Night train, sick day, Toledo

Night train: fifteen hours in reclining chairs. All in all not too bad save for the lady behind us who texted with the key tones on, had someone who called her every few hours, and elbowed Roger in the head on her way to the bathroom.

1/25
Beautiful sunrise with Spanish hills coming into view.

We arrived in Madrid at 9:30 and bought tickets for the next train to Toledo. The last day or so I'd been getting a bit stuffy in the nose and throat. That morning, definitely a cold. Out of the beautiful train station that was built in the 1920s and into the first hotel, Princess Galiana, we saw across the street. And, besides a vague smell of cigarettes from wet towels post shower, it's lovely and inexpensive.

Out for a quick breakfast where I had tea with honey from Granada that was the cat's meow, (Note: speaking Spanish <branching out from math Spanish!> with people is awesome. Sometimes, though, other people speak very very quickly) and then back for a siesta. Roger also feeling like he had a bit of a cold so we decided to stay in, sleep, and eat peanuts for dinner. Spanish TV.

1/26

Up at 10:00 the next day (today) feeling much better! We go to the train station to purchase tomorrow's night train to Lisbon (Lisboa) and then we hiked across a bridge and up a hill into Toledo. What a beautiful city on a hill - river running by it. Breakfast/lunch at a tapas bar - highlight some sort of red pepper salsa with cumin and chili.

Then to the Alcazar for some serious museuming.

Just two years ago they completed an addition in order to house an exposed archaeological site with layers from Roman, Moorish, and Christian eras. So. Cool. Photos to come (promise).

Overall, the Alcazar is an army museum. The additional cost for the audio tour is not worth it if you're down with reading signs. If you'd rather not read, then maybe it's for you. (Versailles' audio is worth it.) Personal highlights from the museum: a doo-hicky that tripled as a hammer, screwdriver, and ear pick; Napoleon's death mask; a page from a gunner's manual with algebraic equations; a pirate flag; giant cannons; a ram's head horse's armour; and, of course, the dig site.

In the street we saw a tiny cat hidey hole with a cat in it. Wanted to pet it. Didn't. Think it was a good decision.

Tiny train/ car tour inside and outside the city and then tapas and €0.70 beers. A bit of marzipan and then back for the night. Bed soon! Madrid tomorrow! (Looking forward to notes from the spreadsheet.)

Love to all. Buenas noches.