Day 22 - Blogabond

We decided to get the lay of the land today so we hopped on Madrid Vision tourist bus in the nearby square. It really is a nice way to get your bearings and find out what all those statues on every few corners or squares are for. We felt the need for a coffee so hopped off in a very nice neighborhood near a park. After a bit of caffeine we walked through the park and explored a 400 BC Roman temple that had been given to Spain for help with some war or another. It was pretty amazing. The views over the valleys that spread out from Madrid were also very pretty. Madrid is at 2000ft, the highest city in Spain.

We hopped back on the bus for awhile and then a stop in Plaza del Sol for some more exploration and to get a treat for Mark. We found the perfect chocolate and churro spot. The hot chocolate here is more like a thin pudding, and the churros are nothing like Taco John’s. Imagine dipping a nice greasy donut into a warm pudding that hasn’t quite set yet. That is hot chocolate in Spain. We then walked to Plaza Mayor for a little lunch and back on the bus we went. Next stop was the Cento de Arte Reina Sofia to see Picasso’s Guernica. The painting is Picasso’s protest of Franco and his fascist government in Spain. It is Picasso’s view of what took place in Guernica when Franco allowed Hitler to test his bombs on the town. It was especially moving as Guernica is located very near San Sebastian.

Mark had been cooped up for quite awhile now so Paul took him back to Retiro Park to feed the fish in the pond and rent a row boat. Suzy went and relaxed on her veranda with a glass of wine. We all do what we have to do. Mark was filled with McDonalds and hooked to the internet for the evening so Suzy and Paul could find their new local Tapas bar just across the street. We had two drinks and 3 tapas in a very friendly and active bar for only 5 Euros. This became our home away form home for a couple days. Even Mark eventually found that he enjoyed this spot.

written by

pscossette on July 9, 2007 from Madrid, Spain

from the travel blog: The Cossette Family Sabbatical

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