Hi. Welcome back.

While in Spain, we wanted to tour Toledo and Segovia. We thought the easiest thing was to get an official tour. That way we didn’t have to worry about the trains and buses and getting around in general. So. our tour started at 9am from Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

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The first stop was Toledo, my all time favorite destination in Spain. Toledo is an ancient city set on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. The capital of the region, it’s known for the medieval Arab, Jewish and Christian monuments in its walled old city. It was also the former home of the painter El Greco. The Moorish Bisagra Gate and the Sol Gate, in Mudéjar style, open into the old quarter, where the Plaza de Zocodover was a lively meeting place.

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We always drove up to the Puerta del Sol, parked the car in a field and walked into the city. Well, not any more. The bus turned down a road that never existed before and parked in front of a long cement tunnel. We were told to go through the tunnel and up the five escalators (!) to the Plaza Zocodover. I was alarmed, but followed orders.

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But I was more alarmed when I reached Plaza Zocodover, the traditional main square of the city, full of 15th century charm. There, across the square, was a McDonald’s. And there were Hop On/Hop Off buses and tour groups everywhere. I just couldn’t go on. So I told the guide I would meet them back at the bus at the stated time and I did my own tour of places I loved and wanted to see.

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I guess it was inevitable, but I still don’t like it. I liked it the way it was before all the “progress”. Of course, the town does look pretty successful. There were quite a few B and B’s and hostels that weren’t there before. And the monuments I visited hadn’t changed. So, I guess it was OK, although a shock. There were also so many people that sometimes it was difficult to see the things I wanted to see. So, go on an off season and not a weekend.

After all is said and done, I recommend that you go to Toledo. In one small town you will see things from every period of Spain’s long history: Arabs, Jews, Romans, Christians, Medieval Kings. I would suggest that you spend more than one day if you want to see it all and experience it all.

Bye for now. My next post will be about Segovia. Later.