Toledo

Set off on the early train to spend the day exploring Toledo. As we’ve come to expect the morning was foggy so views from the train were limited. The journey took only half an hour- with the screen showing we were travelling at up to 230km/he in some areas. There’s no doubt the European train system leaves ours for dead for speed, reliability and comfort.

Arrived in Toledo just before 10am to find the guide for our walking tour already waiting for us.

First stop was the ‘panoramic lookout’ – shrouded in fog but a teaser to come back once the fog had cleared.

We then spent a couple of hours walking the main monuments- reflective of the three main religions that lived side by side until the ‘cleansing’ by good old Ysabella and Ferdinand back in the late 1400s. From then on in it was all Catholicism.

First stop the Jewish quarter- a synagogue now converted to a catholic church

This cloistered convent contained masses of ornate carvings which were supposed to depict either the things people could do to get into heaven or the sins they could commit to send them to hell

We weren’t sure if this image of the monkey sitting on a toilet reading the bible upside down was meant do depict entry to heaven or hell

Toledo is renowned for its pottery and its swords. In fact the train line between Toledo and Madrid is the only public transport route on which one can legally carry a sword – made me scrutinise my fellow travellers on the way back!

We did make a. 9not so) small purchase at this little porcelain shop. – no idea how we will carry it home yet!

Needless to say we didn’t make a purchase here

Some cross country required to get the perfect shot of the Roman bridge

And then a quick dash back up the hill to get a fog-free photo before getting the train back to Madrid

heading to Barcelona tomorrow for our last couple of days – can’t believe our adventure is nearly over…..

The Cyclepaths

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Touring in tandem