"City's ambassador bridges 2 cultures"

"City's ambassador bridges 2 cultures"
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

An article about Lee Murray, the President of the Association of Two Toledos, from the Toledo Blade, March 13, 2006.

Los Premios de la Real Fundacion de Toledo

Last Thursday, March 7th, 2006, we, Jacob and Joel, attended an awards ceremony held by the Royal Foundation of Toledo, Spain. Our sister cities relationship was one among six others who received the Foundation's award. According to the Real Fundacion's website, "The sister city relationship between Toledo, Ohio and Toledo, Spain [is being recognized,] in its 75th year, for having offered an innovative way of international understanding, [and for] promoting coexistence and understanding between nations through the personal relationships of its citizens."

We will post more on this topic within the next couple of days. For now you can enjoy the following photos that we took while attending the award ceremony.

The King of Spain and Award Ceremony Speakers

The King of Spain and speakers
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Royal Foundation of Toledo Awards/Los Premios de Real Fundacion de Toledo
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

Su Majestad El Rey Juan Carlos

Su Majestad El Rey Juan Carlos
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

His Majesty the King Juan Carlos of Spain

Receiving the Awards

Receiving the Awards
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Here receiving the awards from the King Juan Carlos are (from left to right): Mayor Jose Manuel Molina, Maria del S. Díaz Verdúguez (President of La Asociacion para las Relaciones Interciudades "Alfonso X El Sabio" de Toledo), Hans Ersepke (President of Toledo Sister Cities International), and Lee Murray (President of the Association of Two Toledos).
Royal Foundation of Toledo Awards/Los Premios de Real Fundacion de Toledo
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

Exiting the Stage

Exiting the Stage
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Royal Foundation of Toledo Awards/Los Premios de Real Fundacion de Toledo
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

Plaza Mayor and the Royal Motorcade

Plaza Mayor and the Royal Motorcade
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Royal Foundation of Toledo Awards/Los Premios de Real Fundacion de Toledo
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

The Reception following the Awards

The following photos were taken at the reception that followed the awards ceremony given by the Real Fundacion de Toledo on March 7, 2006 in Toledo, Spain. The photos are pretty self-explanatory.

Ayuntamiento lit for night

Ayuntamiento lit for night
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Hans Ersepke and Lee Murray

Hans Ersepke and Lee Murray
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Group with Awards

Group with Awards
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Hans Ersepke, Lee Murray, Jose Manuel Molina, and Maria del S. Díaz Verdúguez
Reception for the
Royal Foundation of Toledo Awards/Los Premios de Real Fundacion de Toledo
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

Alcalde Jose Manuel Molina

Alcalde Jose Manuel Molina
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

75th Anniversary Planning Meeting

While visiting Toledo, Spain, for the awards ceremony given by the Real Fundacion de Toledo, we were asked to sit in on a planning meeting for the upcoming 75th Anniversary celebrations. Luckily, the awards ceremony brought people from both Toledos together in one city for a few days. Therefore, we were all able to get together face to face and finalize some details for the upcoming celebrations in both Toledos.

75th Anniversary Planning Meeting

75th Anniversay Planning Meeting
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

75th Anniversary Planning Meeting

75th Anniversay Planning Meeting
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Russell Brown and Hans Ersepke
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

75th Anniversary Planning Meeting

75th Anniversay Planning Meeting
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Fernando Cirujano and Russell Brown
Toledo, Spain/España
March/Marzo 2006

Translating with Raquel in Madrid

Translating with Raquel in Madrid
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Although, we came to Spain to attend the awards ceremony for the Royal Foundation of Toledo (Real Fundacion de Toledo) we decided that we could work for a fews days as well. Our good friend, Raquel, agreed to help us with some translations of our video clips.

Raquel lives in Madrid, Spain and she has a degree in Philology.

Translating with Raquel in Madrid

Translating with Raquel in Madrid
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.

Translating with Raquel in Madrid

Translating with Raquel in Madrid
Originally uploaded by twotoledos.