Hello All, and thanks for your visits and comments. Promise to respond soon.
Well, what a city to visit. The air is electric with energy and life. Everywhere you go, you see the people of Madrid immersed in its myriad parks, cafes, stores, and streets. People are chattering, laughing, yelling, or just lost in contemplation on the benches and in the many public squares. It´s positively exhilarating to witness this cacaphony, except perhaps, late in the night, when the sounds of the city permeate even the thickest walls. You simply can´t escape it, but really, why would you want to? There is so much to see here, so much to experience that we are overwhelmed by it all. Not quite as frenetic as New York, but just as dynamic. We arrived by bullet train from Barcelona on Saturday, which travels at an astounding 270 kms and hour. That´s about 160 mph, for the Americans. Yet, it is a smoother ride than my Toyota. We arrived to find the city in an intense state of excitement, as it was 1) the May 1st holiday and more importantly, 2) it was Saturday night, and most importantly, 3) it was the day of a big soccer game with arch rival Barcelona. Crowds were in a state of frenzy in all bars and cafes equipped with a TV. I have seen some of this in Toronto, but nothing close to this extent.
After Barcelona, in which we had learned a valuable lesson-- we are not 30 years old, and can´t travel the way we did when we were just ¨kids¨. We have learned that we had to pace ourselves more, trying to just hit the high points, and not try to do and see everything. So, we´ve been doing a lot more strolling, less rushing from site to site. We simply don´t have the energy we used to. Aging sucks, but then, you know that already!
We were fortunate to have our old friends Stan and Debbie coincidentally visiting Madrid at the same time, and have been spending alot of time with them, which has been great. Sunday was art day for us, appropriate given that Madrid has an area called the museum district which has the greatest number of paintings concentrated in this one area than anywhere else in the entire world ( that´s what they told us, anyways!). We started the day by visiting the modern art museum, Reine Sofia, then proceded to the Prado, which given its size, and dedication to the great Spanish painters required more energy and time than we could devote. You simply run of steam way before you run out of art. Also, the art tends to the darker colours and heavy religious and violence themes, and after a while, an odd gloom descends over you. That´s when it´s time to leave and lay out in the bright sunshine, which I did. Yet, this did not deter us from visiting yet another gallery which contained the works of newer artists on a revolving basis. Frankly, the name of the gallery escapes me, but not the extremely contemporary design of the building with polished chrome floors, multi-angled walls, and a massive living wall which included over 2500 species of plants growing on an exterior wall, with no soil as base. This was indeed very memorable.
Today, the 4 of us had a great day as we took the on and off again bus tour around the city. The architecture, parks, monuments, fountains, public areas, major thoroughfares, small neighborhoods, etc etc were all so picturesque, we happily snapped away, barely listening to the ongoing commentary. So, basically, I´ve got a ton of pictures of things I can´t identify by name, or function, but that are so graphically striking, that they almost require none anyways. The intricate design, iron work, frescos, figures decorating the buildings, balconies, roof ornamentation, and woodwork define a classically Spanish design which is both impressive and unique. We just loved the ambiance and interaction of old and new. Throughout these past 2 days, we also stopped at cafes and restaurants to try tapas, the big national food type here, as well as a number of other Spanish meals, and the not to be missed Spanish wine and cerveca (beer). It was a day of discoveries of all types, and a fun day to boot, as we laughed alot.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, more of the same, as we try a different part of the city and tour bus route, as part of our 2- day pass. We will be visiting the National Palace with its 2200 rooms (we won´t visit all of them!), a highlight of any visit here, according to the guidebooks. Hopefully, the beautifully balmy weather will continue. Our feet aren´t as sore as they were in Barcelona, and that too is helping make these days in Madrid infinitely more pleasant. Bonnie and I are having a great time and have gotten ´lost´ a few times, and some of these were intentional, but most weren´t. Nonetheless, when you travel like this, every day and around every corner, there is a surprise. You simply don´t know what to expect. It can be some homeless guy pooing on the street (yes, we saw that!), a statue of outstanding detail and beauty, street performers posing as inticately decorated statues, unusual food products on display in some little alimentation (convenience store), narrow passageways of mystery, or ????. It´s never boring, and always noteworthy. The nightlife here is extensive, and things are popping here, especially after 11 every night. We fall into bed every night, drained. But that´s what traveling is all about for the Liliens.
