Adios, Madrid

Adios! It's been a muy bueno stay and we are ready to come back.

We spent Thursday wandering Retiro Park, Madrid's largest park, and the Botanical Gardens.  It was a nice relaxing day - much needed after a vigorous day and a half in Toledo.

Puerta de Alcala
Commissioned by Carlos III around 1774 to constructed a monumental gate through the city's wall.

Along the way from Retiro Park is Cuesta de Claudio Moyano, a road lined with second hand booksellers.  For those who have been to Paris, this is Madrid's equivalent to the stalls along the Seine.

In 1960, the construction of the Aswan Dam and the subsequent threat to many Egyptian archeological sites, prompted UNESCO to send a worldwide plea for help to save them.  As a thank you to the Spanish government, Egypt gave them the Temple of Debod.

It was part of the great religious center at Philae dedicated to the Goddess Isis.

If we had a cat, we'd look just like an Egyptian Goddess and God.

There are two fabulous & unique horse and rider statues flanking a pond in Sabatini Gardens.

Notice how the rider and the horse are facing at 180 degrees from each other.  What is the story?  Are they being chased?

The rearing horse, the rider thrown back, with his head facing up depicts how violent such an event can be.

The Almundena Cathedral, home to the Archbishop of Madrid, faces the Palacio Real.  The colors are different than what is normally seen in European cathedrals.  The Moorish influence is strong in the colors and geometry of the paintings and decorations.

The ceiling - Sistine Chapel it is not.

I am not Catholic, but am drawn to the artistry of the various alter pieces.  This one in particular is large and impressive.

If you are ever curious about how large paintings are hung, now you know.

Like most of Spain, Madrid has Islamic and Christian influences.  Whereas most of the wall still surrounds Toledo, only some of the Muslim wall stands in Madrid. 

In general, we saw very few beggars in the city center; certainly fewer than we see in Austin.  However, there are a LOT of street performers.  I do not consider them beggars.  Spain's unemployment rate is over 20% and the youth unemployment rate is over 40%. Wearing these costumes all day is work and may be the only work they can get.  

The temperatures have been in the low to mid 70's all week.  Imagine how hot these costumes are in the summer.

Tired Kermit greeting a young fan.

Now, try to imagine what these costumes must smell like.  Think "American college football mascot" and multiply that exponentially.

Any ideas of who this is or what he represents? I think it is a character from "Avatar," but John is not so sure.

A glitter goat interacting with children.  They don't look scared.

I don't know what the goats represent.  After our visit to the Prado Museum, I think they may represent Goya's "He Goat" in the painting "The Witches Sabbath."  John thinks I may be giving too much credit to the goat people.  What do you think?

An update on "Fat Spiderman" - we made 3 trips to his usual place and he was not there.  I was willing to pay the toll for a picture.  We really hope he's not ill.  The tapas tour guide said he is an art student who graduated just as the recession hit.  Being "Fat Spiderman" is what he does and apparently makes a killing at it.

We are staying in the central section of the city.  There are city workers everywhere cleaning, power washing, tending the grounds.  They are easily identifiable in their bright green and yellow uniforms.  It is clear the local government wants to encourage tourism.  And, it may be part of their economic stimulus. At one point we wandered off the "tourist track" and found a more "normal" level of grunge and debris.

If I ever open a bar, this is a great name, if only because I am the complete opposite.

Things we learned:

1. Madrid is wonderfully clean and safe city in the central area.
2. The theme from "The Godfather" is a very popular song for street musicians
3. "Selfie," as in "selfie stick," translates to "Selfie," as in "selfie palo"
4. Shopping on Calle Augusto Figueroa, Madrid's famed "shoe street," I learned "Tamaño cuarenta, por favor" actually translates to "it is a physics miracle I can walk on these huge feet."
5. There is a reason you don't see chubby flamenco dancers.

We leave in the morning for Barcelona.  We are really looking forward to our first trip on the high-speed train.  We are NOT looking forward to getting our luggage downstairs.

These are the stairs to our apartment.  They are highly polished and slope downward.  There are a total of 40 between our floor and the ground.  Please pray neither of us falls.  Gravity can be a real ......