Day 2: Getting Lost in Toledo

For our second day in España, we decided to do one of our day trips out of Madrid and caught the train to Toledo (thanks for the recommendation Pablo!). For those who don't know, Toledo used to be the capital of Castile and is known for having Christian, Jewish, and Muslim influences.

Once we got there we decided on the bus that took us on a loop of the city before going within the city walls. That loop gave us these fantastic views of the city:

Our first and last stop of the day was the Alcazar. We went up about 5 flights of stairs to the Library only to discover that, hey we don't know how many flights of stairs there are AND there may not be an entrance through the library. So back down we went. And around the building. And then we find, it's not even open. What the heck peoples?

So, undeterred, we're off to the next destination which is the Catedral Primada. And this is a huge Cathedral! I'd put it on par or above Notre Dame because the inside of this thing is just ridiculous. I don't know if I've ever seen so much gold in a church before. Seriously, tons of gold. And there's the columns which according to the audio guide are like tree trunks plunging into the sky. The best (or worst?) thing is I initially didn't take pictures but then saw everyone else was so I may have snapped a couple or... a hundred :)

Then we get lost wandering around trying to find the Museo del Greco and Iglesia de Santo Tome. Thankfully I can get by somewhat with my elementary Spanish and we are able to get somewhat decent directions. But I did find myself thinking... why wasn't the grid system invented earlier?

But we finally found La Iglesia de Santo Tome! I had erroneously thought it was the El Greco museum. We looked around inside and then sat down. And Carissa's question was, what's so special about this place? I had to agree because while it was nice, not exactly on par with the Catedral. It's nothing to write home about. Then we read that it's because it houses el Greco's most famous work. Which explains why there were tons of people just outside the door but not in the church. Just came there for the painting. Heathens. The painting was cool though so I snapped a picture.

We then stumbled upon the Sinigago del Transito that we had tried to find but didn't see on the map. So of course, we went in side. Built in 1336-57, it's really old and has seen a lot of things in it's day. From being a synagogue to a military barracks and then back to a synagogue. If I could read Spanish better I could have learned lots more about Judaism. But alas, all I got was this map of Jericho. (JK I got other pictures, too).

Then it was El museo del Greco. Apparently some guy bought this house thinking it used to belong to the painter, but alas, he was wrong. Didn't stop him though (lesson in perseverance) and he created a house to represent how else Greco would have lived. And then added some of his and his followers paintings. Despite the tone in the previous sentences, I actually enjoyed this and thought it was cool. And El Greco was clearly a gifted painter. His depictions o the apostles was wonderful and I especially loved his Tears of Peter. 

Then we went to the exhibitions on Leonardo da Vinci: the inventor and medieval torture devices aka how the people running the Spanish Inquisition used creative torture devices. I literally cringed at many a description for the devices they had on display. Those devices are no joke. I'm glad we don't allow "cruel and unusual punishment" these days.

That was the last of the sights for us and then we just dawdled around the city, getting lost some more and eventually making our way back to the bus so we could take the train home. We ended up being in Toledo for about 10 hours and I'd say about 7 of those we were on our feet so let me tell you, my feet are so glad to be done for the day!

And now for the the pictures from today. Get ready, there are a TON. Enjoy!

Toledo from afar

The Alcazar and looking out towards the Spanish countryside

Rolling hills and a statue by the Alcazar

Lovely bridges that lead to the city

In both, the Cathedral is the spire and then the Alcazar on the right

The Catedral Primada--images of the inside and from outside

I caught Eric! And I wasn't lying about the gold--where da gold at? It's in this cathedral

Benches for service attendees, the back of the choir, and one of those tree trunk columns

One of the many altars and then views of the cathedral from the outside

Exquisite detail in everything this church offers

El Transparente, the main altar piece by Tome

The Cardinals get their own room! Complete with portraits!

More detail of the main altar and the window that was built to bring light to it

A chapel on the side, the ceiling detail, The entry to the choir

The chorus sits in style, more ceiling, and the ornate seats for the choir

Now that's an organ! And then pathways by the garden, and a tomb

I love the ceilings, the sculpture of the descent, and what do you know, more gold!

Jewels! My precious.

Museu del Greco

The entryway and then what this guy imagine his kitchen would look like. Short ceilings, yo.

And then there's short doors. Like really?

I liked the stairs, and the view of the garden, and this el Greco "View and Plan of Toledo"

G is for Greco and then his cellar

His gardens

Pictures from La Iglesia de Santo Tome

Again, nothing too impressive

Inside the Sinigago del Transito

Thought to rival the design work in the Alhambra, guess we shall see!

The Torture Devices Exhibition

These were the more tame of the devices and more used to shame people

This is garb that people wore who were accused by the Spanish Inquisition. It resembles Klan wear in my mind.

You don't even want to know the first one, and the second--GUILLOTINE!

Eric's new Lay Z Boy chair, complete with sharp nails

Leonardo da Vinci, the inventor

The parachute and the paddle boat

Leonardo gives you wings! And then this crane is what's going to be used to put the new AC unit on my roof

Random pictures about town

I got put in jail--albeit briefly. And Eric liked the extra swag the water bottle gave his head

Fun in the square outside the Cathedral

The two on the right are of the train station, our first glimpse of Toledo

I don't know what these 6 are but thought they were cool!

You really can't take us anywhere.