Toledo

On Tuesday we breakfasted with a couple from Milan and another from Strasbourg, cool. Then we loaded up our packs and set off for the bus station and were soon on our way to Toledo. This is a smaller city about an hour's bus ride south of Madrid. The country between the two cities looked to me much like southern Alberta but with many more olive trees. It is quite flat with mountains looming in the distance. It is of course more built up. The fields are green, but aside from the olive trees, I couldn't tell you what is growing there.
We caught a city bus to the Cathedral and after a little visit with the tourist folk we found Posada de Manolo. It is a charming little hotel/B&B beside the Cathedral. We are in the Agricolas room with antique farming impliments hanging on the walls. The streets range from maybe 8 feet wide to 15 feet. Most are cobbled and some descend in steps. They twist and turn and it is very hard to find your way back to anything. We just wandered looking at the buildings and shops. Toledo is known for its knives and swords, there are shops selling these items on every corner. Marsipan? is also a local speciality which is readily available. There are many more restaurants than you would see in a town of similar size in Canada. They all put out menues by the door, usually with 2 or 3 courses for a set price ranging from about 9 euros to 20. The first course might be a soup or paella or a salad, the second is usually a meat dish. They offer bread and a glass of wine or water included. We spotted a pastry shop that served things made by the nuns in the local convent. Being too full to have it then, we decided to come back in the evening. All day I worried that we couldn't find it again. Luckily we did. Sheelagh had churroes, a thing made of donut batter squeezed out in strings and deep fried, which you then dip in hot liquid chocolate. This is such a civilized way to end a day.
We're so thankful for skype. We can see and talk with our little grandkids and the other members of our family and friends.