Madrid, Spain!!! I Can’t Believe THIS!!!

Madrid!!!  I’m in Madrid, Spain!!!

I’m speechless!  Studied geography and history when I was in school (some I remembered, some I don’t) and I never really thought of coming here.  But here I am!!!

I’m wondering before anything, is it different form Portugal.  Yes, first thing, thank you in Spanish is ‘gracias’ instead of ‘abrigado’ in Portuguese.  I’ll find this something that I’ll need to overcome.

It’s a brief stay.  Followed by Valencia and Barcelona before heading to France.

Here’s the neat thing about traveling in the ‘Schengen Countries’ in Europe….leaving Portugal I didn’t have to go through the ‘customs’ routine.  Of course, I’m not getting my passport stamp for Spain.  I’ll just have to deal with it.

I arrived here on a flight from Faro, Portugal which was like flying to the flight peak and coming right down. For about $30 U.S.!!!!  For real!!!  The plane landing gears were real noising going up and even LOUDER going down. But as you can see, I’m writing here so I arrived safely.



Deedee found an ‘IDEAL’ place to stay…..walking distance to everything!  At least that I wanted to see and do and really….I was so taken with the festive atmosphere in Madrid that the big sights didn’t mean that much to me.

This is the most…..by far the most crowded place I’ve been in my life!!! These pictures, while busy don’t show truely the crowdedness….I tend to stay away from crowds.  At several times walking I didn’t have enough room to lift my camera to take a picture!!

I walk out the tiny hotel room onto a cobble stone walk and I’m just feet away from coffee and European pastry that delights my anxious taste buds.  I do give in….I do.

Madrid!!! I’m in Madrid!!

There’s more than I can possibly see in 4 days….  But I’m not gonna focus on what I can’t see.  I am, however going to focus on what I can experience!

I don’t want my time filled or should I say, ‘wasted’ chasing around to see all the famous tourist sites.  I really want the experience.  Yeah, I’ll see a bit, but it’s what I want to see.  I love the architecture, it’s beautiful. There were streets I could just spend the day looking at the workmanship of the craftsman, sense their pride and enjoy it’s uniqueness.

I don’t need to be standing in lines for an hour or so…I could be talking with a few locals over a plate of paella with a cold beer (yes, the beer is cold here) or a pastry chatting with a Texan.

Now, I know a little Spanish, can make my sentences and then clarify with my broken English.  But, that’s not necessary.  In ‘this’ world English is a must to have a job in the hospitality and food service industry.  So, it gets to be fun and these kind folks are more than willing to help me.

Yeah, there’s a few that’s been impatient, but they were in Portugal….I’m in Madrid!!!

Madrid….beauty, splendor and ‘cold’

One of the places that will be a must and a really BIG surpise will the Royal Palace of Madrid.  That’ll be a bit later though.  But, I’ve found it and spied it out  and it’s walking distance (actually shorter than the route I’d be taking from my hotel.

And directly across from it is this beautiful cathedral!  The place is HUGE!!  While I’m not a religious person, I’m attracted to these holy houses!  The creativity that is walled there is just phenomenal!!  And the tradition (which is another think that I’m not much on) is still alive here in the 21st Century.

Here’s a few looks…



Street views are my views.  Up close and personal.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

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