Toledo Spain teems with tourists by day but is quiet and moody when the tourists take the last train back to Madrid. On a recent trip I stayed overnight in Toledo to catch the atmosphere after dark and before dawn. Pictured in the 'main drag' that tourists walk along every day between the Plaza de Zocodover and the Cathedral. By night it takes on a ghostly air. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures, as well as the place where harsh religious persecutions were held against the Jews by the Visigoths. It is said that Toledo has Spain's most confusing street plan. My normally good sense of direction helped only a little as I often found myself blocks from where I wanted to be in a direction I did not anticipate! However, that is part of the fun of being in Toledo!
Toledo Spain is one narrow street after another and it is easy and fun to get 'lost'. Although you never get much lost due to the small size of the city. Don't be fooled by the narrowness of the streets because cars and trucks use some of the them and tourists better step into a doorway quick when one goes by. The locals are better at negotiating the streets and could just keep walking! This is Calle de los Alfileritos (Little Pins Street). One website tells the following story: The legend says that once upon a time, two lovers were separeted by the war; the lady went each and every night to visit an image of Virgin Mary, situated on this street, to pray for her lover's life. As she was afraid of sleeping, she asked her maid to sting her with a pin; then, she gave the pin to the Virgin, as a proof of her sacrifice. One day, happily, the gentleman came back. Nowadays, the Toledan girls leave a pin, and ask the Virgin for a boy-friend.
To someone living in Texas where there is 'big sky' and wide open spaces, the thought of living RIGHT NEXT TO the Roman aqueducts just blows me away! As you move away from the main square in Segovia (the Plaza de Azoguejo) where the aqueduct arches are enormous, you climb some stairs, go around the bend, and visit a neighborhood where the arches are smaller and in proportion to the houses! Imagine looking out your window every day to see a 2000 year old reminder of history! Maybe it gets old and boring....
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