Submitted by Emily Bange on the 2012 fall semester program in Granada, Spain…
Last weekend our entire group took a trip to Madrid and Toledo. It rained. A lot. And it was cold. Guess who didn’t have the proper clothing and froze all of Friday and Saturday? That would be me. Take note when your professor tells you that it is fall in Madrid and that it will be much colder than in Granada. She knows what she’s talking about.
Beyond that little problem, Madrid was pretty cool if you like big cities. It sort of reminded me of NYC, only in Spanish. My favorite part was El Prado, because I prefer old art and modern literature. Modern art doesn’t really do it for me, but if you like modern art, then Reina Sofia is the museum for you.
My favorite part of the weekend, however, was Toledo! I have to go back to that city. When I got home Sunday night I immediately began looking up buses and hostels to make a trip there in November, because 5 hours really does not do it justice. It is beautiful, a sharp contrast to the modernity of Madrid. It retains a medieval feel, with the city wall and river surrounding it on three sides. Toledo is really built into a peninsula, formed by the river, which made it a wonderful location to build a city because it is easily defended.
The best part of Toldeo, that I unfortunately do not have a picture of, is the marzipan. We stopped by this little convent where the nuns make and sell the marzipan as a source of income, and our professor bought some for all of us to share. It was amazing, almost as good as the chocolate con churros that we got in Madrid, which was ambrosial. If you ever get to go to the chocolatería in Madrid, do it! It will be the best € 3.60 you ever spend!
And finally, on the way home, we fullfilled one of my lifelong dreams… we fought the windmills of Don Quixote! For anyone who hasn’t read Don Quixote de La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, I highly recommend it. Everyone who has, well, you can understand why this is a big deal!
