SUNDAY to THURSDAY

Madrid,new country ,new city.WE were able to fly ,as it was a 24 hour Air traffic control strike.With good direction and the subway,we arrived and checked in.it was instantly different with the gentle language,no one is in a hurry(it could be slow for service and to get the bill!).

The next morning we headed to the train station to book seats,as they are required in Spain.Definitely a challenge with language,round trip tickets and time constraint.We needed to be back to Madrid from Granada in time for our flight to Lisbon.

In Madrid ,the boulevards are wide with tree lined walkway in the middle.There were also Bus and bike lanes and an occasional helmet.

Paseo de la Castellana was lined with government,art museums,libraries.All were ancient building and had many masters through the wars,kings and queens,dictators and the Church( majority are Catholic).During our walk we encountered a street fair organized by the polise and safety.There were a group of older people dancing ,and here is my video

Sunday night was the Bull Fights…and ancient sport with decreasing popularity amongst the public and Animal Cruelty organizations.The initial pageantry was well done with prancing horses,a band and trumpets.Then came the matadors with their performance.Then came the bull.It was ugly and cruel and easy to see why the stadium was 1/3 full.We left ASAP.

The following day was one of the main reason we came to Madrid. to see Guernica.This is one of the most famous painting …the most moving and anti-war paintings in history.It was painted by Picasso in 1937,pre WW2.It is a large oil painting(11.5 feet by 25.5 feet).He painted it in response to the bombing of Guernica by the Nazis as well as Fascist Italy.

The painting was toured world wide and help bring attention to the Spanish Civil War.You were not allowed to take pictures,so I have taken the liberty to download one from the internet.

We took a bus tour,both routes and were exposed to many old(centuries) that had previously been monasteries,Convents,government buildings and palaces.Many were claimed by Mussolini during the war. Since then many have been reclaimed and/or purchased and in the Old City are high end Hotels with beautiful interiors and exteriors

The city has a population of 6,714,000 people,so the subways are always full and crowded.Michael and I were amazed at how often we were offered seats…did we look that old or that tired?But,at the museum, a kind lady asked to see our passports, before she gave us free tickets because we were seniors!!

Our next adventure was an evening of entertainment at A Flamingo performance.Michael wondered if I had paid more for second row seats….but not so.It was an in-site into the music and the passion of the dancers.In many ways it was similar to the opera,except the performers danced there passion without singing.There was a band with talented Spanish guitarists and 2 singers.The music had overtones of mideastern and Indian music.

We spent our last evening at a tapa bar close to our hotel.The dishes were chosen by our waitress,even the dessert…Torrija con Helado de Avellana….amazing and I will attempt it at home.The top is caramelised like Creme Brulee.

And one more pack up and the recognized need for laundry….stage left to Granada and an apartment with a washer.

Solida