From Toledo to Salamanca

We spent yesterday exploring Toledo, the old imperial capital. I really liked the narrow medieval alleys, the imposing alcazar and the magnificent cathedral which featured a room with wooden panels so full of carved details that it would make Dan Brown go bananas.

Alcazar of Toledo.

And don’t get me started on the local specialty: marzipan. I really enjoyed that one. If I had stayed there any longer, the locals would probably had forced me out of the city with burning torches for eating all their candy supplies.

Another interesting place turned out to be the city of Avila, surrounded by city wall with 88 towers built in 1090.

View from the top of the cathedral in Salamanca.

Today we drove west to Salamanca, which has earned a place in history much due to the famous university. Apart from locating the elusive frog sculpture hidden in the elaborate decorations of the front door, we climbed the really old cathedral for a great view of the sandstone city.

To further top it off we had a great cortado on Plaza Mayor and stumbled upon a procession carrying a saint pedestal across the beautifully preserved Roman stone bridge.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings of the Iberian Peninsula. I hope it has something to do with coffee for a start.