After picking Grandma and Grandpa up at the airport our first stop on the journey around Spain was Toledo which was about 2 hours from Madrid famous for its historical center city and is the capital city of the Castilla La Mancha region . Castilla La Mancha is also famous due to the legendary book, Don Quijote.
Grandpa and Charlie next to Don Quijote
In front of the Cathedral in Toledo
In order to get an overall view of the city we took a little tourist train around the city. This is a view from a stop we made outside of the city. It was an amazing view.
In front of one of the main entrances to the center city.After a short trip but very curvy and narrow roads, our next stop was Avila, famous for the wall that surrounds the city. We stayed at a 5 star hotel outside of the city hoping to take advantage of the pool, but unfortunately it was cool and rainy while we there, but we had a great time nonetheless and enjoyed another tourist train ride to learn more about the city.
The boys on the lawn at the hotel.
A view from one of the famous look out points.
The boys on the lawn at the hotel.
A view from one of the famous look out points.Our next stop was Salamanca. We stayed two nights in Salamanca and even went to church there. Although it is a very large city, famous for having the oldest university in Spain, there is only one church branch. We enjoyed visiting with the members and I even had the opportunity to conduct primary. The only problem was that it was very hot and they didn´t have air-conditiong in the building.
The main square.
We enjoyed walking around and taking in the ambiance of the street terraces and ancient buildings. Although it rained on us, we escaped into a restaurant and watched part of a world cup game.
The cathedral in the background.
Salamanca had a wonderful park for the kids to play in. There was also a dance for senior citizens going on in the park that we spied on.
The kids were dead from all the sight-seeing.
The main square.
We enjoyed walking around and taking in the ambiance of the street terraces and ancient buildings. Although it rained on us, we escaped into a restaurant and watched part of a world cup game.
The cathedral in the background.
Salamanca had a wonderful park for the kids to play in. There was also a dance for senior citizens going on in the park that we spied on.
The kids were dead from all the sight-seeing.Our next stop was Segovia, famous for its´ castle and ancient aquaduct. In order to reach the center city you have to travel some very narrow steep streets and some tight corners. I was very proud how well Leo did in the big van.
The main square and cathedral. We ate a wonderful meal in this square.
Inside the castle.
View of the city from the castle tower. Leo and Charlie were the lucky ones to walk up all the stairs and get to see this great view.
The tower Leo and Charlie climbed. I have heard this is the castle they used in the film Camelot.
The main square and cathedral. We ate a wonderful meal in this square.
Inside the castle.
View of the city from the castle tower. Leo and Charlie were the lucky ones to walk up all the stairs and get to see this great view.
The tower Leo and Charlie climbed. I have heard this is the castle they used in the film Camelot. In our original itinerary, we were to travel to northwest Spain to the area called Galicia, but we decided that it was just going to be too much traveling, so instead we decided to go back to Madrid and take the kids to an amusement park and then head home to Cartagena. In part 2 I will share pictures from that half of the visit.
