The Rain in Spain.......

Tuesday-Toledo part 2

Upon leaving the Cathedral of Toledo, we walked and walked up hilly streets and around the town of Toledo to get to a synagogue with Moorish architecture It is noteworthy that church buildings in Spain change from being Jewish houses of worship, to mosques, to Christian churches, depending on which group is “in power”. This is where El Greco’s famous “The Burial of Count Orgaz” was painted over his tomb. Famous folks were buried inside the churches and Count Orgaz was depicted in the painting as being welcomed into heaven by Mary and Jesus and angels while people (the painter included himself, his son and the current king (although Count Orgaz had been dead for centuries) below mourned his death. After leaving the synagogue, we walked through the Jewish neighborhood.

A word about the weather. All day we had experienced sprinkles and drizzle. Nothing to get excited about, but the streets were a little wet and slick, even tho they were cobblestones. We headed toward the bus, which was across the San Martin Bridge, and the sky opened up. We had wind (bending umbrellas and blowing off people's hats and glasses) heavy rain (soaking clothes), and hail (which made the soaked clothing really cold). We made it to the bus after trying to wait it out in an archway with no real protection. Finally we got to the bus and felt and looked like drowned rats. One more stop was on the agenda before heading back (1 hr ride) to Madrid. We stopped at an artisans co-operative. The plan was to go up and look at the craftsmen doing their thing, then move to the showroom to buy the products made there. Those who went upstairs were sorry. Obviously artisans smoke heavily and although there was no one smoking when we got there, the workshop reeked so badly that some folks stood there listening to the “patter” holding their noses. Rather rude, it seems to me, but everyone has their own tolerance for smells. Just a note here, Spain and all of Europe don’t have smoking areas. The practice is looked upon as completely acceptable---and it is THEIR country after all.

The crafts available were mainly steel---knives, swords, letter openers, jewelry embellished with gold. Lovely things, but somehow I don’t feel that my house in Bwd needs a sword over the mantel, even if it is handmade from Toledo steel. Sorry, I bought nothing here. So far, I have bought post cards of places where cameras are forbidden.

We are in the Mancha area of Spain ( de la Mancha?) which means “dry land” but it didn’t live up to its name today.

We rode back to the hotel soppy and cold. We forfeited supper to try to dry our shoes, pants and, most of all, jackets. We always carry snacks and didn’t go hungry.

I am writing this Wed morning and the pants are dry, my shoes (Sketchers) are dry, but N’s aren’t. His coat is dry, but mine is still pretty wet. Should be an interesting day. We have mostly bus travel going to Cordoba and Seville. Gotta go get bags packed and outside the room. Hasta Luego.