As for the next few days, On Wednesday, we hop another bullet train down to Seville, considered to be Spain´s most beautiful city, and the day after that, we journey to Granada mainly to visit a national institution, the Alhambra. Then on Thursday night , it´s back to Madrid for our Friday flight to Cairo, where the next major phase of our trip begins.
Once again, thanks for visiting this blog. I hope that I´m not doing too much rambling. I still haven´t got the photo thing down with little time to figure it out, so for now, it will have to remain text only. Astalavista, baby.
Davida and Bonita
Majestic Madrid
Monday, May 04, 2009
Madrid, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands
Other Entries
-
1Our Time in Miami
Apr 1420 days priorMiami, United Statesphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
2Soggy Miami
Apr 1519 days priorMiami, United Statesphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 4 -
3NEVER ALONA IN BARCELONA
May 022 days priorBarcelona, Spain and Canary Islandsphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
4Majestic Madrid
May 04Madrid, Spain and Canary Islandsphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 4 -
5Spain, We Love You
May 084 days laterSeville, Spain and Canary Islandsphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
6Granada, What a Day We Had There
May 095 days laterGranada, Spain and Canary Islandsphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
7Cairo--Beyond Description
May 117 days laterCairo, Egyptphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
8Can't Say Goodbye to Cairo
May 1410 days laterCairo, Egyptphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
9Along the Nile
May 1915 days laterLuxor, Egyptphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
10Well-Rested and Pampered on the Red Sea
May 3026 days laterSharm El-Sheikh, Egyptphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
11Our Jordanian Interlude
Jun 0229 days laterAqaba, Jordanphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
12The Sun, the Sands, the Safari, and the Stars
Jun 0532 days laterPetra, Jordanphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
13The Miracle that is Israel
Jun 1239 days laterTel Aviv, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
14Oh Jerusalem
Jun 1946 days later`En Gedi, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
15Israel is a Small Village
Jun 2148 days laterAshkelon, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
16Tunnels and Caves and Wheels, Oh My!
Jun 2552 days laterTiberias, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
17The Silent Partner Speaks
Jun 2552 days laterTiberias, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
18Shalom, Haverim (frıends)
Jul 0158 days laterTel Aviv, Israelphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 2 -
19A Slice of Turkey
Jul 0764 days laterIstanbul, Turkeyphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
20Home
Jul 1572 days laterToronto, Canadaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1
Comments

2025-02-12
Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank
melissagquest
2009-05-05
Wish I could SEE you!
Hi, kids,
Too bad about the photo uploading, because I SO wish I could see you two and these amazing places you're writing about. But I'll forgive you so long as I get to see the photos SOME day! I can't wait to hear more, especially about the Alhambra.
Love,
Mici
melissagquest
2009-05-05
Wish I could SEE you!
Hi, Kids,
I so wish I could SEE you two and the amazing places you're visiting. It sounds so amazing! But I'll forgive you so long as I get to see the photos SOME day! I can't wait to hear more, especially about the Alhambra.
Love,
Mici
liliens
2009-05-06
Re: Wish I could SEE you!
Hi Mici,
We´ll be going there tomorrow. Stay tuned for a report.....
cissie.retired
2009-05-07
Love your travelogue
I'm so glad you are having a great time! Vicariously, I'm enjoying the trip as well. Hope your weather is great for the rest of the trip.
My grandson is a month old already tomorrow...very cute and a good baby. We'll keep him.