My first three weeks in Spain have been absolutely incredible and full of so many great experiences. The last time I was in Madrid I was 13 years old and was blindly following a tour guide around the city to see the most important sites, including the city of Toledo. This time around, I have enough understanding of culture and history to truly appreciate what Toledo had to offer. Through our school, Don Quijote, a group of us were lead around the city of Toledo and learned all about the extensive history that surrounds this ancient city. During an impromptu bathroom break, I wandered across the street to a small garden where a giant stone plaque had some words engraved into it that I couldn’t understand. Luckily enough, a local man was walking past and informed me what that plaque represented.
The plaque resides in the original location of the house of El Greco, the Greek painter famous for depicting the cityscape of Toledo, amongst other masterpieces. That was a piece of information I did not learn seven years ago and was completely shocked by it. I’m sure not many people who visit Toledo know what that plaque represents and assume that the El Greco house they can see whilst in Toledo is the original house in situ of the famous painter. While this monument wasn’t an intentional part of our Toledo experience, or the most impressive by far, it was the thing that stuck with me the most. It really made me understand just how much history exists not only within Toledo, but with in Spain as an entire country, and how the simplest building or plaque in a city can have such a great significance. I’m hoping the next three weeks are full of just as much excitement and adventure as these first three.
Until next time,
– Lane Cohen
