Fundación José Ortega y Gasset

Picaro is a great cafe in the daytime and an even better club at night. O'Brien's Irish Pub was a favorite among the students, as well as bars like Camelot, Straze, El Trasgo, El Recaredo, La Estación, and Garcilaso Café. I also loved Bar Royal and Bar Alcázar for coffee or wine al fresco. Any restaurant in the Plaza de Zocodover is worth it for the people-watching opportunities alone. La Casa de Damasco is one of the city's best kept secrets with its Syrian flair and delicious hummus! You must ride the Zoco-tren, a tiny little tram that takes about 50 tourists on a 45 minute ride around the city and outside its walls. The views are breathtaking and offer the best photo ops. Of course you'll want to visit La iglesia de Santo Tomé to see "El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz" by El Greco. Seeing that painting in real life far surpasses any textbook print. After all that you can have a seat at either one of the two Enebro's restaurants, which offer a small glass of beer and a plate full of tapas for under 2 bucks. It's truly the best deal in town.

I still dream about waking up to the mountains surrounding Toledo. Living at the dorm was the best choice I made and truly changed me life. I learned just as much Spanish, if not more, than students that lived with families. I wouldn't have changed one thing about my living situation.

The first few months were a bit rough, but after total immersion, I didn't have to think about it very much. I understood it like I understood English. I still pine for the sound of Castillian Spanish.

Sometimes it's easier to walk than take taxi cabs. Sometimes cab drivers will overcharge tourists. Additionally, it may seem like a good idea to take a cab from Toledo to Madrid for only 100 euro, however by bus the price is only about 4 euro.

I loved Toledo so much I have since returned twice. The Fundacion (Toledo) has become a second home to me. I miss it terribly every day. My walls are plastered with old dorm photos, pictures of the city of Toledo along with snapshots of many other European countries. The experienced changed my life in ways I'll can't list. Not only have I become a stronger person, but also a smarter, wiser young woman, with an appreciation for the Spanish culture and language that's more valuable to me than anything.