SEPTEMBER 12TH DAY TWO:

SEPTEMBER 12^TH DAY TWO:

After a poor excuse for breakfast we changed into walking shorts and sandals to go up into the city to see the Alcazar up in the top of the city hence we rode the city bus up the hill versus a long hike. After shooting a video inside the bus we reached the end of the line opposite the Alcazar which you guessed it; CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY. After this shocking news because most public attractions are closed on Mondays not Wednesday, we went to the central plaza for a good coffee.
After our coffee we wandered down the street to the Officina de Tourmiso which… you guessed was CLOSED. We bumped into two ladies not speaking Spanish who were also looking for the Tourist Office. Turns out that they are two ladies from Poland one now living in New Jersey and the other now living in Sweden. Each year they maintain their friendship by meeting again together somewhere in Europe this year it was Madrid. They had checked into their hotel in Madrid and instead of taking a taxi to Atocha train station they negotiated with the taxi driver who drove them from Madrid to Toledo of 50 Euros. They planned to return via the train versus another expensive taxi ride. Wednesday we ate in the back streets of Toledo having toured the cathedral with headsets to narrate.  After our lunch and siesta we returned to the main plaza and took the little site seeing train for an hour tour of the city. Since we rode the train in 2004 with Ron & Sandy, it has now been re-routed to main highways and no longer meandering thru the tiny narrow backstreets which had made it extremely interesting.  Wednesday’s evening meal was found at a little hole in the wall place as Paul wanted a combination plate with egg and ham having had such a poor attempt at breakfast. Jane had a Cubano sandwich (ham/cheese + egg) and Paul two eggs, ham, fries, salad, beer and wine for 12 euros. Less than our lunch had been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We caught the bus down the hill again and went to the garden bar at the hotel to have a Pacharan nightcap. We chatted about this and that and as we were about to head up to the room the gentleman who was seated next to us asked in strongly accented English where we were from. He really liked Paul’s accent. Actually, I think he really liked Paul! He smiled at me condescendingly but kept his eyes on my honey! He was Swiss, touring around drawing old religious buildings. We said “goodnight” and as we headed through the garden towards the dozens of steps up to our room, I said he may have liked your accent but he liked you better!! Paul agreed! Day two ended and our legs have survived quite well, though my right knee is voicing a mild protest! I believe all Spaniards are part mountain goat! All these old cities are built on hills. You see so many mopeds and scooters weaving dangerously through the traffic. We have got to get one of those!

As we sat outside during the evenings, people watching, we reflected on how much we love the evening paseo, the children playing, the parents watching carefully, the sounds and sights of Spain and the community. Wonderful,  It’s why we keep coming back. It’s good to be home.
Jane brought her pedometer on this trip and my cardiologist would be proud to know that on our first day we walked up and down steps included to the tune of 6.5 miles and day two 9.5 miles each day included numerous steps as the Hotel Cardenal which has no elevator and at least 35 steps to just the reception level. On day three we rode toward Almagro so we only walked for 3.5 miles but we still call it a vacation!