Bus tour of Toledo. Peace out, Dad!

(Look at Ethan)

Ethan’s first ever selfie.

Helado or ice cream; our nightly routine during our evening walk.

One of the three museums we visited while in Toledo, this one about torture devices. It proved a little too much for the boys, especially James, so we ducked out after viewing the first few displays and let Richard take a look around. Much of these devices were used during the Spanish Inquisition. Actual fatalities from all these nasty creations was about 10%, which meant that roughly 50,000 people died at the hands of the inquisitors.  Not a nice way to go!

These tools were used to help transport prisoners.

Each mask was used as a punishment for a specific crime. It was often to embarrass the prisoner and send a message to others. Public humiliation seems to be a common theme during Medieval times.

The town drunk got to wear this thing.

Self explanatory?

The town gambler had these draped around his neck.

Ouch!

This was a special display within the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum. It was basically Toledo setup as Bethlehem, complete with baby Jesus and the Wise Men. The boys were fascinated by it.  They each imagined themselves somewhere in the set up, as a shepherd boy, or someone by the tent, tending the fire.

One of Da Vinci’s creations, a self beating drum with different tones.

Nice catapult, Ethan!

An odometer, the top wheel as little balls which will drop into a bucket every time you walk a certain distance.

Da Vinci was a truly brilliant man; innovative, creative, artistic, prolific, a true Renaissance man. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this place; wandering, looking and reading.