Toledo, Spain – May 12, 2012
I know some readers need assistance with the title of this blog entry; Toledo with Uncle and Aunt.
Leslie’s Aunt Ann and Uncle Wayne arrived in Madrid yesterday for a visit. After chilling at the house yesterday to help get over jet lag, we all woke up early this morning to drive to Toledo, Spain.
Upon arrival in Toledo, our first stop, as always, was the el Foro (The Forum) restaurant. We sat at a table outside to get a coffee and something to eat. Tyler opted for a croissant with ham and cheese. Tio y Tia decided on the fried egg, ham, and French fry breakfast. Leslie and I tried the pan con tomate (bread with tomato sauce). That restaurant also sells mazapan (marzipan), a local treat, made with a type of almond mousse. The restaurant touted that loud and clear on their main window.
Leaving the restaurant, we made the obligatory trip to the statue of Don Quixote. Toledo is in the province of Castile-la Mancha, the “home” of Don Quixote. The figure is just off Plaza Zocodover. The sun is always just right for a morning photo.
After getting a map of Toledo from the tourist information office, we made our way to the main commercial street, toward the cathedral. All along the way, we popped into a store after store looking for just the right trinket. Tyler won the prize when he bought some dagger that looks like it came straight out of Dungeons and Dragons.
We ultimately headed back toward the Plaza Zocodover. En route, we decided to sit at a café and have a refreshment. We relaxed there for a long time and then moved on to the plaza.
At the plaza, everyone sat down while I dashed up to the ticket office for the tourist train. For all five of us, the tickets only came to 22€ (US$27). The train ride takes one through the streets of the old part of Toledo and then ultimately crosses the Rio Tagus. That route allows one to see the city from an overlook on the west side of Toledo. The ride takes about 45 minutes.
When we got off the train, we began to make our way back to the parking garage. On an overlook near the garage, we stopped at a restaurant that overlooks the Tagus River. BU Terraza is the name of the restaurant. The lunch we had was terrific! I had one of my Spanish favorites, gazpacho. However, once again, Tyler got the prize for the best meal selection. He had grilled chicken and pineapple skewers with a curry sauce. It was delicious.
From the restaurant, we walked back to the car, piled in, and headed back home.
Tia y Tio ready for lunch!
