Day 1 - arrival in Madrid and Toledo

7:24am - plane landed relatively on time in rainy darkness. Surprisingly attractive and fast-moving terminal brought me through passport control in no time. Spain passport stamp getting cozy with switzerland. Already encountered a stupid chip-and-pin credit card machine at airport station. Thank goodness for having a few coins on me. Sitting on train to madrid's main station, we'll see if I can change my train to Toledo to an earlier one so I don't have to sit there for two hours.

8:38 - train change an hour earlier (at NO cost, mind you!) and one much-needed cafe con leche later (just 1.50€ in a major train station, no less - take note, Starbucks), and I'm waiting for the 9:20 train to Toledo. Interestingly, they do a cursory luggage X-ray here. For a country with no money, everything is surprisingly clean, efficient, and modern. Rather embarrassingly so, to be quite honest.

Now, if the rain would kindly cease by 10am, that'd be appreciated.





8:20pm - in the b&b after an exhausting day. Well it wasn't even that bad, I've just gotten almost no sleep three of the past four nights. Got to Toledo around ten and room was ready. Immediately went out into the tapering rain to the cathedral, the main sight here, only a few steps from the b&b. Did the audio guide since it was included with admission and ended up staying there quite a while. Very impressive church with lots of gorgeous ornate stuff inside.

Wandered a bit more and went to much-discussed Adolfo coleccion for lunch. It's basically a less expensive/tapas style version of the expensive supposedly best restaurant in town. They have a three-course lunch menu for 13€ and I was starving. I had manchego risotto, steak and potatoes, and chocolate tart. And it was delicious and a ridiculous amount of food for about 20 bucks. Wandered more and found the main square. Did the cheesy tourist trains because it takes you out to the million dollar viewpoint easily and stops for photo ops. Bought some marzipan for dessert after dinner as its quite famous here.

Came back to b&b to rest and ended up napping. Whoops! Went out again around 5:30 and the sun was out. There was some kind of loud but quite peaceful demonstration going on in the main square. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay awake much longer so I went back to Adolfo and had a tosta (aka open sandwich) with tomatoes and the famed Iberico ham, figured I could get away with that at 7pm. Cost almost as much as my lunch, but worth every penny and bite.

Came back to b&b to find out how you tour the ruins they have in the basement with no luck. Will have to ask tomorrow at breakfast. And now it must be an early night to sleep the jet lag away. It's even still light here.

Photos coming as soon as Flickr finishes uploading them, which will be tomorrow at this rate.