The Rain in Spain stays Mainly in...Toledo!!

So today some friends and I went on an adventure to Toledo! When I got up this morning, I considered taking my umbrella, but then decided that I didn't want to carry it around (bad choice!). I met up with a couple of people at the metro station, and we headed over to the train station. I was SO excited to get on the train because I felt like I was getting on the Hogwarts Express! haha unfortunately I had to ride backwards, but it was ok. I loved just riding and looking out the window. I actually wished the ride had been longer! It was only 30 minutes. When we got there, it was raining. And I mean RAINING! I definitely regretted not having the umbrella! After we left the train station we had to wait for the train for about 20 minutes, standing in the rain. I wrapped my scarf around my head, and that was the best I could do! Getting on the bus was crazy! There were so many people trying to cram on there, and people in the back wouldn't move to make space. My friend from New York was yelling at people to move! haha luckily we managed to get everyone from our group on the same bus, which took us to the city center. I have never been on a more crowded bus! When we got to the city center, one of my friends really wanted to go to McDonald's, so that's where we went for lunch! They're giving out free FIFA souvenir glasses for every meal that you order off the McMenu!! They have 6 colors, and I want them ALL! Today I got blue, so I'll have to work on getting the other 5!

After lunch we found a gift shop that sold ponchos for 2 euros. It seemed like enough for a while, but there were these huge tarps over the streets, and every now and then they would spill massive amounts of water onto people in the street! We stopped again and bought umbrellas. I now have 2, but it was worth it. My new one is pink and says Madrid all over it :)

Our first tourist stop was La Catedral de Toledo. It was stunning! There was a wedding party leaving as we went in :) the best part was definitely the oculus (the big hole in the ceiling). When the sunlight shines through it, it literally looks like heaven! The frescos painted around it are amazing. Because of the rain, there wasn't really any sunlight, but they had alternative light sources that lit it up pretty well. There was also a lot of El Greco artwork, which is really cool.

After the Catedral, we wanted to go Alcazar, which is the castle. We spent a lot of time looking at maps that were dripping wet before we finally found it and realized it was closed. Bummer! But we saw it from the outside, so that was pretty cool.

Next we went to the Iglesia de Santo Tome, where El Greco was a member of the congregation. He was also buried there when he died! I actually stood in front of El Greco's grave. The fresco above it represented a scene from when he was being placed in his tomb. It was very interesting!

Next we stopped at the courtyard of a museum to take some pictures. We didn't go in, but the view was beautiful! Next we went to La Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca, then passed by the Monasterio de San Juan de Los Reyes. We ended by snapping some really great photos at the Puente de San Martin (a bridge). Me and a couple friends hiked down this little path that took us down closer to the river and got some really great pics! We took the bus back to the center of the town. Me and a friend went to one of the terrazzas (an outdoor restaurant/bar) and had some pizza. One of the things Toledo is most known for is Marzipan (here they call it Mazapanes)! So obviously we had to go into one of the little shops where they make it fresh :) I bought 2 boxes. One for me, and one to send home! Hopefully I can make it last, because it is AMAZING! By then it had pretty much stopped raining, so that was nice. We took the bus back to the train station, and boarded the train to head back to Madrid. When I got home, all I wanted to do was shower and go to bed! I was so exhausted...and my feet felt like they each weighed 20 pounds because my athletic shoes were sopping wet!

And now, it is bed time! Tomorrow I'm going to stay here and study for my mid-term, which is on Monday. Boo! I'll be glad when summer classes are over! But today was really fun :) I'm so glad we went!