It was nourishing to sit on our outdoor patio, looking down and over this old city, the three cultures spread out before us unnoticed in this blended town on our last morning. This was after our breakfast down below our award winning patio into a curved roof cave with Karima looking after our every need.

She was the everywhere girl who cooked, cleaned and cared for the girls from Japan, the older couple from Prague and us. Her home country is Morocco and she has come to this now Arab friendly city of Toledo. We talked to her for sometime in the breakfast room, at the reception desk, in our five room apartment, on our deck or in the impressive patio. We talked about her family at home, her love of William Shakespeare, her seven years of work in Spain and her religion. She said that she doesn’t attend the mosque here, and it is really the older men and women who attend.

We’re now back in Madrid, in the familiar environment of Corrie’s former life, taking time out to read a few pages of my latest book, “Sharpe’s Escape” by Bernard Cornwell. We came across this book’s present home on the third floor of this unusual tall, narrow bookshop on our search for the Jewish quarter. Well worn and well past second hand, it had, I imagine seen a lot of foster homes in its time. This one being extra special with lounge chairs, lots of English friends and a small balcony enticing others up.

It is about the French army’s third attempt to invade Portugal in 1810 and gives a rough picture of Western Europe’s turbulent relationships. The Portuguese need England to keep France at bay, the French want the western coastline, and no-one loves the Spanish, with even the Portuguese preferring to teach their children the more sophisticated French language.

In a short time we’ll meet up with our very good friends from Australia and talk about Madrid and other things Spanish.