Monday 13th May


Today was Hop on Hop off bus rides and streets of glorious buildings - the corner of the Grand Via I passed this on may way to catch the bus we We’re to go down this street as part of the tour, but although I can get the gist of Spanish when I read it - often when it is spoken, I get lost in the pronunciations.



The Plaza de Cibeles. There she sits in the middle of a roundabout surrounded by majestic buildings and lots of traffic, it was here I caught my bus - still getting used to finding them driving on the wrong side of the vehicle and looking right before crossing! They have to block this fountain off when they win football games and only the captain is allowed near it. I think this her palace below - stunning 

It wasn’t all about historical buildings the second bus took us past the stadium for Real Madrid, fans starting to line up for tours.
This Skyscraper was stunning and I was even more impressed when I learned that it is The Torre Picasso, designed by a Japanese architect, Yamasaki, it used to be the tallest building in Madrid even so a fitting memorial to one of Spains best known artists

Followed by a bit of whimsy - If I heard right this is outside where the matadors dine after a bull fight. There are a few cows - oops maybe bulls. I hadn’t checked at an accessories store called Ale Hop - they made me think I was walking in circles yesterday but they were different stores 

After a morning of buildings it was time for the Botanical gardens and Parque El Retiro although to be fair there are lots of tree lined streets in Madrid, wonderful for a shade hugger like me and even in the middle of one of the larger thorough fares the median strip is big enough for benches and fountains 




The gardens were beautiful, laid out like a giant portager, pathways with fountains, even spotted a Cordalyne Australis - should be New Zealandus! Lovely to wander around




But the small section of the Parque I got to visit was a symphony in green - and I love green - Jack it is your favourite colour, part of it is a woodland , found the Crystal Palace -unfortunately closed to the public at present, also found time to sit and remove my shoes and socks to cool my feet, before passing the rectangular lake where people were rowing and also boasts an impressive statue to Alfonso the 12th -Back to the hotel for a nap - woke several hours later - hence I am awake early morning writing this - hotel had wifi issues yesterday too









 

Comments

  1. Claire BMay 13, 2024 at 10:54 PM

    You're right, I can't imagine, but your photos certainly help. Madrid looks like a beautiful city. Enjoy your first tour xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. KerinMay 18, 2024 at 12:12 AM

    Viva Espana!

    ReplyDelete

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