Toledo

the best view of toledo from a cathedral's tower

creepy statue man peeking over my shoulder during lunch

cathedral in toledo

typical street in toledo, modern shopping with an ancient cathedral backdrop



Toledo was well worth its mere hour long bus ride costing a whole 5 euros, about what we would pay for a ham sandwich that would undoubtedly make us queasy within 2 seconds after force-feeding ourselves. As we made our way around the small town, we noticed that natives were scarce and instead tourists populated the streets, entering and exiting stores with little touristy trinkets in hand. After looking around, and veering off from the major streets, we found the perfect store to pick up some gifts, and unlike the rest of the tiendas, it was a small artisan shop whose products were made by hand and all one-of-a-kind.

I was anxious to go to Toledo for many reasons. I had been before, but as I was in highschool, I wasn't so enthused about the city's history, so this time I was excited to put my knowledge to use! The cathedrals boasted beautiful architecture of all types, and one especially had the most incredible view from its tower, a sight that was well worth its lengthy climb up narrow step-ladders. Elyssa and I made it a point to visit one of the old synagogues, expecting a spiritual experience, but instead felt a total lack of holy presence. During the Inquisicion, the temple had been converted into a cathedral, and although the building itself was not nearly adorned as most cathedrals should be according to their time period, and appeared to be a temple from the outside, the golden Jesus figure on its main mantel clearly defined its newer identity. Visiting this place of worship turned out to be the least holy experience I have ever had as it was a true illustration of the injustice commited against the Jewish people. Oddly enough, I felt a stronger holy presence in the cathedrals as their high ceilings both emphasized and exaggerated the vast difference that exists between a human and his G-d.

The ancient city of Toledo is a true representation of the diversity that once existed in Spain. Although the country is now predominantly Catholic, Toledo marks a rare time of diversity as Christians, Muslims, and Jews, once peacefully coexisted within the tiny fortress' walls.

shocked.

In the midst of conversing with an Israeli tourist couple, I slowly lost eye contact as my eyes drifted to the wall behind them. "kike". I pointed and they looked. I expected a reaction from them, but no eye brows were raised, and no mouths agape. I asked, "don't you know what that means?" they replied no, that they had never heard of this word before.

Shocking. From this meeting on, my eyes have been more opened than ever, scanning every single wall and poster, sidewalk and lamp post. This graffiti is merely from two streets in the center of Madrid. I can't imagine how many other photographs could be taken.

I'm not quite sure what to think. I'd like to ask one of my teachers about the use and meaning of this word here in Spain. Yet after learning "Spanish common phrases" (that are claimed to be politically correct as they only "reflect history" and not current day opinion) such as "you didn't go to Church today? Don't be a Jew!", I'm a bit hesitant. My professors teach that the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 solely for "building their character too much" (becoming too wealthy), and insist that "religion has never caused expulsion in this country". They claim that a sense of racism and anti-Semitism doesn't exist to the same extent we believe it is present, and rather explain this phenomenon by "we just don't mix. The Jews with the Jews, the Arabs with the Arabs, the Blacks with the Blacks, and the Latinos with the Latinos".

Judaism is a large part of my identity, and I thought that identity follows you wherever you go, but here in Spain, it will not.

mullet mania

i know i only have one picture to prove this crazy phenomenon, and maybe ill continue to be a creeper and snap pictures whenever i spot another victim, but ladies and gentleman you must believe me... the mullet is back! apparently its more popular in the south, but here in madrid, one can surely bet on seeing both men and women walking the streets, proudly sporting their mullet. it can be worn curly, straight, dyed, dread locked or spiked. while i would classify the mullet as an "interesting" choice in hairstyle, no worries, im pretty content with my current look and have no desire to be fatally fashionable.