Toledo

We took a day trip from Madrid to Toledo. Here is a photo tour of the city...


Alcazar Fortress


Moorish architecture seen throughout the city


Toledo Cathedral





Kurt, Adam, Melanie, and Carrie

Tapas

On the train back to Madrid

Return to Madrid

For Thanksgiving 2008, it was back to Madrid, Spain with our friends, Adam, Melanie, Kurt, and Carrie. Since we had already been to Madrid in November 2007, the main thing on my list to do and see was visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia to see Picasso's Guernica (shown below). This painting was commissioned by the Spanish government in 1937 and represents a protest to Civil War. It is based on the devastation following an air attack on the town of Gernika-Lumo. While Carrie, Melanie and I went to the museum for a day, the husbands went to a Star Wars exhibit.

Another aspect of this trip to Madrid that was different from our first, we took what was supposed to be a 4 hour tour of the city that ended up taking more like 6 or 7 hours. Although it was a cold and long day, our tour guide had a wealth of information to share with us, and we learned a lot of little factoids about the city and its history.

For example, this Tio Pepe sign located in Puerta del Sol is posted in reaction to a former law making such signs illegal.

Sights from outside the Palacio Real


Catedral de la Almudena

Without this tour, we would've never known that the most beautiful view of the Cathedral was from a parking lot around back!

Our Lady Almudena- legend has it that this statue was hidden in a city wall

Hotel frequented by famous visitors

Home of Spanish author Cervantes, who wrote the first novel, "Don Quixote"

Thanksgiving Dinner, yep, McDonalds...


Inside the Atocha Train Station- an atrium with a turtle pond