A trip to the movies and to Toledo!
Today's update covers the two main events of this last week -- on Wednesday (6/27), we went as a group to see Jurassic Park in theaters, (although several students told me that they didn't understand all of the intricacies of the plot in Spanish, there seemed to be a general consensus that dinosaurs were cool, and that reptilian-based chase scenes generally transcend language anyway) and on Friday (6/29), we had our excursion to Toledo.
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We got out of the theater around 7:30pm, and everyone was talking animatedly about the film.
Before heading off to their host families, everyone gathered for a group photo.
Aline and Jess. I'm almost beginning to have the feeling that Aline doesn't appreciate having her picture taken by me? Hmm... probably not.
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Here's a brief look at our Thursday. First, finishing up in the lunchroom.
Then, we were on our way out, headed across the sport area.
And finally, we got together to prepare for the farewell show. Here's the dance group preparing on the big stage, where we'll be presenting the final show in a little less than two weeks!
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Now, off to Toledo! We started out at 9am from the bus stop in the Plaza de San Francisco. That's the same place we met to go to Granada and Torremolinos last weekend.
Onto the bus, and off we go. An hour and a half until we reach Toledo!
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Here's the overlook, where we got our first look at Toledo from across the Tagus River.
A couple group photos!
Then the girls wanted a picture. Ben dove in at the last moment.
Even Juan wanted to get in on the picture.
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Then we took the bus around the city and began the ascent. There's a series of escalators they installed a couple years ago, so luckily it went pretty quickly.
The Toledo cathedral from a distance.
Our first stop was an old synagogue halfway across the city.
Waiting in line while we collected the tickets to get in.
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Inside the synagogue. This was on top of a small wooden model of the building.
Everyone gathered around to chat about the history behind the building.
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Once we finished up there, we walked over to a small park across the street for an early lunch. The cafeteria in Ciudad Real had packed sandwiches for us again.
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The park was just on the edge of the city, overlooking the river.
I don't know if this is the remains of an old bridge, or something else...
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Our next stop was the Monastery of San Juan. The first thing we saw was this exterior -- the chains on the wall were brought back by prisoners of the crusades who got free and made it back to Spain.
Down we went, into the belly of the building.
There was an impressive central cloister, with high ceilings, stone carvings of various saints, and a green area in the middle, complete with orange trees and shrubbery.
Time again for a couple pictures.
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Inside the royal cathedral of the monastery.
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After that, students broke up into small groups and we had a couple hours to wander around the center of the city, looking for souvenirs/gifts.
A passing tour guide mentioned that this building was apparently part of a 19th century palace, once upon a time, although it has since gone forgotten.
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After that, we headed to the museum of the army, which included the town's Alcazar (Arabic fortress), outdoor gardens, and archeological ruins that had been uncovered underneath the city from Roman times.
The danger of group photos -- someone winds up with an armful of cameras. Usually it's me. Not so this time, though.
Stylish?
Then we began the trek down and out of the museum -- and then the city. Our next stop was the the molinos (windmills) of Consuegra, en la Mancha -- the same sort that Don Quixote went tilting at centuries ago.
Sitting on the museum stairs for a moment to drink some water and coordinate with the bus driver to pick us up.
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An hour or so later, we arrived in Consuegra. To the north of the city, there is a large hill, with a series of old windmills and a castle atop it.
It was getting a little late, but we had the time to walk around the castle, then follow the road alongside the windmills for a bit.
Through a small crack in the wall, we could see a nest with three baby chicks.
A group picture overlooking the windmills from atop the castle.
Lavender?
The end of the line. We reached the last windmill and settled in for pictures and to take a breather after our trek.
One last series of group photos.
Time to head back to the bus.
Don Quixote is everywhere. Watching.
One last look backwards before we headed to Ciudad Real.
Next up for us: a relaxing weekend!
Coming up this week: In addition to regular activities, we'll be getting together Wednesday evening (7/4) to celebrate Independence Day, and taking our last expedition on Friday (7/6). We'll catch the Ave train to Madrid to see, among other sights, the Royal Palace and the Prado art museum.
Thanks for reading!
-M