TOLEDO

So this is Toledo, its about one hour south of Madrid. The ISA group took us there for two day one night excursion. They took us on a bus tour and then a walking tour--hahaha there was a lot of hills and a lot of steps.... Definitely made me notice how out of shape I was. 

A little background info (put my brain to use): Toledo is surrounded by the Tagus river. Thats the river on my pictures fyi. It was established by the romans who built fortresses at the TOP of the hills or rocks. Toledo was known as a center of religion and learning. The area was occupied mostly by Christians with a large population of Jews. I think the tour guide said there were 8 mosques before the Jewish expulsion occurred due to the Spanish Inquisition and only 3 are left standing. There are also what the tour guide called a "factory of cardinals" here now. Now the city mainly thrives from tourism. Mainly the churches and the "el Greco" museum which houses a well known piece by him.

This is a very "old" city and the winding streets made out of rock showed exactly that. There is also a "new" part of the city that has been built around it. Its not a very big town and unfortunately our hotel was kinda far away from the city center so the tour is all I got. Plus it was raining on and off and I still wasnt feeling very good; either ways I enjoyed it.

Right from the start we were all amazed! its gorgeous!

Tagus river or Rio Tajo

The girls from the group-- I did not want pictures! for the first three days I couldnt straighten my hair because I didnt have an adapter and I also didnt want to unpack my makeup since it was in one of my bigger bags.....so embarrassing! 

this was taken inside the bus, surprised it didnt come out blurry like all the others...

magical no????

Welcome to toledo!

City of Toledo
 built on a rock

THE CATHEDRAL

This is the outside of the Cathedral and those on the side of it are shackles. I cant remember well which queen it was but either ways- these shackles represented a Jewish captive freed. At the end of the Inquisition the queen ordered their freedom.

So much ornamental design had me drooling, I think I could have stayed there at least a week just photographing the designs! 

Thats my group walking off without me... I was always having to catch up since I kept taking so many pics

This is Sebastian, he was helping me show you how little the doors are.... for some reason the doors are either HUGE or super small! fascinating! 

The cathedrals courtyard

THE MOSQUE

This is a "maqueta" a small scale replica of the mosque. Shows you the layout. They had it in the building. Unfortunately they didnt allow flash photography so some pics might be dark.

This was incredible! All designs are carved out. Their designs include fruits, geometric shapes, or flora or organic designs  due to the fact that their teachings embraced the whole "thou should not worship images of me..."???? I know, I know- I need to look it up and not sound so incompetent--pardon my ignorance for now.

roof and back walls

took this from the second level 

They had some relics including a lot of big old books with handwritten script and ornamental drawings!

 OH TOLEDO!!!!!!!! 

Night view from my hotel room

Well hope you enjoyed, sorry these blogs are taking so long, been busy with school and hanging out haha, hardly busy like in Arlington. Please feel free to leave any comments-- I have made the access easier so that you dont have to sign up to leave a comment.