It was better than I'd remembered
When I was in high school I spent 5 weeks in Madrid as part of a group visit with about 15 other students from my school. We each lived separately with a Spanish family and met for daily classes at an institute in downtown Madrid. I don't remember anything about the studying part of the visit but I do remember Madrid.
I had loved the Plaza Mayor and the streets around it. I had loved wandering alone in the city.....I had lots of time to explore on my own. I remember being served hot chocolate and churros for breakfast by the family's maid, Tina. (A maid? That was strange and discomfiting. She was younger than I was and I connected more with her than with her employers.) I remember suckling pig in a dark restaurant on the underside of the Plaza Mayor. I remember glorious paella. I first had gazpacho there as well.....not the kind that is blended smooth like V-8, but a clear vinegary broth with pieces of tomatoes and cucumbers and bits of bread in it, so perfect for lunch on a stifling hot summer day.
After Madrid the group spent a couple of weeks touring other parts of Spain, then a bit of Italy. We spent only 1 day in Toledo, but that was one of the places that made a home in my memory, an intrigue of narrow cobble alleys and streets. Toledo was a place to go back to someday.
Last week I had a business trip to Madrid....only a few days and with almost no time before another immutable trip to California. I was able to eke out 1 extra day and night for myself......for Toledo, nearly 50 years after I'd promised to return.
This is the window of my room at the Hotel Santa Isabel, a very reasonable hotel very close to the Cathedral at the heart of the city. My room was quite sufficient and the old building was charming, but the window was the best of all. I could open it directly to the air outside. With no screen I could lean out to see all the tile rooves below me, and the cathedral spire, and the sky.
How can I be so lucky?
It was better than I'd remembered
When I was in high school I spent 5 weeks in Madrid as part of a group visit with about 15 other students from my school. We each lived separately with a Spanish family and met for daily classes at an institute in downtown Madrid. I don't remember anything about the studying part of the visit but I do remember Madrid.
I had loved the Plaza Mayor and the streets around it. I had loved wandering alone in the city.....I had lots of time to explore on my own. I remember being served hot chocolate and churros for breakfast by the family's maid, Tina. (A maid? That was strange and discomfiting. She was younger than I was and I connected more with her than with her employers.) I remember suckling pig in a dark restaurant on the underside of the Plaza Mayor. I remember glorious paella. I first had gazpacho there as well.....not the kind that is blended smooth like V-8, but a clear vinegary broth with pieces of tomatoes and cucumbers and bits of bread in it, so perfect for lunch on a stifling hot summer day.
After Madrid the group spent a couple of weeks touring other parts of Spain, then a bit of Italy. We spent only 1 day in Toledo, but that was one of the places that made a home in my memory, an intrigue of narrow cobble alleys and streets. Toledo was a place to go back to someday.
Last week I had a business trip to Madrid....only a few days and with almost no time before another immutable trip to California. I was able to eke out 1 extra day and night for myself......for Toledo, nearly 50 years after I'd promised to return.
This is the window of my room at the Hotel Santa Isabel, a very reasonable hotel very close to the Cathedral at the heart of the city. My room was quite sufficient and the old building was charming, but the window was the best of all. I could open it directly to the air outside. With no screen I could lean out to see all the tile rooves below me, and the cathedral spire, and the sky.
How can I be so lucky?