For our 2025 European campaign we thought we'd start with Madrid, a capital we have visited on a few previous occasions (2010, 2013, 2017; search box to the right...) and which we have come to like...more for its ambience than any specific sights...except the Prado, which we hadn't visited in a few years. A pleasant place to suffer through the six or so days of jet lag--it gets worse as you age--no big destination imperatives for us but lots of enjoyable experiences to help you power through. Plus, months ago, Vicki had found some incredible frequent flyer tickets on American, which added to the attraction. So, on March 31st, American flew us to Madrid and the apartment she had found there in the Chamartin neighborhood, within walking distance of everything we wanted to see. Below and in the next post are assorted miscellaneous pix from our week in Madrid. The subsequent few posts will address gardens, architecture, art and archaeological museums, and other things. Our visit was curtailed in some ways by the jet lag and two days of rain, but we were pleased with it nonetheless.
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A good portent...the new Capital One lounge at DCA seemed
to be organized around tapas and rationes lines... |
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| On approach |
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| Living room, balcony of our one bedroom apartment in Chamartin |
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| Lobby shrine |
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| Our building, 2 Vitriato...we were on the 5th floor |
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| First stop, first day, churros and chocolate at Cafe Valor |
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| Puerta del Sol |
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| Important landmark |
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| Second stop |
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The Museo is a museo just to the extent of this helpful sign concerning
Spain's color-coded pigs |
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Many years ago, in Barcelona, we learned to go for the 100% Bellotta;
and did this time too |
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Assorted architecture; Madrid is less interesting than
Barcelona in this regard; but then nearly every city is... |
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| No lack of monuments and monumental buildings, nonetheless |
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One of the imperative stops...the El Corte Ingles department store,
in the food hall pig department (Barcelona's is bigger, better, more
scenically located) |
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| More monumental buildings |
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| In the huge Sunday El Rastro market |
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