Day Forty One: Half way home and Already planning our Return.

Well no pictures here either though the meal we had at Victoria's and Phillips really rates photos along with the other meals. Being at their house is almost like home. It certainly makes the long trip to and from NC to NJ a pleasant trip. I can't thank them enough. But all good things must come to and end and so with the wild wood flower. Well here is that song.

So we slept and headed to Hampstead NC. It had been two months and a hurricane later. we knew our houses were OK, but we really didn't know what to expect. Thankful that we and our properties had escaped damage, but somewhat not right that we had had such a wonderful time and some of our friends and neighbors were still trying to recover from Florence. Now that we are home, we will do what we can to help.

Day Forty: What can you say about a flight across the Atlantic?

Not much. You know the routine. Wake up. Make sure everything is packed. Get to the airport early. Check bags ( They are full of wine). Wait in line. Take off shoes. Forgot belt so take it off. Get singled out for explosives check. You don't speak Spanish. She doesn't speak English. SMILE. Point out you have artificial knee. SMILE. Load everything back in back pack and go wait for another two hours. Walk two miles ( according to Apple Watch), find your gate and sit down and wait. Be in group One ( new boarding procedure) as is everyone else. Buy last minute stuff that you hope the USA will not confiscate. Board pane.Wait on Jet tube for 1/2 hour. Get on plane. Pray no one shows up for window seat. Take two Valium. Wait Wait. And you have only two people for three seats. There is a God. Maybe it's the Valium. Get NY Times International. read some of it. Get meal. Remember to take meat since Barbara is giving us Pasta in NJ when we land and get to her house.
Sleep, Eat, Drink, get up every two hours so legs do not fill with blood or water. Land. Pray customs doesn't take my contraband bought in Madrid airport.
Breeze through customs because I bought/Received Global Entry for the USA. Makes me a VIP. Pick up luggage which was checked because of the wine I was bringing in.
Call Tony who will bring us to Chuck and Barbra's.
Everything is smooth. In fact as we are riding to Chuck and Barbara's house what should come on the radio. Remember this was our 50th Anniversary trip.

Well we got to Chuck and Barbra's and had a great meal, nice talks and oh too short a visit. Tomorrow we leave for Silver Spring. Half way home.

Day Thirty Nine: 10,000 kilometers later

Woke up today on Toledo ready for the short trip to Madrid. One hour to be exact. An uneventful ride on a Friday to a nice but nodescript hotel near the Airport. Too early to get in our rooms, so I fire up the GPS and head back to the airport to return the rental car. GPS works just fine. A little trouble finding Hertz since they moved sometime in the past, but did not correct all of their rental return signs. But it isn't that big and I find it. Sign my name and I am off back to the Hotel.
I get there just as Mary Ann and Linda are checking in. Dump the bags and lay down to rest. Tonight will be packing night. Unless you wanted pictures of the rental car garage, there will be none so far. In fact if you want pictures of the rental car garage, you will have to take them yourself. I have none.

So we rest and then meet for drinks at the hotel bar. Some appetizers and drinks and it is back to the room to pack. We manage to get everything in our suitcases without throwing anything away.

All packed and ready for our flight tomorrow. Should be back in the USA around 4:00 PM.

Day Thirty Eight: Goodbye to the City on the Hill

No not San Francisco. Our last day in Toledo and Spain/Europe in general. We of course have friday as the last real day, but it will consist of getting to the hotel near the airport, unloading, returning the rental car and back to the hotel to pack. We fly back to JFK Saturday around noon.

So we sleep late and have a lazy morning. Then we are out to ride the tourist train that is pulled by a tractor and takes people around the city. Many cities have them, but in Toledo it is a good way to get around and see the city without the up and down climbing Toledo has to offer.  It was also really nice because it takes you out of the city to see Toledo as El Greco painted it. The ride supplies earphones that give you the history and stories of Toledo in 13 different languages. I have already forgotten most of what was said. Of course I listened for awhile in Korean and flipped between English and English for children. Could not tell any difference between the last two.

Pictures from the train ride.

Our train.

 Toledo with its River.

Left of that picture.

 Me outside of Toledo.

We get off of the train hungry. But we are having suckling pig at a nice restaurant tonight so we don't want a big meal. We find a small place that has just the right sandwiches and plates. And it also had sangria of course.

Some last minute souvenir shopping and we head  for dessert. However since this is a national holiday, every place is filled. We resort to the first place we ate at when we arrived. Very slow service. And only inside. Today the rain has gone away, and the temperature is 60 degrees. Very Spring like. So after dessert, we walk to the old wall and have some beers outside overlooking the river that flows around Toledo.  Nice day.

Having a beer on the old wall.

 Some of the many nice buildings in Toledo.

The entry way to our apartment. House was built in the 1500's.

More Apartment pictures.

 Our bedroom.

 Kitchen.

 Living room.

So our last meal in Toledo will be in the Cardinal's residence( he has moved out long ago) for suckling pig. It was very good.

Three very happy travelers. Headed to Madrid ( Friday)and the airport and JFK ( Saturday) and home in time to vote.