Provence, Canal du Midi and More

[Jacques Vert]

Toledo at night:











By the way, this was the drinks trolley at the restaurant where we had dinner:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next day we headed back into the city:




The Alcazar:





Remains of a Mosque built into a new building:




A gate at the old bridge:

 

[Jacques Vert]

We visited the Church of Saint Tome, where one of masterpieces of El Greco's (Doménikos Theopoulotokós) resides. No photos allowed so here is a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burial_of_the_Count_of_Orgaz

A couple of interesting things about El Greco's masterpiece:

1. It is claimed that it is still in the exact location that it was when painted and that it has never been restored. If true, it is in remarkable condition after 400+ years.

2. The painting contains a self-portrait of the artist and his son who were clearly not present at the original event (assuming that any of the legend is true). It was not uncommon for painters to include themselves in paintings but this is only one I have come across which includes his offspring (not that I am any sort of art expert).


Then there is the Cathedral (Saint Mary of Toledo). I have been into many churches, cathedrals and basilicas during our travels including St Paul's in London, St Peter's in Rome, and many, many others. But this one just astounded me. At least as opulent as any I've seen; yes, even the Vatican...........

The outside doesn't give much indication of what's inside:









On entering you are confronted by a masterpiece of architecture:

 

[Jacques Vert]

It took over 250 years to complete...

 

[Jacques Vert]

There's a surprise around every corner..

 

[Jacques Vert]

 

[Jacques Vert]

 

[Jacques Vert]

After Toledo we drove back to Madrid and handed the car in. The guy who checked the car back in seemed very surprised that there was no additional damage on the vehicle. Not sure what that says about the standard of driving in Spain but the car we hired had certainly had a hard life.

We bought a three day tourist travel pass for public transport which covers the metro, buses and apparently trams (although I didn't see any of those). €17.40 for the three days and it includes travel to the airport. It's a pity the guy at the desk forgot to tell us that one of the metro lines was closed for rebuilding but as we used the metro to get around we still managed to save a few Euros and there is the added benefit that you don't have to buy a ticket every time you want to go somewhere.

We stayed at the IC using my BOGO certificate; this is a very nice hotel but it is a couple of metro stations away from the main sights of the city. The executive lounge has happy hour all day



Madrid has many excellent public areas:







And pedestrianized streets:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Of course it also has many museums and galleries, including The Prado which has free entry after 6PM (closes at 8).

Here's (a small part of) the queue shortly before 6PM:




We spent about an hour and a half which was enough for me. While it is a world class art gallery, we have been to so many over the past few years (the Louvre, Hermitage, Uffizi, Vatican, etc., etc.) and I am a little over done on the art side.

I did make sure I saw a couple of Raphael's (my favourite painter after Monet).



After dinner we headed back to our hotel and we were amazed at how many people were out and about on the streets. Unfortunately the photos just don't capture quite how busy it was.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Next day we took in some more of the sights:











Still a lot of people about:

 

[Gem56]

Still loving your travels and photos and the tips provided by Gem56 and I will definitely be interested in the list of things to take with you, that you are compiling.

If this is not easy to read, feel free to PM me with your email address and I'll send it directly to you.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Then it was off to the bullfight that was postponed from earlier in the week:







While we both wanted to see this spectacle for ourselves so as to have an informed opinion, neither of us will be going back anytime soon. Not that we are squirmish but I just didn't like the unfairness of it all. Sure it takes a lot of guts for the Matador to stand in front of the bull but before that his three mates run the bull all over the place to tire him out and then the Picadors stick a lance into the bull's back, supposedly to make him angry and to drop his head. Seemed to me that it was more a case of making him bleed profusely so that the loss of blood, together with having been run all over the arena, will make it easier for the Matador.




Warning: the photos in the next post may upset some viewers.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Here's the bull charging the Picador and his horse:

 

[Jacques Vert]

There were six bulls in all put to death that day.

For the first "fight", the Matador came out and knelt down on the sand with his cape in front and to his side. He signaled to let the bull in. The bull charged and the Matador jumped up at the last moment so that the bull would pass by concentrating on the cape. Unfortunately for the Matador the bull had a different idea and managed to catch the Matador's shoulder and throw him into the air. The bull returned and had the chap pinned on the ground and started giving him a going over.

The other three guys came to the Matador's rescue by distracting the bull with their capes and running the bull all over the arena while the Matador made his escape to be patched up.

This is where the whole unfairness of the event strikes me. At this stage I thought the bull should be declared the winner and his life spared. But no, he was run around for 10 minutes or so, lanced by the Picador, and then spiked by these guys:




The Matador returned and tormented the bull some more.




Finally he put the bull out of his misery with his sword.

Look at me, look at me, look at meeeee.....





+1 made the comment that she felt like she was back in Roman times watching those spectacles at one of the Roman amphitheatres.

 

[ellen10]

If this is not easy to read, feel free to PM me with your email address and I'll send it directly to you.

View attachment 83056

Thanks for the excellent list. Very helpful and items that only people who had spent time on a canal boat would think of.
Storing it away in my notes. I like the last one!

 

[JohnM]

but I just didn't like the unfairness of it all. Sure it takes a lot of guts for the Matador to stand in front of the bull but before that his three mates run the bull all over the place to tire him out and then the Picadors stick a lance into the bull's back, supposedly to make him angry and to drop his head. Seemed to me that it was more a case of making him bleed profusely so that the loss of blood, together with having been run all over the arena, will make it easier for the Matador.

I couldn't agree more.

I went to a bullfight in Seville some years ago to, like you, make my own assessment. Came away thinking they are really a bunch of cowards. It is so totally weighted against the bull.

 

[Jacques Vert]

IB3236 MAD-FCO in J












We arrived at Rome airport on time around 1820 and had to wait a while to receive our bags. We were booked into the Hilton Rome airport but, despite what the hotel claimed, we found it difficult to work out where to go.

Eventually a helpful cleaner pointed us in the right direction: follow the never ending air bridge over all the carparks and stuff until the very end; then the lift down one floor and you are almost there. About 10 minutes walk if you know where you are going; 20 if you don't.

The Hilton was nice enough and we were still in time for the end of happy hour; not much in the way of food but drinks were appreciated.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Two years ago we visited Rome as part of a classic award ticket. Although we had a great time back then we had two disappointments: the Trevi was hidden behind scaffolding and the Colosseum was closed due to a mega hail storm.

So we took advantage of a 23 hr, 10 min transit to correct this unacceptable situation!

Up early, walk back to the terminal and take the train and metro to Colosseo metro station, across the road from the Colosseum. We purchased tickets online at tickitaly.com - a Gold ticket which included access to the Colosseum and a downloadable audioguide for the Colosseum together with access to the Forum and Palatine Hill thrown in; all for €18.50 each. I was surprised at how well the downloaded audioguide worked on my phone; quite professionally done.

 

[Jacques Vert]

As we booked the earliest entry time (0830), we had the best part of an hour before the crowds and tour groups started to catch up with us:

 

[Jacques Vert]

Then off to the Forum: