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I took the train back up to Madrid on Wednesday afternoon, March 27, 2024. It had been rainy and there was rainbow in the sky when I left the main train station in Madrid (Madrid Atocha). On Thursday I walked around a number of different neighborhoods of the city, mostly west and southwest of the center. On Friday I went to the Naval Museum since it was raining and I wanted to see something other than an art museum. In the evenings, I tried to go to a few different sort of restaurants (paella, tapas, which is a pretty broad term, something that has vegetables and less ham, etc.).



001-DSC_8513-header: Walking Around Central Madrid 001-DSC_8513-headertext:

The first set doesn't really have a strong theme. It starts at my hotel (a block away from the Puerta Del Sol, "Gate of the Sun", the literal center point of Madrid), includes the statue of King Carlos III of Spain (a.k.a., Charles I, Charles VII and Charles III; like Zaphod Beeblebrox, perhaps there was "an accident with a contraceptive and a time machine"). Then I wandered over to the Plaza Mayor, and a few other plazas. 001-DSC_8513: My hotel room was very narrow—the side walls are outof the frame. It also is one of the tallest hotel rooms I've ever stayed in. The closet next to the door has a lower section and an upper section. THe lower is as tall as the door. The upper, which is open, starts above the door. I could barely reach the handle on the bottom. I thought it was just for show. 002-DSC_8514: Esatua ecuestre de Carlos III (equestrian statue of King Carlos 3rd). 003-DSC_8515: The Royal Museum of Ham. Actually, it's just a nearby restaurant/hamitarium. I didn't try it, as I had already been having jamon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week and was approaching LD50 levels (though it was good). 004-Madrid_church_Panorama1: Hey, it's a church in Spain. Rare to see them, but only because they're blocked out by all the other buildings and churches... 005-DSC_8518: A sign commemerating the militia that defeated the attempted coup of the liberal governement by the royal guards and loyalists to re-install the king back in power in July 1822 (the July 1822 Spanish coup d'état). The liberal government lasted 3 years (1820-1823) and was defeated when the French army, with support of other European monarchs, reinstalled the King. (Before the French Army kind of 006-Mayor_plaza_Panorama1: A kind of warped view of 3 sides of the Plaza Mayor. 007-Mayor_plaza_Panorama2: A very warped view of the 3 sides of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. 008-DSC_8532: "Hey, it's-a me! It's-a Mario!" And King Kong in the background. Most of the plazas and big areas had costumed people doing things like that for money. 009-plaza_mayor_Panorama3: I liked the fresco artwork on this building, the Casa de la Panadería. 010-DSC_8537: The Plaza de la Villa (town square) is one of the oldest squares in Madrid. 011-DSC_8538: The Casa de la Villa was the home of the Madrid City Hall from 1693 to 2007 and is now used by the Municipal Council. 012-DSC_8540: A statue of Álvaro de Bazán y Guzmán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz (December 12, 1526 – February 9, 1588), a Spanish admiral. 013-DSC_8541: Casa de la Villa in Madrid. 014-DSC_8543: Another view of the Casa de la Villa, which used to be the Madrid City Hall. 015-DSC_8544: Ornamentation above the door for the former Madrid City Hall. 016-cathedral_Panorama1: Cathedral Church of the Armed Forces Iglesia Catedral de las Fuerzas Armadas) 017-DSC_8551: Monument to the victims of the assassination attempt on King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1906 (the Morral Affair). 018-DSC_8552: Side view of the monument to the victims of the 1906 assassination attempt. 019-DSC_8553: Specular reflection in front of the Cathedral Church of the Armed Forces. 020-Catedral_De_La_Almudena_Panorama4-header: Cathedral, Royal Palace, and Vicinity 020-Catedral_De_La_Almudena_Panorama4-headertext:

