This was a 4 day weekend (which means this is only a 3 day week!) It turns out that the Spanish celebrate Columbus Day as well, but they call it something else. Anyway, it's kind of a big deal, and there is absolutely nothing open today. Most of the Spanish take the opportunity to travel somewhere, but not us poor English teachers. we stay home and plan lessons. Despite this, I did have a nice weekend. We took a day trip to Toledo, which was the original capital of Spain. It is about 45 minutes south of Madrid. The streets are all cobbled and winding. It's very touristy, but well preserved. It is surrounded on three sides by a river and large stone walls separate the old part from the new part. It is also a city that has managed to live in religious peace for centuries. There was 7 seven churches, including a very large cathedral, a monastery, 2 mosques, and a Jewish synagogue. That was the first Jewish temple I have ever seen in Spain as most of the country is Catholic, and much of the architecture is muslim, particularly in the South, from when Spain was invaded and controlled by the Arabs. Anyway, it was a beautiful day, we packed lunches and galletas (cookies or biscuits? a big discussion among my American and British friends) and spent the day there. Yesterday we spent in Retiro, watching the perfomers and participating in the drum circle. People play drums and others dance. They were singing some song about Zapatero, who is the Spanish president. I'm not sure if it was a good song or bad.
Tomorrow I've got lessons, so it's time to get back to work!
Saludos!
i remember that columbus day break! i think i may have traveled that weekend as well. i like that you are in spain in the fall, it reminds me of my time in granada! miss you.
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