Madrid - day 3

Another relaxed day in the 100 degree heat. 

I spent several hours visiting the royal palace and the associated galleries that house art and furnishings that used to be in the palace. (Is it still hoarding if you keep everything, but display it in an art gallery?)

I didn't take many pictures, but here is the throne room:

See more here: www.patrimonionacional.es

This evening, I was surprised by larger than usual crowds by my hotel (and lots of police.) I later discovered that there was a public concert by a popular avant-garde Flemenco artist in the plaza at the end of my block!

I start my journey home tomorrow at about 1pm Madid time, and hopefully will be home about 18 hours later (around midnight Madison time.)

 

Madrid - day 2

Slow morning, then to the Museo Reina Sophie, which has an extensive collection of modern Spanish art, including Picasso and Dali, and most notable, Picasso's Guernica. In addition to the actual painting, they have a very interesting collection of preliminary sketches and work-in-progess pictures of the Guernica.

Later in the afternoon, I had a lunch of churros and chocolate, enjoyed a siesta, went shopping for a bag to protect my backpack for the trip home, and then went out for a roving dinner of tapas and other Spanish delights.

Madrid - day 1

Today's adventure started last night...

My plan was to have a nice dinner, then take a shower, handwash my clothes, and go to bed. 

Dinner was great. Fresh caught sea bass, roasted potatoes, and a stewed vegetable relish.

Back in my room, I started running the shower, and before the water got hot, it turned dark brown. Uh oh. I notified the management, and they got back to me quickly with a message just posted by the village. Short version: water for the entire village is contaminated by a break in a main line, which they haven't found yet.

So, no shower, no laundry, no drinking water (and I had only had wine with dinner...), and no idea when it would be resolved. Also, I was depending on a restaurant breakfast this morning.

Much longer story short, overnight I figured out where to get the village updates (Facebook!), found out where they were distributing bottled water, and picked up what I needed this morning. I also found a restaurant that would serve me toast with cheese and steamed milk with instant coffee, so I got enough to start the day.

I even had enough time to climb back up the hill for some pictures before catching the bus to Santiago.

I had lunch in the bus station in Santiago before boarding a high-speed (180+ mph!) train to Madrid. Then a short ride on an underground commuter train, and I popped up in the middle of the crowded, 100°F center of Madrid. It took about 6 hours to cover a distance that took me about 45 days. Magic!

The rest of the day was a shower (finally!), a barbershop, dinner, laundry, and a slow wandering of the crowded streets, reconnecting with "city energy."

Tomorrow: Picasso's Guernica and other artistic treasures.