Back on the bus!

It's friday morning and 6 degrees in Madrid. Today we head south. We will drive for an hour and then stop to sight see in Toledo for a couple of hours. I was told yesterday that if I was interested in gold, Toledo was the place to buy it! Not sure if we will have a chance to visit a store or not but this sounds like a dangerous stop! Lol! Then it will be back on the bus and we head for Granada. That is a 5 hour trip.

Toledo was amazing! It is truly an ancient medieval city. It is built around a river valley and actually reminds me somewhat of Luxembourg in its layout. The bus took us up the mountain for what the Spanish call a Japanese moment! Lol! I am soooo glad I brought Lorne's camera. Then they took us through the wall into the old part of the city where the bus had to drop us off so we could tour the city on foot because it too narrow for vehicles. Our local tour guide was Carlos and he was great! He made us repeat his name because he said if we called him Mr Guide he would call is Ms Tourist. Our first stop was the Toledo cathedral. Wow! It was AMAZING! They began construction in the 11th century and it took 270 years to complete! I had to buy a booklet of postcards at the end of the tour because the inside of the cathedral is too beautiful to forget and as per usual indoor pictures were not allowed. We saw priceless works of art that have been hanging the cathedral walls for hundreds of years. Pretty incredible when you think of it. We also stopped in the most unique historical building. It is actually a synagogue but since no Jews live in Toledo it stands empty. What makes it unique is that it was built in the 11th century by the conquering Muslims as a mosque so you can really see the Arabic influence. Then when the Jews were prominent in the area they used the building as a synagogue, hence the Jewish decorations were added. Then along came a very Christian king and queen and they told everyone that you must be Christian or you must leave! In Spain if you believe in god you are catholic, if you are not catholic you are atheist. So anyway, the Christians took back the synagogue when the 90% of the Jews left and the remaining 10% converted. The building became a church and they created an elaborate alter depicting the Christian faith and topped by a crucifix. Hundreds of years later the building is still there, in fantastic condition and displaying the characteristics of the 3 distinct religions. King Juan Carlos has promised that if any Jews wish to return to settle in Toledo, they can have their synagogue back. I knew religion played a really large role in Spanish history and it remains primarily catholic today, but that fact really hit home this morning as we left Madrid and we spotted a lineup that was kms long. At a stop light our driver asked someone in line what they are waiting for. They were waiting to see a miracle. A farmer has recently produced a religious picture that is crying tears of blood and the people are going by the bus load to see it and touch it and be blessed by a miracle. Wow!

I have been typing this note as we drive. First from Madrid to Toledo and then from Toledo to Granada. We are still 2 hours from Granada but I find it hard to type on the bus. I still have to tell you about lunch but it will have to be when we stop again!
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