On Saturday we piled onto a train to head into Madrid proper. Madrid is around 15-20 miles from Alcalá. Once we arrived, we headed out to a double-decker bus for tourists, which took us all around Madrid, to kind of get a feel for everything.
Madrid is gorgeous. I'm so excited to come back and visit all the places we saw on the bus. In the afternoon we went and walked around the Plaza del Sol, which is at the center of Madrid, as well as the center of the Iberian peninsula. Got a picture right at "Kilometro 0," where all the roads in Spain are measured from. Madrid was originally constructed to be in the center of the peninsula, to be a place to easily get everywhere else and to be a major trade center
We saw the Palace, a monument to Columbus, and so many beautiful buildings. Perhaps most importantly, we saw the Real Madrid Futbol stadium, which has a capacity for over 85,000 spectators.
I was really struck by how old everything is. In some parts of the city, the buildings would be filled with highly modern stores and shops, but the building itself would be several hundred years old. Interestingly, some buildings would be very modern, standing next to a building that looked newer or at recently remodeled in the style of the older buildings, and the next one over would be one of the really old ones.
One thing I don't think I understand very well is that back in the USA, houses, churches, schools and other buildings that were built back in the 1960's feel ancient. They're old, run down, have bad lighting, and look awful. But, somehow, here, there are buildings that are hundreds and hundreds of years old, have even been through wars, and yet they are so beautiful, and are in great condition.
Madrid is gorgeous. I'm so excited to come back and visit all the places we saw on the bus. In the afternoon we went and walked around the Plaza del Sol, which is at the center of Madrid, as well as the center of the Iberian peninsula. Got a picture right at "Kilometro 0," where all the roads in Spain are measured from. Madrid was originally constructed to be in the center of the peninsula, to be a place to easily get everywhere else and to be a major trade center
I was really struck by how old everything is. In some parts of the city, the buildings would be filled with highly modern stores and shops, but the building itself would be several hundred years old. Interestingly, some buildings would be very modern, standing next to a building that looked newer or at recently remodeled in the style of the older buildings, and the next one over would be one of the really old ones.
One thing I don't think I understand very well is that back in the USA, houses, churches, schools and other buildings that were built back in the 1960's feel ancient. They're old, run down, have bad lighting, and look awful. But, somehow, here, there are buildings that are hundreds and hundreds of years old, have even been through wars, and yet they are so beautiful, and are in great condition.
I guess you are finding that "they just don't build things like they used to".
ReplyDeleteMUST SEE A REAL MADRID GAME! So excited for you.
ReplyDeleteWe're going to one on Wednesday!
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