We did better this morning and were up and out in better time in the hope that we could finish visiting the places we wanted to see by mid afternoon, planning to head back for a siesta before going out again to the ‘mirador’, a 2 kilometre walk from our apartment at sunset.
Our first target was the massive Alcazar which we can see from our apartment. On route we popped into one of many sword and knife shops that Toledo is famous for - the other being marzipan! The display was quite unnerving with violent looking long hunting knives. Colin spotted a knife he had been thinking of getting for a while for paring chicken fo rate barbecue. It was very cheap at only thirty eight euros but also totally illegal if we had bought it in the UK and tried to take it home. The woman wrapped it very well and I managed to fit it in my handbag! This was all very well until we reached the Alcazar and there was a big security sign warning not to bring knives into the building. What to do? I left me bag outside with Colin so it could not be confiscated and took Google translate into the security guard to explain our dilemma. Apparently this is very common so I took the massive knife through the scanner and simply left it with chap on the front desk who was not supposed at all and often looked after knives! Unfortunately after all that effort, the Alcazar was partially closed due to a fire so we could do little more than look at the Roman ruins underneath and stroll around the ground outside in the sun - rather disappointing.
My final task for the day was to find some good marzipan for Mum and also possible the liquid marzipan spread she is always mentioning. Besides knives and swords, the other thing that Toledo is known for is marzipan! I found the ‘Catedral de marzipan’ that I had highlighted to visit but in the event it was not very impressive at all and only had that name as it was close to the actual cathedral. However, the fifth shop I visited had a good choice so I stocked up on marzipan, almond liqueur, a few little sweets for myself and Colin - no spread though.
Finally it was back t the apartment for a well earned rest before the long walk to the mirador. It was a long walk uphill but we did not want to take the car out! The view was amazing although I had not bought my tripod. Bat swooped overhead and it was a god end to our time in Toledo. Back home or another delicious dinner put together by me from the Carrefour.
I had not realised until I started writing that today is ‘9/11’ - the day the twin towers in New York were destroyed some 21 years ago. I remember the day well as we had just arrived in Lisbon in Portugal.
