THE VATICAN...and only the Vatican! Our visit to the Vatican started out with a first trip on Rome’s metro - an easy subway to master, with only 2 lines A & B - that intersect at “Termini” - which is also the main train station. A third C line is underway, but with everything that’s constantly being found underground in Rome....don’t hold your breath for this one! Fares are simple - with a single ticket costing €1.50 - that can be used on the M...

ARRIVED IN ROME The journey to Rome was smooth....from the airport hotel shuttle in Madrid, to our arrival at the apartment in Rome, it could not have been better. At the AlItalia check-in, there was no one waiting - and the same when we reached security. We left and arrived on time and received free refreshments on the plane - a real rarity these days...and.... our bags were waiting for us when we reached the carousel. Through our Airbnb host, we’d arrange...

ADÍOS TÓLEDO....and a few hours in Madrid Having become a regular at the corner store, I learned from Frederick and one of his brothers, who I’ve also come to know, that they would be closed for All Saints Day - to “party” as they explained....and so I went to say my goodbyes the day before. A gregarious pair, they were very happy to talk and seemed to appreciate the fact that we’d chosen to stay the whole week in Tolédo - commenting that most peopl...

CATHEDRAL OF TOLÉDO....and more With two layers of castle walls, covered in gargoyles and crests, the whole of the historic area of Tolédo remains mainly intact - due mostly to the Catholic faith - invaders were always careful not to destroy this hallowed ground! Some cities have an old town, but all of this mountaintop city is a historic site. Apart from the Alcázar, Tolédo has survived the Visigoths, the Moors, the Christians and the Spanish Civil War! ...

TOLÉDO From the inside of this amazing city, it’s hard to realize how impenetrable it is - and has been for over 2,000 years. To appreciate this, you have to cross over the Tagus River which winds around the city, creating a natural moat. Seventy percent of this ancient city is surrounded by water, its walled defences sit atop a huge gorge....and then the city rises up even further. When building its first defensive wall around 50 B.C. the Romans named it ...