Friday September 5 was the best day of my life thus far. I got to know the entire city of Madrid and walked probably about 8 miles. Our group started out with a tour around Viejo Madrid. This is the part of the city that was here before industrialization and democracy. We started at El Palacio Real which I can't really remember the significance because I was buying a lovely Spanish fan to I could keep cool (even though it was overcast and completely perfect weather). I think it was where the kings lived when Spanish was a monarchy and there's a beautiful fountain, but I was not paying attention. Also everything significant that happened in Spain's history either has a Plaza, Fountain or Statue to commemorate it, so you can basically read the history throughout the city. El Palacio Real is also right next to El Teatro Real which is a very prestigous arts school as well as a theater.
We then ventured to another plaza that I don't really remember the significance either but I have pictures of a cathedral and the bell tower. Everything in Madrid is just so beautiful! We passed through some alleyways into La Plaza Mayor. If you've ever seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame that is what it looks like. An huge plaza surrounded by tall buildings; perfect for having a festival, in fact I kind of wish there had been. We went to museum exhibit that was dedicated to la Exposicion de la Conjura de El Escorial. My favorite thing about this exhibit was the dress they showed from that time. The queen was missing an eye so every outfit had an eye patch to go with it and they had jewelery hanging off it. I wish we still dressed like that. How glamourous!
Then we took some more alleyways by an X-rated theater. Apparently under Franco the dictator there was no PDA allowed... AT ALL! People would receive tickets for holding hands in public! How horrible! Anyway, after his reign the spanish people went sex crazy and there were over 300 X movie theaters in the city of Madrid alone. This one was only one of 2 left but the movie was called "Fresh Meat: Culo a Culo". That made me laugh.
Our last stop was Puerta de Sol which is a huge plaza and very tourist oriented. Its also the place where all of Spain marks their distance. There's a plaque that says MILE 0 and from that point all other places in the country are measured. How cool is that?!
After our tour, Nikki, Alyssa, Charles, Alexandra and I went for food around La Plaza de Cibles (also where the main postoffice is) and then to El Retiro, this is the HUGE public park of Madrid. It is so beautiful! It has over 10 playgrounds for children, a rose garden, glass house, several lakes and tons and tons of trails I want to explore while I'm here. The biggest lake is right in the center and for only 4 euro we took out some rowboats and rowed on the lake. Alyssa and I had one to ourselves and we were like on a date but both of us needed to row because it takes a lot of effort. After our park excursion I walked all the way home, which in itself is about a mile, mile and a half. I do not live close to the park at all but it was awesome and I felt super awesome about it.
I usually walk everywhere in Madrid because it is very walker friendly. On the Gran Via there is a walkway the size of the street for people who want to walk. It's very convinient and a good work out. If only eveything were as interesting and clean and not sketchy in Dallas, I feel I would walk everywhere.
We then ventured to another plaza that I don't really remember the significance either but I have pictures of a cathedral and the bell tower. Everything in Madrid is just so beautiful! We passed through some alleyways into La Plaza Mayor. If you've ever seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame that is what it looks like. An huge plaza surrounded by tall buildings; perfect for having a festival, in fact I kind of wish there had been. We went to museum exhibit that was dedicated to la Exposicion de la Conjura de El Escorial. My favorite thing about this exhibit was the dress they showed from that time. The queen was missing an eye so every outfit had an eye patch to go with it and they had jewelery hanging off it. I wish we still dressed like that. How glamourous!
Then we took some more alleyways by an X-rated theater. Apparently under Franco the dictator there was no PDA allowed... AT ALL! People would receive tickets for holding hands in public! How horrible! Anyway, after his reign the spanish people went sex crazy and there were over 300 X movie theaters in the city of Madrid alone. This one was only one of 2 left but the movie was called "Fresh Meat: Culo a Culo". That made me laugh.
Our last stop was Puerta de Sol which is a huge plaza and very tourist oriented. Its also the place where all of Spain marks their distance. There's a plaque that says MILE 0 and from that point all other places in the country are measured. How cool is that?!
After our tour, Nikki, Alyssa, Charles, Alexandra and I went for food around La Plaza de Cibles (also where the main postoffice is) and then to El Retiro, this is the HUGE public park of Madrid. It is so beautiful! It has over 10 playgrounds for children, a rose garden, glass house, several lakes and tons and tons of trails I want to explore while I'm here. The biggest lake is right in the center and for only 4 euro we took out some rowboats and rowed on the lake. Alyssa and I had one to ourselves and we were like on a date but both of us needed to row because it takes a lot of effort. After our park excursion I walked all the way home, which in itself is about a mile, mile and a half. I do not live close to the park at all but it was awesome and I felt super awesome about it.
I usually walk everywhere in Madrid because it is very walker friendly. On the Gran Via there is a walkway the size of the street for people who want to walk. It's very convinient and a good work out. If only eveything were as interesting and clean and not sketchy in Dallas, I feel I would walk everywhere.
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