A Rainy Day in Madrid

 Nuestros viajes han comenzado!

This trip has been four years in the making. We were all set to do España in May of 2020, but something global and ugly thwarted our travel plans. So, here we are...FINALLY. We will begin our travelogue in the capital city of Madrid, and work our way east across this lovely country until we hit Barcelona.

Our flights weren't terrible, but a food services strike at Toronto Pearson made for some quick and anxious scrambling for take-out. TAP Airlines bequeathed each of us with vouchers worth $40.00CDN to fill the hunger gap on the plane, but when a salad at Pearson costs $15.00 each, those vouchers don't go very far. The strike in Toronto is not the fault of the airlines, but it is my assertion that better accommodations need to be made for passengers. We were flying in business class for a seven-hour flight, and that dollar amount didn't cover our dinner. As an added bonus, there was a ridiculous amount of garbage on the flight due to every passenger's take-out orders. The flight attendants didn't collect the trash at all during the flight, which diminished the already precious legroom. In our long history of flight mishaps, it was relatively minor, but people pay a great deal of money to fly these days. I know it is asking a lot of airlines to do better, but here we are.

We arrived in Madrid tired, happy, ridiculously cold, and determined to not screw up our systems with jet- lag. After checking into the hotel in the city centre, we ambled down to Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. These bustling areas are filled with shops, people, taquerías, and tapas restaurants. It seemed like every single person in Madrid was enjoying an afternoon cerveza on a patio. The city has recently turned this space into an entirely pedestrian-friendly zone, and the activity was astounding. Don't let anybody tell you that pedestrian areas don't attract business. We knew that we didn't have much energy left in us, so we opted for a quick bite at a local tapas joint before heading home for a luxurious and well-need sleep. The Padron of the establishment wanted to know where we were from. When we told him, he asked if we had anything Canadian that we could give him. The Husband was wearing a small flag pin he was happy to part with. When the gentleman returned to our table with the food, he was proudly wearing a Canadian flag on his chest. We barely made it back to the hotel before sleep set in.

Our plan for today included a visit to Felipe and Letizia's place. A small modest abode sitting in the heart of Madrid, the Royal Palace and adjacent buildings are open to the public. The king is a gracious host and was happy to share his official residence with the thousands of tourists who joined us there this morning. I have been to many palaces around the world and the opulence never ceases to amaze me. The chandeliers alone could probably feed a small country. And the frescoes?? The human hours put into the decoration, architecture, and maintenance needed to keep this place up, boggles the mind.

Anyway, even though Fil and Letty didn't show themselves for lunch, (How rude!) they wanted to make sure to say hello to all of my readers back home. Aren't they a handsome pair?

We wandered over to the Muslim walls after our trip through European decadence. The first record of a settlement here dates back to the second half of the ninth century. Emir Muhammed I built a fortress here at the head of the river Manzanares. The name of the city is thought to have come from the Arabic word majra, meaning water spring or aqueduct. The outer walls of the Muslim fortress are still visible and a beautiful little park has been built to celebrate the city's Near-Eastern history. The park has been purposely designed with all sorts of fragrant plants from the Muslim home countries. Lavender circles cypress and pomegranate trees. Rosemary and rose scents mix luxuriously with myrtle bushes and olive trees. It is a beautiful little area that surrounds a fountain fed by an underground aquifer. The Muslim walls stand proudly but are intentionally overshadowed by the Cathedral de la Almundena. It is a real demonstration of Catholic dominance.

A few quick thoughts:

• The weather today leaves a lot to be desired. It is cold and rainy. It is one thing to be cold and another to be wet, but both at the same time isn't pleasant. Hopefully, we will see some bluer skies soon.
• We ducked into another tapas place for a bite and to escape the rain. El Padron told us, "everything is good and if you don't like it, don't pay." He had spent some time in Ottawa many years ago and was anxious to be a gracious host. He even gifted us dessert.
• I need to write a withering note to Coca-Cola. They seem to have done away with Diet Coke/Coke Light in Europe and replaced it with the far less appetizing Coke Zero. Oh what we North Americans have to put up with while in a foreign land. 
• My Spanish is coming in handy. I'm able to decipher monuments and make sure that The Husband isn't eating any mushrooms in his food. So far, so good.
• Photo credits to The Husband with the exception of the royal portrait. That's mine.

We are headed to Toledo tomorrow and will see some Jew stuff. We're going to sample the metro and the train system. Keep us in your prayers.