Just a quick stop back here before heading back out. Today we purchased hop on hop off Madrid tickets (E40 for M&I) and got a tour of the city; saw the original archways which marked the edge of town; was walled at one point. Passed so much amazing architecture that you lose the awe. Even the “worst” corner would be impressive in Toronto. We disembarked at Palaciois Royal/Cathedral. First we took a walk to find breakfast….it was afternoon! Fount a great cafe in the Italian school, had coffee/croissants and more fresh OJ > every chair in the place was different and very chic (all in white or pale wood > see photos below).
Then to Cathedral for a quick E1 tour. this one was more modern in parts, not all Gothic this time! The prayer room allowed no photos but was spectacular. Mosaic and golden sunbursts. Very peaceful. then to the palace.
Just Plain WOW!
(The photos of inside the Palace were not taken by me. Photos were not allowed inside the palace. These were obtained from the Internet. The collection here are rooms that I personally viewed. Unfortunately, this website can not give you the true sense of the beauty of these rooms. They really were over the top!)
they say there are 2800 rooms and we only saw a handful of them. Every room was a show case. From multi-coloured marble inlaid floors to the silk embroidered walls to the porcelain ceilings. the endless number of specially commissioned clocks, the fining room fro 140 seated guests, the custom Chinese porcelain walls int he smoking room. It was endless the decadence and opulence on display. The every day silver ware alone could likely go a long way to recouping Spain’s current debt crisis. Very aware that they were willing to spend fortunes on wars over the centuries, but not on dealing with the current crisis in the country. The Chapel, the custom furniture, the tapestries….The armouries topped it off with the many decorative pieces along with the matching child armour of the 5, 7 and 9 year old sons – more that 1 matched set per child of course. the horses the lances for jousting, the guns; all ornate and many blessed by the church. Interesting were the scaled up rifles that were the size of a very large canon.
Then back on the bus to Plaza del Sol. The center of spain; all streets emanate from here. It is the meeting place. Eventually we found a little treasure for lunch E10 pp for the whole meal with drinks and we even had salads. Got a recommendation to see Carmen ballet for flamenco which started at 8:30 so off home for quick freshen up.
Out for Carmen – M&GL treated M&I for our birthdays. We thought it was fantastic although GL found it “OK”. I think due to the stretching of the story for dance purposes. At any rate the flamenco was great and the stage production well done. Then home for a night cap of cheese/cold cuts/bread and what we thought was barbedillo wine, (which turned out to be sherry). Then a bit of blogging some stretches and sleep. We head off to the north tomorrow.
Then back