Alcazar and the Puerta del Cambron

The view of Toledo, Spain's lands as seen from Alcazar.

Alcazar -- Toledo, Spain

Alcazar.

Puerta del Cambron -- Toledo.

Inside Puerta del Cambron, one of the gates into the walled city of Toledo.

This tourist train made me think of this one that I stumbled upon in Dakar.

What is the Alcazar of Toledo?

Tweet

The Streets of Toledo

I loved that you stumbled upon mosaics in the most wonderful and unexpected places while strolling through Toledo, Spain.

Toledo's streets make you wonder if you've walked into a romantic movie.

It's difficult not to become enamored with Toledo.

The top of the Gothic cathedral.

Toledo.

Toledo's train station.

The train station's beautiful stain glass.

Tweet

Odds and Ends in Dakar's Plateau

A barbershop in the Plateau neighborhood of Dakar, Senegal

Three boys walk near the train station in Dakar, about to link arms.

Construction near the Malian market in Dakar. The market used to be outside in this area

but was moved inside for this construction to build a road to the Chinese-built National Theater.

I always thought the train that never moved from Soumbédioune and was about 20 years past its prime was random, but

when I realized there are TWO mini-tourist trains in Dakar, one that actually takes people out on tours, it totally made my day.

Here's another Dakar oddity: A traffic light at Carnot and Place de l'Independence. 

 Never saw it used once in two years. In fact, it took me a year to notice it was there...

Lights have gone up downtown but I've never once seen a working traffic light.

Tweet

Train station in Dakar? Yes! Trains that actually use it? Skeptical...

The train station in Dakar, Senegal

Hanging out at the station.  The train has tracks to Bamako, Mali.

I'm told trains run between the two...I'll believe it when I actually see it.

a man selling peanuts and small groceries near the station

A close up of the station's beautiful mosaics

women street vendors

look closely, you'll see everything from mangos to papayas to palm oil to peanuts to cashews

and this man is a perfect example of how tall the Senegalese are

Playing fusball at the station.  Everywhere I've been in Senegal--

major cities, small villages, huts in the middle of absolutely nowhere--has had a fusball table.

Tweet