The area around the royal place starts (from the south) with the Catedral de Santa Maria la Real del la Almundena. Immediately north of it is the Plaza de la Armería that extends from the north face of the cathedral to the courtyard of the castle (there is a wrought iron fence that separates the two. The plaza had the same sort of people that were in all of the plazas, wearing costumes or suits and doing things for money (like letting you take a picture wtih them or sit on and inflatable couch like the one from The Simpsons. To the west, facing western Madrid is the Mirador de la Cornisa del Palacio Real (the lookout from the Royal Palace's Cornice). I took some pictures of that part of the city. I didn't go into the palace or cathedral, I just walked around the town. The next day was forecast to be much more rainy, so I wanted to walk around and get a sense of the city. 020-Catedral_De_La_Almudena_Panorama4: The Catedral de Santa Maria la Real del la Almundena in Madrid. 021-palacio_real_Panorama1: The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) in Madrid. 022-palacio_real_Panorama2: The north facing side of the Cathedral and the Plaza de la Armería between the cathedral and the palace. 023-DSC_8578: The Plaza de la Armería between the cathedral and royal palace in Madrid. The south gate of the royal palace. 024-Palacio_Real_Madrid_Panorama1: A panoramic photo of the southern gate of the royal palace in Madrid. 025-DSC_8582: El gorila real. I'm not sure if it's a catholic thing, a Spanish thing, a king thing, or maybe it was National Gorilla Suit day (with respect to Don Martin), but there was a dude in an 8' tall odd gorilla suit. I think it was balanced in a way to make it easy for him to bound around. Also, I saw other people in other plazas wearing similar gorilla suits for money. 026-DSC_8583: 027-DSC_8584: One of the bell towers on the Almundena Cathedral. 028-DSC_8585: The central image looks like Christ is flashing a "C" hand-sign, to clue people in (maybe he was in disguise). Also, the ceiling looks like it's a series of Jewish stars. Such multiculturalism... 029-Catedral_De_La_Almudena_Panorama1: Looking up at the bell towers of the Almundena Cathedral. The Almudena Cathedral is pretty new. Construction began in 1883 and finished in 1993. The cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, which was a statue of Mary that was worshiped for centuries with lots of lore surrounding it. It likely was a site of a medieval mosque that was destroyed in 1083 when Alfonso VI reconquered Madrid. (Fun fact: Al-Mudayna is Arabic for "the citadel".) 030-DSC_8590: People at the edge of the lookout looking to the west. 031-DSC_8592: One of the views from the lookout. 032-DSC_8594: Looking west at Madrid from lookout at the Royal Palace. 033-DSC_8591: More views of Madrid from lookout at the Royal Palace. 034-DSC_8595: Still more Madrid skyline from lookout at the Royal Palace. 035-DSC_8593: ♪Meet Senior Jetson♪…the Faro de Moncloa is a half-circle, 92 meters/300 feet high tower with a south-facing view of Madrid. It looks like the '60s vision of the '90s. 036-DSC_8596: A radio tower on the horizon that's rocking a '50s flying sauce look. 037-DSC_8603: Telephoto shot of the top of one of the cathedral's bell towers in Madrid. 038-Madrid_Panorama1: A panoramic view looking at northern Madrid from the Royal Palace. 039-DSC_8604: Note the fan vent in the butt of the pink character. He's either hot or gassy. 040-DSC_8605-header: Plaza de Oriente and Jardines de Sabatini 040-DSC_8605-headertext:

The Plaza de Oriente is a public square that is east of the Royal Place, west of the Teatro Real (Royal Theater) and south of the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation. It was designed in 1844 and has statues of 44 Spanish kings from the medieval period. In the center is a momument to Philip IV, who was King of Spain from 1621-1665, and King of Portugal from 1621-1640 (double dipping). From the plaza, looking just a little north of the royal palace, the distinctive dome of the Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San José stands out on the horizon.

