Winding streets of Toledo
Since Bilbao didnīt work out last weekend, Blake and I decided to try to go on a different excursion this past weekend. We went with Luke and my student and friend, Julio to Toledo.
Toledo is an old medival town that lies to the west of Madrid. Itīs only about 45 minutes away, and my student, Julio, volunteered to drive.
Toledo seems like itīs in the middle of the desert. It sits on a fairly large hill, and the entire city is a dusty brown. Like most medival cities, there was an Alcazar (a fortress,) along with a beautiful cathedral, and some great bridges. A river goes all the way around the city.
Iīm glad that I got a chance to see it, but it seems like now that Iīve seen it, I donīt think Iīll be going back. Most of the city is for tourists. The streets are lined with shops and overpriced restaraunts.
We also got the opportunity to go to the first soccer game of the season. Itīs really a preseason game, but I think there is only one of those. The game was called the Trofeo de Santiago Berneabeau. (I think I spelled that correctly.) Anyway, it was between Real Madrid, (a really good team) and the MLS, a.k.a. Major League Soccer! Madrid vs. the U.S.!!!
Blake, our two roommates, and I got tickets for 6 euros per person, and you wonīt believe where were were seated. We got the 3rd row!!! We could all smell the grass for crying out loud!!!
It was sooo amazing! We got to see alot of famous players, and the crowd was pretty crazy - of course, even the ones that were seated in the U.S. section were cheering for the Madrid team.
I got to see David Beckham...what a hottie, and when Ryan yelled to the U.S. team, they actually looked over and smiled at him a couple times.
Unfortunately for us, the game was a blowout. Real Madrid won 5-0, and it was really no contest. The MLS dóesnīt really play that well. A couple of times, one of the guys on the MLS missed the ball when it was passed to him. (A little embarrassing, but still fun!)
Itīs now our last day in Madrid, and I think weīve had a pretty good last week here. I ended all of my lessons, and so did Blake. Last night we went out to a really nice dinner with our two roommates, and our room in the apartment is all packed up.
Itīs really sad to leave Madrid, but now I feel like we are really embarking on this crazy trip. Tomorrow, we take a bus back up to Bilbao until Wednesday. On Wed., we have to take a bus to Barcelona until next Monday, then on Tues. we are going to catch a flight to Milan. My goodness, ít seems like a lot!
Iīll be keeping you all posted. Iīll probably write in Barcelona next.
Everything else is going fine though. Blake is a little sick, but they sell perscription drugs over the counter here, so he got a Z pack and should be better in no time.
HOpe all is going well in your neck of the woods! Talk to you later!!!