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Published: July 11th 2009
Atocha Train station
it is pretty neat to look aroundWalking back in time
Oh my. Toledo is the real deal. I can now see where the amusement parks get the idea of Old Europe!
I started my day at 830, having slept through my 730 alarm because I didn´t fall asleep until, I don´t know 4AM!!! I went to bed around 830 pm, and around 1045 some wonderful human beings staying at my hostal decided it would be fun to scream and slam doors before they went out for the evening. Since i was so wonderfully awaken, the bustling of late night Madrid came right through my window, so nice when you are going to jet lag and trying to get rid of it 😊. (Mama, bring earplugs just in case!) Around 330am i decided to just open my windows to get the breeze, and maybe all the noise would be so much i could actually sleep....I don´t know if it was my great plan, or if I finally was tired, but I feel asleep.
I went downstairs to the coffee shop next to the hostal (not starbucks) and got a Moká and cheesecake. (I thought it was a cheese danish, I have to get used to
Spain terminology) I then hopped on the metro going to the Atocha Renfe station to buy my ticket, little did I know I had to grab a number and wait about 45 minutes to buy my ticket. I was trying to take the 1050 train, but didnt get my number called until 1053, needless to say I had to take the 1220 train.
The Atocha Renfe station is pretty neat. There is a
bosque (forest) in the middle of the old station. I walked around a bit trying to get my bearings and figure out how to explain to Mom how to get to me. Was sort of fun walking around. I had to wait to find out what my platform was, and then I found out it was number 9! (Next to number 10, no, I didnt try to run into the wall between the two, it only works in London!)
The train ride itself was chill and relaxing, only about 30 minutes. The scenery is just like it is in books. I made my way to Toledo and the station there is right out of a story book. It was sort of neat. In Toledo I
didn´t really know where I was going, so I sort of followed the crowd and a few people. It turned out to be a great idea!! I got to a place I could pull out my travel book, on a bridge that I could pretend I was looking at the river, and took a look at the map to try and orient myself. I ended up going up the
Camino de Don Quixote (Don Quixote´s walk), which was neat. For those of you who do not know, Toledo is famous for Miguel de Cervantes and El Greco, an artist.
I then checked out the Museum of Sta. Maria, it was free and simple. Worth just walking around. Since I don´t have my book with me I am going to mess up a few of these names, so bear with me... I went to the main plaza, Zocador (?). It is a bustling place with the main tourist traps there. I went to the left of the plaza and walked down hill a bit. I made it to Alcazar (which is currently closed). It is the main building you think of when you see a picture of Toledo, beautiful. The
Harry Potter Fans!!
I did not try it, it only works in London main fortress. Toledo used to be the plan for the capital -- it was a fortified city with 3 sides of it surrounded by the river. The capital was changed to Madrid when a king, I believe Felipe 1, wanted it to be.
I walked basically the entire city. What I have loved about both Madrid and Toledo: cars ALWAYS stop if you are a pedestrian...and even if you walk a bit off the path, if you just keep walking you find a map. Do not waste time buying a map in Toledo if you are pretty savvy with getting around.
I walked and paid to see the iglesia de Sto. Tomé. It was ok, but not work the $4 to see it. The best part was you got to see one of El Greco´s paintings. It was a neat cathedral, but really could have been free in my opinion. I walked to the jewish quarter, and the city really does change. Toledo is also known for its mix of Christian/Jew/Muslim influence. All three lived there together and affected the structure of the city.
I then walked out of the city on the west side to see
Puente and Alcazar
The bridge I checked my book at some of the original wall. It was really sort of neat! Then as i walked down and saw how high up Toledo was, i started thinking of the walk back up, when to my amazed eyes i saw....ESCALATORS!!! HAlarious. I most DEFINITELY took them. My feet were KILLING me at this point, more from needing to build callouses. (Croc Flops by the way, great...my joints don´t hurt, just my feet from being on them all day)
Before I knew it I had walked the entire city. The streets were so small, you couldnt imagine anyone driving it when you heard a car coming from behind. It was just like out of a fairy tale, or straight from the book Don Quixote. You can see how it was a prosperous city at one point.
I then grabbed a cup of coffee because I managed to get everything I was interested in finished between 1-5. I drank coffee and read my wonderful Kindle. My train wasn´t until 730. What i realized later, was that if you have your ticket you can go on any train back to Madrid if you are willing to stand, so i headed back around 630.
Ate a little salad downstairs and am now back here writing you guys.
It is about 9pm, and I am trying to stay awake so that I sleep through the night, so if something doesn´t make sense, just realize I have had a LONG day and 4 hours rest 😊
Tomorrow I will wake up early and head down to Granada to find my school. Not sure how the computer situation is going to work there, but I will update as I figure it out. Thanks for your comments by the way!! I love seeing them 😊
Hasta Luego
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Jessica Anuswith
non-member comment
It is absolutely beautiful! It looks as though you are making very good use of your time so far!