I've just returned from the course on Radiobiology (which is basic knowledge about radiotherapy for cancer that I work with) in Toledo, Spain. It was a great week with very long days and intensive teaching from 9 am to 6 pm, but a 2-hours long lunch break in the middle really helped.
After the course I had enough time to do the sightseeing with loads of walking, because this is the best way to see the town. It was getting dark at about 8 pm, and Spanish don't serve warm food at the restaurants before around 10 pm- giving you plenty of time to visit churches, sinagogues, monasteries and other museums, go into the shops (that are open till 9-10 pm) or just sit down and look at the sunset...
Toledo is a capital of the Spanish province Castilla-La Mancha. Historically it's been influenced by 3 different cultures- Christian, Muslim and Jewish. This is where the art of sword and knife making comes from. The historical center of the town is situated on the hill with river surrounding it from 3 sides. There are gates and bridges remaining from the old times when it was the only way to enter the town.
After the course my collegues and I had an opportunity to visit the local theater and hear the opera "Rigoletto"- masterpiece of Verdi (sung in Italian with Spanish subtitles :)
From the course organisers we had a social dinner one night, where we experienced the best of Spanish cuisine with 5-course menu (just starters consisted of 4 different dishes!) and some music and dancing afterwards.
If you really get a chance to go to Spain, Toledo is one of the must-see places. It's only 30 min drive from Madrid.
Now I'm back in cold and rainy DK, but very happy to be back home. The whole week without David and Elizabeth was hard after all. But I promised them to go visit Toledo next fall all together.
1 comment:
Not bad for a business trip!! Glad you had a great time!
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