Blogs from Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, Europe - page 17

I’ve decided - against my better judgment, it should be noted - to take a day-trip to Toledo. Not that I have anything against the so-called “City of Three Cultures,” endlessly lauded in guide books for its singular heritage of Christian, Jewish and Muslim mores (to paraphrase). But I’ve spent most of the past few weeks sneering at those ambitious souls who - belched from the tour buses with their guidebooks and practical footwear - try to cover three days’ worth of sights in one frantic afternoon. Worse still, Toledo is Spain’s most infamous tourist trap, its narrow, medieval streets crammed with those who - like yours truly - are making the hour-long trip from Madrid. It’s not hard to gauge where I stand. On the bus Spanish seems to be the only language in ... read more

THis is back dqted so I will do my best. We went to the ancient city of Toledo. Really everything is ancient around here. Toledo is a huge walled castle and cathedral. The 4th largest in Europe. THere is also a synagogue that was built so it looks like a mosque. THe reason is because at the time the Jews had noone to build their temple so they enlisted the help of the Muslims and todqy, it looks like a mosque. THe streets were tiny, winding and cobbled. Very European. ... read more

Missing my big girl´s birthday Five years old today.Today is Michaela´s birthday and I am sitting here in Toledo thinking about the day she was born. Since this is what I´m doing today, I will share it with you also. Mike was grilling filets outside on the deck and I was sitting down getting reacy to watch the season premier of Sex and the City. At this point, we were still supposed to have 2 weeks until the baby was due. I went to use the bathroom before the show and my water broke. Instant labor and severe pain. I told Mike we needed to go. Of course, Mike had not packed his bag for the hospital yet so I stood as patiently as a woman could while he ran around looking for a T-shirt, deoderant, ... read more

Don Quiote and the Windmill No giants hereToday, we had some confusion on what we were doing. The morning was used working with our undergraduate partners to finish our presentations. We sat on the salon and finished our work (or as much as we could with 5 people sharing one computer). After lunch we headed outside (it was 102 degrees) and waited for a bus to go to the Don Quiote trail. Mary and I thought it was a 1/2 hour drive, but it ended up to be about 1 3/4 hours to where ever we went. When we got to the town, it was deserted. All the shops, museums, and attractions where closed. Apparently on Monday´s everything is closed in small towns in Spain. So, we find the one bar that is open and have ... read more

Yes, we brought our leftover chinese back to the dorm to eat later so of course, now the microwave is fried. I swear, ever since the Boston students arrived last Wednesday every appliance has gone to hell. First it was the computer that "suddenly crashed" the day after they arrived and now someone tried to make a bag of popcorn that the microwave does not have the power to accomodate. I just know the washing machine will be next, if not the plumbing for the entire city. Michael says all the Boston students do is whine about what they don't have here and then break what we do have. Last night they put in a DVD of "Nip/Tuck" and had the TV on so loud that our students who were doing their homework on the one ... read more