Toledo, Spain

I decided to take a day-trip to Toledo.

The great thing about Madrid is it’s proximity to fascinating Spanish cities like Toledo, Segovia and Valencia.

When Sister #2 was an undergrad, she studied for two semesters in Toledo and all I ever heard for six months was “rave, rave, rave.” So, I decided to visit Toledo to see what the hype was about.

Toledo was once Spain’s capital, and today it’s widely regarded as the the country’s spiritual center.

Toledo features a military fort called El Alcazar which is supposedly impressive. But, due to the eight euro admission fee, I decided to forgo the fort in lieu of the spiritual sites (many of which charge an admission fee, too).

A wedding reception in a plaza outside the Cathedral of Toledo.
An interior view of the Cathedral. 

I was thinking yesterday about how interesting it is that, no matter where I am in the world, I always seem to gravitate toward places of worship. Strangely, I often seek out Catholic churches first.

This is ironic because I renounced Catholicism long ago. It’s ironic because after years of boredom during Catholic mass, I realized that this was not my path. It’s ironic because I believe that religious fundamentalism is one of the biggest threats to the survival of the human race. It’s ironic because some of the most hypocritical people I’ve met call themselves “religious” and practice acts of intolerance in the name of religion.

But, yet, I go back there. Because I’ve also met wonderful people that call themselves “religious.” And because I believe that many paths can lead to the same destination. And for me Catholicism was the beginning of the “path.”

It´s where my spiritual life originated. And, after all these years, the familiarity of a Catholic church in a foreign country is comforting.

Not only did I appreciate Toledo´s spiritual side, but Toledo also made me appreciate Spain.

After traveling in India first and then in Israel, Jordan and Egypt (countries which, I think you’d agree, are more different from America than western Europe), I didn’t have that same sense of childlike wonder upon my arrival in Spain.

I got lost in the maze of narrow, cobblestone streets.  But isn´t it crazy how getting lost always result in the best photo ops?

But in Toledo, I saw the warm hearts of the Spanish people. I saw a newly married, middle-aged couple emerge from a church and dance in a plaza with complete abandon, while their wedding party cheered. In Toledo, I started to see why Spain deserved my love. I started to see why Spain is lovable.

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