Madrid 2012 - 18 January

Toledo

I took a day trip to Toledo, which is about 74 km away (about 45 miles). The high-speed train takes 33 minutes to get there, which isn’t bad. Even the train station is a work of art.

Geometric design of stained glass in train station Exterior Toledo train station showing clock tower at left and station at right Right-hand end of train station (from viewer's point of view) Geometric theme tiles at train station wall Geometric design tiles on station wall Geometric design ceiling woodwoork Brickwork in shape of curved Y near top of wall Palm trees and small building near train station

The station is out near the countryside, and it’s about a five-minute bus ride to one of the gates to the city.

Statue of a farmer Farmland near train station; brown wooden picket fence in foreground

The main plaza is the Zocodover. This town is really big on Don Quijote.

Fairly modern buildings at Plaza de Zocodover ceramic tiles on a bench showing scene from Don Quijote Life-size somewhat cartoonish metal sculpture of Don Quijote

Here are pictures of the city, in no particular order. As you can tell, the city is quite old. The cathedral is very impressive from the outside; I did not go in.

Toledo city walls Caraved heraldic crest flanked by flags Statue of Emperor Carlos V Statue of a bishop in a niche above an arch in a brick wall Bench with stone lions as its feet Side of some religious building with pink-colored bricks Carving of religious figures inside a triangular shape Downhill view through archway Clock at side entrance to cathedral Relief work showing religious scenes from bible Carvings in niches near door of cathedral Top of cathedral Nested arches above cathedral door, with relief carvings Steep upward view of cathedral tower Cathedral spires Wall and buildings above wall; upward angle Towers and flags at entrance to city

The views from the city to the area below are just spectacular.

View of surrounding countryside from high point in Toledo; old house in center Looking down on winding city street Old, small church atop a hill View of Toledo from top of hill View of countryside from top of hill View of river and bridge from top of hill View of city houses from top of hill Long view of old towers at city gate

Museo de El Greco

This is a museum devoted to El Greco; it’s not his house, but a representation of what it would be like if he had lived there. Unless you are a hard-core art lover (some of his work is in there), you can give this a miss without feeling guilty.

courtyard, museo de el greco Shelf with ceramic pottery Bust of bishop on table Fireplace with carved mantel

Synagogues

There are two old synagogues. One, the Sinagoga del Tránsito, has been turned into the Sephardic Museum. The other one, called Santa María La Blanca (I swear I am not making this up—the name was changed when the Catholics took it over and made it into a church), is no great shakes.

Geometric forms on wall of synagogue Pattern of glass in synagogue window Display of Shofar, Talis, and Menorah at Sephardic Museum Three abstract sculptures of heads Sculpture based on Hebrew letter forms Talis shaped as if being worn, above siddur and shofar Mannequin dressed in traditional sephardic female garb Mannequin dressed in traditional sephardic male garb

There are some Islamic monuments in Toledo as well, but I didn’t see them on the map, and I was tired, so I left on an earlier train for Madrid.

Today’s Signage

You see the word “Calle” everywhere (it means “street”); this is the first time I have seen it with the A inside the C.

Street sign with word “Calle” written with the “a” inside the “C”.

I liked this sign for a place that rents and sells electrical bicycles, Segways, etc.

“jittery” letters for urbanmovil.com sign