Spain. Madrid and Toledo

Madrid and Andalucia

With all our travels the number of times we looked out an airplane window at an interesting but predictable scene spread below us is myriad. Every once in awhile there is something unique and arriving in Madrid after 3 months 3 days of no rain the scene below us was like a Utrillo painting. All the colors of fall, gold, burnt umber, ochre, a few veins of deep green swirling thru the large patches of color. It was different and beautiful. There is always something new to see. I guess that is the reason we go. To see for ourselves from our point of view what is there.

Quick impressions of Madrid are that it is one of the most up to date clean looking cities we have visited in Europe. The public buildings are magnificent. but as we are reminded in 1492 Christian Spain had finally driven the Moors out after 700 years and they were dead broke. Isabel was Queen of Castile, a powerful female figure, she and her husband Ferdinand, took a huge risk with all she had, her jewels, and rolled the dice with an unknown Genose named Christopher Columbus. The rest is history. The gold of the Incas fueled the Spainish ascendency and built fabulous palaces and cathedrals.

The sunlight streams through stained glass windows to bathe the choir. A moments magic.

The old city center is easily navigated on foot and saw the flea market, the cathedral, the palace and wandered the streets with mimes and musicians. Stopping for paella and beer and soaking up the joy of vibrant street life we are happy just to be here.

The first night we became tapas addicts and had octupus tentacles in saffron sauce that has us weeping they were so good. Wonderful little bites of food heaven. We may never eat another meal.

Jon's idea of something worth staring at on the street in Madrid.

                                     Iberico ham is about $220 usd a lb and it is worth it. So good.

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