The Sabatini Gardens (Jardines de Sabatini) are located to the north of the palace and are considered part of it. They are named after the architect who designed the royal stables that were located where where the gardens now are. Construction on the gardens started in 1933 and were completed in the 1970s and opened to the public after Franco's death. The statues of Spanish kings were originally intended to be in the palace but moved to the gardens because there was not enough space for them in the palace. The park is open daily to the public, and closed at night which has spared it from vandalism. 040-DSC_8605: The Plaza de Oriente between the Royal Theater and Royal Palace in Madrid. 041-DSC_8606: The Royal Theater (Teatro Real) of Madrid and Monument to Philip IV. 042-DSC_8610: The striking dome on the Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San José in Madrid, take near Calle Bailén by the Plaza de Orientei and Jardines de Sabatini. I waited a few minutes for a break in the clouds and a sunbeam to illuminate the dome. It was glowing against the dark gray sky for 10 or 20 seconds. 043-DSC_8612: The dome of the Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San José looking towards the Jardines de Sabatini from the Plaza de Oriente. 044-DSC_8613: Now where was I? (At the northern edge of the royal palace, by the stairs down to the Sabatini Gardens.) 045-DSC_8614: The entrance to the stairs down to the Jardines de Sabatini. 046-DSC_8615: The royal palce from the Jardines de Sabatini. 047-DSC_8617: Statue of an unruly horse. (Maybe a king riding it?) 048-DSC_8618: Statue of a horse that's doesn't like the rider's plan, in Madrid. 049-DSC_8619: The pool at the Sabatini Gardens in Madrid. 050-DSC_8620: The pool at the Sabatini Gardens in Madrid. 051-DSC_8621-header: Plaza de España 051-DSC_8621-headertext:

The Plaza de España is a large square north the royal palace in Madrid. The main features is the monument to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and the Edificio España, which is relatively tall hotel.

The monument commemorates the 300th anniversary of the publication of Don Quixote. It is a large granite base with a sculpture of the author made of 'red stone' with Don Quixhote and Sancho Panza in bronze in front of the monument.

But wait, there's more! On the left of Cervantes in brown are characters from the story Rinconete y Cortadillo and on the right are characters from La Gitanilla (The Gypsy), two other stories he wrote. On the far left in the picture below, on its own pilar is the object of Don Quixote's affection, Dulcinea del Toboso. And to the right is Aldonzo Lorenzo, representing Sancho Panza's vision of her. And at the top of the monument is the globe with 5 women below it all reading a book, Cervantes' Don Quixote, each representing another continent (north, south, and central Americas are combined). I will also note that one of them (I don't know which) is topless (the only way to truly appreciate the book). 051-DSC_8621: Where am I now? Why, I'm at the entrance to the Plaza de España! 052-Monumento_a_Cervantes_Panorama2: The Monumento a Miguel de Cervantes in the Plaza de España in Madrid. 053-DSC_8622: A closer view of Quixote and Panza. 054-Monumento_a_Cervantes_Panorama1: Bronze statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. 055-Cervantes_Fountain_Panorama1: The fountain at the backside of the Cervantes Monument. 056-DSC_8630: The top of the 25 story Hotel Riu Plaza España (Edificio España) with people on the observatino deck. It's the 8th tallest building in Madrid and was built in 1953. 057-DSC_8632: A scuplture! There were at least 4 of them on the plaza. 058-DSC_8635: Bubbles!!! 059-DSC_8638: Kids blowing bubbles in the Plaza de España. 060-DSC_8637: The semi-nude sculptures reading Don Quixote. Note the bubble floating by! 061-DSC_8640-header: Mercado, outside the Plaza Mayor, Puerta Cerrada and More 061-DSC_8640-headertext:

The Puerta Cerrada was one of the entry points in the wall surrounding Madrid. The name Puerta Cerrada came from various incidents of thefts and assaults near the door that led to the decision to close it during the night. Based on archeological data, the actual location of the door should be further west than where the cross is. 061-DSC_8640: A sign for nearby places and plazas. 062-DSC_8642: Looknig west from the Segovia Bridge—glass barriers are visible on the bottom. 063-Madrid_market_Panorama1: The Mercado de la Cebada, a cool looking market that I walked by but not in. 065-DSC_8646: The Calle de Toledo just a couple blocks south of the Plaza Mayor. 066-DSC_8647: Cool stuff in a store window near the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. 067-DSC_8648: All your sword needs in a store window near the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. 068-DSC_8650: "That's a knife!" (in a store window near the Plaza Mayor in Madrid.) 069-DSC_8651: The cross marks the notional location of the Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door). Note one building inthe background has been demolished. 070-DSC_8653: The subway entrance by the Puerto del Sol with a Ghostbusters twist. 071-DSC_8655: A Frank silhouette reflected in the hotel door near Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Bottom: