Day 82, 83, 84, Spain, Madrid

Left the beautiful Zaragoza for the 4 hour drive to Madrid. Again the landscape was barren...like a red clay desert. At times the fog was so thick you could barely see the car in front. Yes...we did the airport option again with the car. Getting pros at this. Finally found long term parking and caught a shuttle to airport...then the Aerocity bus right to our apartment (for a fee). Again our luck holds and we are in a large apartment with the magnificent royal palace our view out the 4th floor window. We are 5 minutes walk to Gran Via, the main street and 10 minute walk to Puerto del Sol, a famous square. We decided to go for a small walk...4 ½ hours later (and very sore feet) we headed home to cook. We walked the length of Gran Via, passed plaza de Cibeles and up to what look like another Arc de Triomphe, but was called Puerta de Alcala. Our lovely Spanish concierge had recommended an area where good Tappas is served (we are pros now) and we walked there. OMG, OMG BIG MISTAKE! About 1 million people were out (8.30 on Saturday night). We got to a major intersection and it was literally blocked in every direction with people and kids. We moved with the crowds as we had little choice. Back at Puerta de Sol the large Christmas tree was lit and there were Disney characters etc all dressed up. We thought we had stumbled into a festival. Asked at the Tourist info and she explained that this was typical for Christmas. You could not move. We found the market we had been told about. It was an upscale eatery, like a massive Tappas building. We sampled fresh oysters (outstanding at E5.00). We then purchased a selection of fish, squid and the largest anchovies (yum, yum) on little pieces of cooked bread (toast). Gave up after that as it was too packed and it was hard to point over people. Walked past the palace all lit up and through the palace gardens back to apartment. Went back the same way in the morning to see the sights and piazzas in daylight, hopefully with less people. Only got one of those options...daylight. Walked past the palace again and it really is possibly the grandest??? It gets hard to remember. The surrounding gardens, statues, courtyards are beautiful. Just up from the palace is the Cathedral de la Almudena. Our concierge said it was the most beautiful building in Madrid...which is a big call because Madrid is full of magnificent architecture. As you walk down the main street, Gran Via, and look up at the tops of the old buildings you see fantastic statues, sculptures, spires etc. Trialled the Metro...very easy to use and trained out to what we thought was a huge monument. Should have realised by the name... Plaza de Toros de las Ventas that it was...a bull fighting stadium that houses 25,000 people. Walked back and passed the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (the home of Real Madrid). Went to buy a ticket to go in and have a look...decided to pass as they wanted $50.00 to look at the pitch, coaches box, players rooms and trophy cabinet...not that much of a fan (though intend to watch them play Zaragoza tonight on TV...disappointed we left Zaragoza otherwise we would have got tickets to the game). 5 hours of walking today and I decided to head back to apartment...armed with a map I braved the metro on my own, whilst Big Rick continued his walk. Got home easily and my feet were very thankful. After a night’s sleep we toured the beautiful Royal Palace...great art work and furniture. Love to know who the interior designers were because who would have thought stripes, dots, patterns in velvets and silks in reds, oranges, greens and creams would have blended so well? If I had lived in one of these palaces I am sure I would have a permanently strained neck. The ceilings are not...ceiling white...but fantastic ornate works of art. Frescoes or coloured, gilded patterns...spectacular! Walked up to the Temple of Debod. This very small temple was a gift from Egypt because France had help save significant works in Egypt. The gardens here were nice and there is a good look out over parts of Madrid. We were going to take the cable car...but closed this week.