Spain - Palacio Real De Madrid

Tony and I spent the next day on our own in Madrid as Luis and Leeza were doing family stuff. We identified the Spanish Palace as somewhere we really wanted to visit, so we went there first thing in the morning.








It is a large palace, but it didn't feel larger than the palace in Stockholm. It is listed however as the 3rd largest just behind Versailles and the Austrian Palace (we still have yet to visit that one).




There was a National holiday going on, so they were rehearsing for a parade which was pretty cool in the large enclosed courtyard out front.










By the time we had finished our visit to the Palace, it was lunchtime, so we wandered over to a Tapas Bar and had some Abondigas and Horchata. Not the Horchata made from rice that you find in the state, but the Horchata made from ground Tiger Nuts, a relative to the Almond.

We made our way over to the Prado Museum, home to the world greatest collection of classical Spanish Paintings, and probably one of the top painting museums of the world. we followed the tour laid out by the Rick Steve's guide, which focused a lot on Goya, and Velasquez.



We made a point of seeing Velasquez's "Las Meninas", often considered the greatest painting on the planet. It is certainly a great painting, but I'm not sure it is the greatest painting ever. It was however great to see it as it would have great baring when we visited the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.



I enjoyed seeing the Goya painting collection as it followed his early happy go lucky painting career into his politically inspired painting career where he received his greatest recognition for "3rd of May", which focused on a failed revolution in Spain against the French. The museum also has quite a few pieces from his Black Painting period, which was very depressing and bleak. I felt the chill of the Harry Potter dementors sucking the life out of me viewing them.

In order to recover from these depressing images, we went to get some Ice Cream at what was called the Best Ice Cream Shop in Madrid, Giangrossi Helado Artesanal. It was a nice way to get our spirits back up again.

We continued wandering around Madrid, eventually making our way to the Center of town, the steps where the 3rd of May massacre occured.




It really is the center of Madrid if not Spain, and there is a plaque commemorating this.


We also visited the statue of the Bear eating Madrono Berries. The bear and the Madrono Berry are the symbols of Madrid and feature on the flag. They make a liquore from the berry, but unfortunately, we didn't happen across any.









Our final stop of the day was at a Bullfighting Pub for a light evening meal.






There are bull heads and images of bullfighters being hurt around the pub.




There is even a picture of Franco at a bullfight.

Spain - Madrid - Churros!

Perhaps no sweet from Spain has conquered the world the way the Churro has. In Los Angeles, you can get Churros at almost any venue from Swap Meets to Disneyland.





However, you have not had a real Churro until you have had one that is freshly fried and served with thick rich Dipping Chocolate.



I have found Churros on the Portobello Road Street Market in London, but the ones in Spain were particularly tasty and elevated in Stature to a food served in an elegant Tea Room.










Tony loved the dipping chocolate so much that he drank the remaining chocolate in the cup, then licked it clean.

Spain - Madrid Day 1

After Luis and Leeza left us in London, they traveled on to Madrid to visit Luis's family. We planned to join them a few days later to see some of Madrid with them.















We arrived in Madrid to nice warm temperatures. A pleasant break from rainy London.




Luis and Leeza met us at the airport, and they drove us to our hotel, Hotel Vinci Via 66, right in the middle of town. It is a beautiful hotel with a rooftop deck overlooking the city.








It was lunchtime, so we went to this restaurant that Luis's dad had recommended as a place that made excellent traditional Paella. It is made in these huge pans over an open fire. We ordered the Chicken Paella, and it was magnificent.





You can not believe the size of the pan when they bring it to the table. And it was delicious! We also ordered the first of the local beers: Mahou. It is a terrific beer, and has a bit of a Belgian quality to it.



From there, we drove around Madrid a bit before returning to the Historic District to see the palace and cathedral.



The palace is the third largest and most opulent in Europe, and it certainly looks it. We plan then to come back and visit it later in the trip.














Just across from the palace is the cathedral. It is fairly new, but possesses a neat blending of old and modern architecture.




From there, we wandered around the streets of old Madrid, eating our way through the city and enjoying the wonderful architecture.