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West Africa, Malta and the Balkans in 1999

Madrid, Toledo(SPAIN)

Bec
2004-09-18 18:54:16

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Madrid
The plaza called Puerta del Sol, in the center of Madrid, is considered to be the center of Spain. It is kilometer 0 from which the distance to all other Spanish cities is measured (actually the real geographical center of Spain is close to Aranjuez some 50 kms south of here). The equestrian statue in the center represents the Bourbon King Carlos III who modernized Spain in the late 19th century.

My flight from Montreal arrived at the Barajas airport at 9 a.m. I took the airport bus to plaza Colon and then the Metro to Puerta del Sol where I found a room looking onto the plaza at the Hostal Ruano for 18 $US a night.

In the center of Madrid, east of Plaza Sol, is a large park well named "Buen Retiro" where Madrilenos can get away from the noise and bustle and enjoy fountains such as this "Fuente de la Alcachofa" (artichoke fountain). One of Europe's most famous art galleries, the Museo del Prado (meadow museum), is a short distance to the west.

You can take this small, friendly "Calle de las Huertas" to get from the Prado Museum to Plaza Major without using the busy main thoroughfares.

At the eastern end of the Calle de las Huertas is the Plaza Santa Cruz and the Hostal Cruz Sol where I stayed for 15 $US a night near the Plaza Major.

Elegant Plaza Major built in 1619 by Felipe III was the scene for royal festivities and bullfights but also of autos de fe and public garrotings.

Further east, the nearby 17th century City Hall on the right of the Plaza de la Villa is another fine example of the style developed by Juan de Herrera and Juan Gómez de Mora.

The huge Palacio Real was built in 1734 by Felipe V with the intent of matching its European counterparts (Shönbrunn, Versailles etc), with its 2800 rooms.

Madrid also has its modern parts with fast thoroughfares and high rise building as you can see in Plaza Colon where ...