Toledo: Weekend 4

My old apartment.

Toledo.

With Mercedes in front of the Cathedral.

My old friend, Cervantes.

With José at Enebro.

Spanish Fam.

Monday and Tuesday of October 11 and 12 were holidays so I didn't have class. Monday I left Motilla for Toledo. The bus ride was about two hours long but seemed longer because I was so excited to get back to Toledo! When I arrived I half expected Mercedes to be standing right there. But I called and she said she was there, upstairs in the waiting area. I didn't see her and instead of waiting I went to the bathroom. When I came out she was standing there. We gave each other a big hug and walked back to the car with our arms slung around each other. Jinez was waiting at the car and we drove to their new house. It was so strange to be back in Toledo with Mercedes and not go to the house that I had lived in for three months, that I remember as my home in Toledo. But her new house is beautiful! Instead of just one floor, it is 5. There is a basement that is similar to a library with shelves of books. And there is a door in the floor that you open up and can climb down a ladder to a wine cellar that used to be tunnel for plumbing way back when. The first floor has two bedrooms, one I slept in and another for her current student, Ryan from Notre Dame. The next floor is the kitchen and their bedroom. The top floor has the family room, kitchen table and a terrace that looks out over the river. This view is also amazing very different though from her last apartment. Before I could see the castle and now it is landscape. Both views are equally beautiful.

We ate dinner of gazpacho, chicken wings and fruit for dessert. Then I called José and we made plans to meet in the Plaza Zocodover (the main plaza). I invited Ryan to come with and thank god because Mercedes now lives by the Church de los Reyes Catolicos, on the way other side of the casco. So I had no idea how to find my way. José was standing in the plaza waiting for me and when he saw me said (as always) "mammiiiiii." We went to O'Briens and I had a few drinks, catching up, talking about old times, dancing and circulo (the disco in Toledo).

The next morning I woke up and ate breakfast out on the terrace. Breakfast was hot milk with sugar and cereal. It is probably one of my favorite breakfasts, not because it was hot milk and cereal, but because the sun was shining, I wasn't wearing a coat and I was looking out over the river of Toledo. It was unbeatable. Then Mercedes took me to buy my bus ticket for later and dropped me off in Plaza Zocodover so I could explore a little while she went home to change and get Jinez.

I walked down to see my old apartment, the bridge, castle and the cathedral. It was amazing how quickly everything came back to me. My feet led me without thinking exactly where I wanted to go, exactly how I remembered walking around Toledo a year and a half ago.

Mercedes met up with me at the Cathedral and we went to get a drink. José met us at Enebro, my all time favorite spot in Toledo. Then we went back home for dinner at 3. One of Mercedes' sons, Ricky, and his girlfriend came to eat too. We had wine, beer, champagne and too much food. We sat out on the terrace for a few hours listening to music, dancing, talking and enjoying the holiday. At 7:30 we headed to the bus station. José, Mercedes and Jinez saw me off on the bus as I headed back home to Cuenca...

besos,
j

Tortilla Española

While I was at Bea's house her mom and sister taught me how to make tortilla española.
They said I can't live in Spain and not know how to make such a classic dish.

So you will need: potatoes, eggs, olive oil and onions are optional.

Cut potatoes into thin slices and put in a pan with olive oil.

When potatoes get tender, break into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon.

Whisk 4-5 eggs in a separate bowl.

Add potatoes from pan into the eggs mix and stir.

Place mixture back into the skillet on the stove.

When the egg mixture is cooked on one side, take a plate. Place the plate on top of the mixture in the skillet. Then flip the tortilla from the skillet to the plate and slide back into the skillet so the other side can cook. Continue flipping sides until fully cooked.

And then you have a tortilla española!

Good luck! It is delicious and pretty easy once you get the flipping down...which I haven't mastered yet...

until later
xoxo,
j