FUN-travel: Madrid to Toledo, Spain
August 20, 2012 by Susan Clarke
Trip Day 37 – Thursday, August 16 – Madrid to Toledo, Spain
What I LIKE
- 7:30 Starbuck’s for wake up
- nice cool morning
- ready for next adventure
- 9:30 taxi to Hertz downtown location instead of airport
- save time & money
- $10 vs $30 Euros
- 9:45 arrive
- get Mercedes instead of Ford (last car was uncomfortable for long rides)
- should have better seats
- Garmin is working
- very easy to get out of Madrid
- two turns & into underground tunnel 3 lane road
- 11:30 arrive Toledo
- Parador is 40 yrs old & very charming
- fabulous views of town from veranda
- quick lunch of club sandwich on veranda
- take taxi $7 Euro to old town
- explore Toledo – more narrow cobblestone streets that wind up and down the hill
- go into Santo Tomé – simple chapel has El Greco’s famous painting “The Burial of the count of Orgaz” – incredible as it looks 3D
- 3:00 beer break – free tapas is tasty – hot mushrooms stuffed with ham
- 5:00 taxi back to Parador
- siesta
- 8:45 dinner on veranda – order “typical” menu items from region – white beans & clams – sautéed bass with vegetables – dessert of sorbet trio – apple, mango, watermelon – only $32 Euro – wine from Antonio Banderas Winery (so we’re told)
Toledo From The Parador
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- have to schlep bags across and down the street to parking garage 3rd level
- no elevator on top floor
- have to carry bags down steps
- no one in garage to help
- really dark & hard to see
- Mercedes control panel & controls are confusing & don’t make sense
- it’s much hotter in Toledo
FF (FUN-fact) – Renting cars at the airport is much easier. No garages, luggage carts are there and you have access to all major freeways. In hindsight, it’s worth it to us to spend more on a cab for less hassle and stress.