My favorite place I've ever visited, hands down, is the small city of Toledo. It's strange because I had never even heard of the city until my last week in Spain when I had to change my plans due to some unfortunate events. But looking back, I'm incredibly grateful it happened.
I had originally planned to explore other destinations, but with train tickets scarce due to the Easter weekend rush of locals traveling, I opted to visit some towns near Madrid, and Toledo was one of them.
The day didn't start as planned. I was still recovering from being sick the day before, and to add to it, it decided to downpour. Not what I had hoped for during my last few days in Spain. At one point, I even considered turning around. But despite my doubts about how the day would unfold, I pressed on.
Everything changed when I walked up the river bend and caught sight of the medieval walls and the bridge spanning the distance. Despite being covered in rain, I didn't care; it felt like stepping into the pages of a history book. Hastily trying to capture the moment with my camera while avoiding getting it wet, I eagerly ascended the stairs leading into the city.
As I wandered through the streets, I couldn't shake the feeling of being transported back in time. The winding streets, narrow alleyways, and somber pathways seemed straight out of a bygone era. Perhaps it was the gloomy rain that helped set the scene, but I found myself liking it. Every corner seemed like a potential addition to my photography portfolio, and indeed, some of them turned out to be just that. One particular alleyway held my attention for over an hour as I waited for a sliver of sunlight to pierce through and illuminate the scene just right.
Getting lost in the city was part of the adventure. No matter which path I chose, it felt like delving deeper into a labyrinth of discovery. Eventually, the rain subsided, offering me a different perspective for my photos. It was refreshing to capture the city in a new light, quite literally.
It was a pity that I only had one day to spend there. Despite its compact size, I wished for another opportunity to explore beyond the city limits. The view of the hills dotted with villas and the sprawling valley landscape surrounding it begged to be captured through my lens.
