christopher and Mike, who are amazing photographers. enjoy)

hooray! leaving Estacion del Sur to go on a new adventure in Toledo!

Mike taking in the fantastic scenery around the Tagus River.

lovely lady travelers

oh wow, we're high up.

go Spidey, go!

bridge over the Tagus River

Cervantes? or Mike? its hard to tell...

here we are with our new British friend who so graciously showed us around the city. she lives in an amazing flat with the best view imaginable of Toledo (youll see pics later).

we didnt experience the best weather in Toledo, not nearly as pleasant as Segovia- it was bitterly cold and wind whipped at our clothes and faces as we fought our way up steep cobblestone streets- but somehow, the dark, moody weather was perfect for taking in the city, and definitely added to our appreciation of the steaming cafe con leche we would have later.

the view from our new friends rooftop terrace.

me with the Cathedral of Toledo.

tourists, caught in the act!

Toledo coat of arms

The beautiful Cathedral of Toledo

Christopher and Mike in front of the cathedral

inside the Church of Santo Tome after just viewing the amazing painting The Burial of Count Orgaz by El Greco, who lived in Toledo during his later years.

Toledo.

what an amazing city filled with wonders and treasures and history.

we entered Toledo breathless with excitement (and exhaustion due to the ridiculous terrain!), and upon catching a glimpse of the Alacazar overlooking the river and valley, immediately lost our minds with glee, bolted up the nearly vertical cobblestone streets that bit into our feet through our shoes, and ran through the grounds of the castle like schoolchildren, scaling the walls and singing songs from "The Sound of Music" and laughing like maniacs. it must have been an extremely disturbing sight for the people around us, but we were oblivious to their stares, overwhelmed by the searing cold wind, the peircing beauty of the countryside with its quaint houses tucked into the hills, and the intoxicating knowledge that this was a new adventure.

we left Toledo quite the same way we arrived: out of breath and flushed, although not exactly for the same reasons as before- a storm blew up just as we were preparing to leave, and it chased us all the way to the bus station, the wind howling at our backs and fat drops of rain pelting our faces. sprinting through the streets, relishing the fact that we were running just on the edge of the storm, laughing, once again, like lunatics, we made it to the station. unlike our clothing and hair, our spirits remained undampened, because it was the perfect end to yet another perfect day in Spain.

Thank You, Lord, for being the Author of these perfect days.