02/07/03 — Toledo at last
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| ^^ The Rio Tajo from the window of the train from Barcelona to Madrid. Glorious. From Madrid, it's another hour to Toledo. |
"My soul's on fire, lifted higher by a higher love. I surrender heart and soul, sacrifice to a higher love..." (Depeche Mode)
Interesting. This was the first song that iTunes chose to play for me when I first relaxed in my pension in Toledo.
I have still not quite found a wireless network, so I'm sitting in a net cafe again. MacStumbler assures me there is one quite near my hostel, but the signal is weak and I feel like an idiot walking around with the laptop open trying to find stronger signal.
I feel much, much happier. Room to myself is vital to sanity and it's only €1 more than the dormitory youth hostel this time rather than €13 more. I'm gonna cherish it while it's still possible. I doubt I'll be able to afford it elsewhere.
Reasons why Toledo is better than Barcelona:
- Toledo doesn't stink.
- It's surrounded by a river and it's high up so you can see water without having to fight for space on a crowded, pebbly beach.
- The cars actually stop so you can cross the road.
- You can *hear* the birds.
- The top of the mountain breezes actually make it cooler.
- Marzipan.
- old city walls.
- Moorish arches.
- Sitting in the Plaza Zocodover and staring at the world.
- Artesan shops.
- The knives... the knives!!!!
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| ^^ Arriving from the train station, you enter Toledo through the Puerta Bisagra. I stopped and took a photo first. What a tourist! | ^^ The view of Toledo from Carretas at sunset. Every afternoon, I walked past this view. Superb. |
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| ^^ My little room in Toledo. 12€ a night. Sweet. I love that Mandarine juice. Absolutely heaven. | ^^ Did I mention the swords? And the knives? If you go to the right places, it's not tacky tourist shit but beautifully balanced Toledo steel. |
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| ^^ The view from above Los Reyes. | ^^ From the Alcantara bridge looking down the Tajo. |