December 25-29: Really - more photos than words for Madrid
At last! We really were celebrating Christmas in Spain! Seems like we've been planning this for a long time, and it's finally here. We did have a big stocking waiting for us in Nuria's apartment, but it had nothing but an ancient bag of chocolate candies in it...I think they must have been leftover from 1998. But Grace got a few things from her sister and her cousins: and we also heard from her sister and her grandparents today, too! And Grace was also giving us a present tonight: she had us a table booked for "Las Tablas" and Flamenco Dancers! Can't wait. Can't believe she's taken care of us again!
We strolled around the Plaza Mayor today: it was a lot more "human" than when we had found our way to it the other night! The street people were made up of men and woman in costume: one made was dressed up in copper colored attire and face paint, and was posed as if he was performing a motorbike trick; another was a woman who was standing in mid-air (Grace said she had a seat from the cane in her hand- David had found it online). Anyway, it was much less crowded than it had been the night we had bee there before. We also went to Retiro Park, which is gigantic! Reminded me a bit of Central Park in Nuevo York. As we were walking, we heard the sound of an accordion playing Jingle Bells: a song that will always remind me of Christmas Day 2013. Of course, as we got a little closer to this street player, his song turned into "oh When the Saints Come Marching In." I'm not certain how this concerns Christmas!
Grace showed us where the Prado was, and a couple of other places, and she had booked us again at a place called The Bull (or El Toro). And then, we fought out way in, and actually had a chocolate churro from the place that all buen touristas have while in Madrid, the sweet shop. Then, it turned into night, and we had atable waiting for us at "Las Tablas", a fine, small venue: we got to watch ACTUAL FLAMENCO DANCERS do their thing for two hours! They were absolutely fabulous, as were the musicians that accompanied them. Muy bien, Grace!
And I can't keep up! I'll have to do brief notes through Madrid, and try to stay current in Barcelona.
Chapter 10: A Brief View of Madrid
Went to the Temple de Debod: an Egyptian "gift" to the country of Spain and very cool hieroglyphics.
Went through a home with all kinds of art and spectacular items. The Museum Cerralbo (Spanish: Museo Cerralbo) is a museum that houses the collection of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Cerralbo.
Went to the Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but is only used for state ceremonies. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about it: "The palace has 1,450,000 sq ft of floorspace and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the largest palace in Europe by floor area. The interior of the palace is notable for its wealth of art and the use of many types of fine materials in the construction and the decoration of its rooms. These include paintings by artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez and Francisco de Goya and frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto, Juan de Flandes, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Anton Raphael Mengs. Other collections of great historical and artistic importance preserved in the building include the Royal Armoury of Madrid, Porcelain, Watches, Furniture, Silverware and the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet." You can see its mighty fine.
Ate at the Cafe de Oriente: excellent cuisine.
Went to Maria/Javier's in Posuelo del Alcaron, and met her children and her parents. (He had gone hunting.) Very interesting people, with interesting info on Spain, and of course, darling children. Eduardo (6) and Leonor (4) were sweet. Although I can see where Grace can get a little weary occasionally - they are always moving! Just like kids!
Friday
Toledo: very interesting cathedral but oh my goodness. Not the town for a person with horrible hips and knees! The one very cool thing that both Andy and I recalled for Grace, (who had also seen this) was the choir room : it was incredible to look at very closely: every seat the choir room was completely different! Also saw El Greco's home in his museum. Got home, and said good-bye to Grace for the night: she was going to pick up David at the airport Saturday morning.
Saturday
Walked up San Bernardino, just to check out "our neighborhood" - one thing for sure: Madrileños have no lack of places to shop for for footwear.
Went out to lunch with David and Grace at a charming place "in our neighborhood, that she and David had already been to. We had an excellent lunch, with Mimosas, and quickly said "good-bye" to Grace, because we wouldn't be seeing her for quite a few months!
We then trekked to the Reina Sophia Museo, with more modern art (and the painting by Picasso "Guernica"). This place is in an old hospital and was a very interesting and fairly "modern art" style Museo. Also has a terrace that was 4 floors up, with pure glass as the gates. (Our friend, Chris, would not like to be on the 4th floor!)
We ARE still walking through the old, old places that have been kept up so nicely, with our jaws dropping, although we have learned to walk around without the gaping. Here's some things about Madrid:
--their Metros are very clean
--there still are alot of graffiti artists on the prowl for clean benches and walls
--they are very pleasant people
--they know some English, but not much (especially wait-staff in restaurants)
--they are a very proud people, who have told us much about their recent history (I'm really not sure that I ever knew that the reason they weren't in WWII is because they were getting over their own Civil war, in the late '30s.) oh my gosh: so much more.
And now, we're off to Barcelona....
Here's Toledo:
Ham shop!
No comments:
Post a Comment