Tilt at the Windmills
- Sancho Panza
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Hola! Me llamo Sancho Panza y soy el Squire de Don Quixote. I will ask AI to write the rest in English to accommodate the personas in San Francisco and neighboring areas. Today I had the distinct pleasure to travel with the Opera Scouts, even though the journey was much swifter than my usual journey on my faithful donkey, Rucio. We left the beautiful seaside town of Granada and traveled many kilometers Northwest, en route to Toledo, the former capital of España, known as the land of three cultures. We entered La Mancha--my territory with rolling hills and crops dotted by windmills.
After many hours we reached Toledo, and we traversed winding roads with a beautiful view of the old city and the Tajo river.
After getting off the bus to enjoy the view, we stopped at a local fabrica: Damasquinados Suarez where we watched a forging demonstration of someone making a blade for a broadsword, and then went to a little room to see the fine art of Damascene jewelry. I sent a note to Don Quixote via carrier pigeon that he should check this place out to find gifts for Aldonza. He never listens to me which is why he will never get the girl.
I watched the Opera Scouts examine the many goods in the shop before walking away with exquisite treasures to remember this region.
Then the walking began. We had many meters to climb to reach the monastery and the cloisters at the top of the hill. Much to my surprise there were moving staircases--escaleras--at least three of them that transported the whole group up the hill. Once there we walked to the monastery learning that it was actually built in the juderia--the jewish section of the town. We learned that the jews and the muslims were driven out of Toledo in 1492 which is when this monastery came to life. So much for the three cultures. A lot of things around here happened in 1492...
Inside we saw the sunlit and peaceful cloisters--the courtyards dedicated to prayer and meditation. Then we went inside the sacred space where the tour guide had the scouts reenact Ferdinand and Isabella's succession to the throne.
Then to my great surprise--these young people, these Scouts sang! Their voices filled the holy space with life and harmony that buoyed my spirits and those of the many souls that stood by.
After that I climbed with them up to the balcony and we looked down on the beautiful sacred space.
It was a glorious day in the sun.
When we returned to the wagon of the Scouts, I rode with them to Madrid. They went on to dinner and I had to meet DQ for some heroic business so I let them dine without me.
I was so impressed by the adventurous spirit of the Opera Scouts. I will remember them in my many travels.
Con cariño,
Sancho Panza
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