Madrid

We made it to Madrid and took a taxi to our the Leonardo Hotel in Center City. Although we arrived mid morning, our room was ready so we were able to settle in before heading to the main street.

Our first agenda, as usual, was to get on the Red Hop on Hop off Bus. It gives a good overview of everything and also gives us time to relax and regroup. Then realizing how tired we were we went back to our hotel for a nap. This is usual practice for this part of the world so many things are closed anyway for the afternoon. Then we showered and changed clothes and headed back to the main street to explore.

There are several plaza's to explore;  Mercadi de San Miguel Market (reminds me of Reading Market in Philadelphia), Puerta del Sol and ended up in Plaza Mayor for a Paella (rice dish with seafood) while watching a concert in the main square.

Along our stroll we were amazed at the immensity of the Royal Palace and we walked through the Prado Museum viewing painting by Goya and other artist. Each painting told a story way too detailed to comprehend it all. We did talk to an Art History Major who explained one on the most famous painting to us.

May 15 the locals celebrate the city' patron saint, San Isidro in a multi-day celebration. Many local dress in traditional costume during the festivities, men in grey flat caps and waitcoats and women in intricately embroidered dresses.

As always, we are enjoying a great breakfast at the hotel with croissants, fruit, and yogurt, etc. We ended our stay back in the Plaza Mayor with a pizza.

 

  

The next day we wandered through Prado

And walked through the Reina Sofia museum

Today we venture on to the Metro, down to the Prado Gardens and try to figure out how to catch the train tomorrow as we head to Barcelona.