![[Title Bar]](/images/header.gif)
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.).
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.jpg
My hotel room was very narrow—the side walls are outof the frame. It also is...(more)
003-DSC_8515.jpg
The Royal Museum of Ham. Actually, it's just a nearby restaurant/hamitarium. ...(more)
004-Madrid_church_Pa...
Hey, it's a church in Spain. Rare to see them, but only because they're...(more)
011-DSC_8538.jpg
The Casa de la Villa was the home of the Madrid City Hall from 1693 to 2007 and...(more)
012-DSC_8540.jpg
A statue of Álvaro de Bazán y Guzmán, 1st Marquis of Santa Cruz (December 12,...(more)
017-DSC_8551.jpg
Monument to the victims of the assassination attempt on King Alfonso XIII of...(more)
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.
022-palacio_real_Pan...
The north facing side of the Cathedral and the Plaza de la Armería between the...(more)
023-DSC_8578.jpg
The Plaza de la Armería between the cathedral and royal palace in Madrid. The...(more)
028-DSC_8585.jpg
The central image looks like Christ is flashing a "C" hand-sign, to clue people...(more)
029-Catedral_De_La_A...
Looking up at the bell towers of the Almundena Cathedral. The Almudena...(more)
035-DSC_8593.jpg
♪Meet Senior Jetson♪…the Faro de Moncloa is a half-circle, 92 meters/300 feet...(more)
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.
042-DSC_8610.jpg
The striking dome on the Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San José in Madrid,...(more)
043-DSC_8612.jpg
The dome of the Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San José looking towards the...(more)
044-DSC_8613.jpg
Now where was I? (At the northern edge of the royal palace, by the stairs down...(more)
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).
056-DSC_8630.jpg
The top of the 25 story Hotel Riu Plaza España (Edificio España) with people on...(more)
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.
069-DSC_8651.jpg
The cross marks the notional location of the Puerta Cerrada (Closed Door). ...(more)
