The hotel has no
breakfast included and the Continental Breakfast was really expensive, not that
bothers us really, but the restaurant/bar where we had dinner last night
assured us they would feed us the next day so we went there. It is just across
the road so very easy for us. We had nothing in particular planned and just
took off crossing multiple streets teeming with traffic, towards the Paseo Del
Prado. Now doesn’t that just set your imagination running? We passed the Museo
de La Reina Sofia and as Picasso’s Guernica is displayed there, the obvious
thing to do was…..go in! I love being an elderly jubilado in Spain, that means
an old retired person, because they let you in to lots of places, for free!
Anyway we wandered around a bit, got lost,(the place is huge) got found again
and decided to just head up to THE PAINTING! The ante room showed a lot of the
pieces Picasso had done in preparation for the epic work and it really built
the excitement. Seeing this massive painting was strangely emotional for me. It
is so powerful. There is very little color to it, it is monochromatic and
intense. A true masterpiece. Goosebumps and shivers when you remember the
brutality that inspired this.
Paul remembered that
I wanted to walk in Parque de Buen Retiro as I used to visit it when we live in
Torrejon. I would bravely take a bus to the train station and then a train in
to Atocha. I spoke very little Spanish then so I thought I was most
adventurous! So we once again brave the crowds of tourists and crazy traffic to
reach the park. Now remember, Paul does not enjoy walking like I do so he
parked himself on a park bench and sent me on my way. The park is huge and I
walked for about half an hour and decided to return before I got lost (we have
spoken before about my poor sense of direction without a map!). These poor
Florida legs have been toiling up hills like you would not believe! So there he
is at the same bench, chatting away to a newfound friend, a super nice guy from
Amsterdam who is travelling through Spain by himself. He has been everywhere
and has a great sense of adventure. He went off to find the Palacio de Crystal.
Paul thought we were going back to eat but I was determined to find the lake
and aforementioned Palacio de Crystal. He set off back towards the hotel and I
gamely set off towards another hill. I still have no map so it is in the lap of
the gods!
I did it but not
without a bit of backtracking and a lot miles! It was worth it though, it is a
beautiful park and well used by the people of Madrid. There were
schoolchildren, boys on skateboards, runners, Moms with their kids at the
playgrounds, yoga groups, sunbathers, people working out at the exercise areas
and above all it was quiet, with no traffic sounds just happy voices and
birdsong.I paused once to buy a bottle of water and to help and English girl
for a moment and then pressed on.
I found Paul back at
our breakfast place bar after that 5 mile walk and off we went to find lunch.
Lunch was quite
awesome, in a self proclaimed Latina restaurant. I say that because I don’t
understand that term as most of those who claim to be “latinos or Latinas” are
actually Hispanic. No matter, the restaurant was South American, Ecuadoran, and
quite excellent. I can see Paul’s brain working overtime trying to figure out
the spices and flavors so he can try them at home!
We met up with the
Tios and Juan Mi and Maite at 8 for dinner and to catch up on family news.
Pablo and Alberto could not come as they had big exams the next day and being
studious boys stayed home to study. We were a little disappointed but as we
will be back in October for the wedding and the whole world will be there, we
can wait.
Tia Ana looks
wonderful as does Tio Miguel. So happy to see them. Juan Mi and Maite were in
Nicaragua earlier this year on a medical type mission. It was a first for Maite
and I think it shocked her greatly to see the poverty and living conditions of
the people but she dug in with the rest of them and got to work. They are a
doctor and a nurse after all and the team they worked with did some wonderful
work. Juan Mi in particular feels it is important to, in particular, train
those who do not have the skills he has. He is an incredibly talented pediatric
heart surgeon and lives to teach other doctors and to save the lives of
terribly ill babies. Maite has always been very involved on the pediatric side
of things but in other doctors’ practices and not working with Juan Mi.
Maite is the
organizer and apparently they are going to meet us at Atocha on our return to
Madrid and whisk us away, to eat of course, and will deliver us to our Hotel
later!
The Tios walked us
back to our hotel! The live just down the road from this hotel which was our
reason for choosing it, but seriously, there is something wrong with that
picture! Shouldn’t we have been the ones doing the escorting?
Another day ends, beautifully,
and tomorrow we head out to Alicante and a visit with Gill.
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