Madrid Day 10: 15th June 2010

Our last day in Madrid was spent taking the HOHO bus. I initially wanted to go to the Las Ventas bullfight museum tour..and so we woke up pretty earlie..took the efficient metro to Ventas station..but was greeted by policemen over there…


apparently they had this event with the school children…sumthing on defence..and police patrol dogs were the stars..no bulls…not even one to my dismay…we participated in the event for a while in the scorching sun..saw how the children cheered..and they danced as the policewomen sang along too…quite a sight..




Oh well..no bulls..so we left..and went to visit the famous museum in Madrid..the Prado Museum..is like if you didn’t visit this museum, you haven’t been to Madrid..that’s what they claim…There are 2 other museums too which you’re expected to visit..the Museum Thyssen and the Renia Sofia Museum. We didn’t go there though..haha..I never saw so much art in a single session…historical artwork…religious..portrait…spent about an hour there..getting too saturated with the various art forms..well..if you are an art person…be sure to visit there!...easily spend a whole day looking at each workpiece…




Metro

We took a stroll at Retiro Park as well…very relaxed atmosphere..there’s a lake for visitors to row boats in a lazy afternoon..everyone is out sunbathing…having picnics..and feeding the pigeons..some performers along the way to entertain the passerbys..or you can easily sit down at a shady spot and laze your afternoon away..
I wonder why ECP doesn’t give me a such a mood when in Singapore…maybe our living pace is too fast to even sit down and do people watching in the park?


Leisure Walk in Retiro Park






Street Performer


Thoughts



We took the bus and went off to Real Madrid Stadium..it wasn’t planned..jus came alon the way…the facilities and the stadium was overwhelming…look at the pics and you’ll know..i find it better than the Old Trafford..which you’ll see later when we’re there..


Nice Green Field




Trophies

Ronaldo


Interesting Trophies




The Café


So Many Soccer Boots



Time flew quickly when you are enjoying your sightseeing..we took the MadridVision bus to tour around places which we most likely wun enter cuz they have closed..it’s a pity though as during summer at these places, night falls in only like 1030pm..the attractions should reallie extend their visiting hours la..so that we can really maximise our day..but this isn’t so..haha..


HOHO Bus


Dancing Flag..like flamenco..fiery red


Silhouette




Street Look


Us on HOHO Bus

We landed up shopping @ H&M located in the Gran Via of Madrid…that side also many shops..but I tink we can only enter the most affordable ones and less ataz looking ones..haha..well ZARA is pretty affordable too..the prices there are much cheaper than in Singapore..

We left at about 9pm and scuryying for food..only to find a not-so-bad place to makan their tapas..but still…less than satisfactory..well..we hope to have more luck in Barcelona den..in our next stop..


Tapas




Plaza Mayor at night

Went back…watched highlights of soccer..uploaded pics…Lights Out!

Madrid Day 9: 14th June 2010

A day excursion to Avila and Segovia with Pullmantur..whee…I only know I am visiting a castle that looks like those fairy tales in Walt Disney..true enough..i saw the city walls and the Alcazar and it was amazing…the pics will tell it all..



The guide was a Spanish lady…very elegant and pretty. Her English was not bad and she first brought us to Avila. This place consists of many beautiful churches/cathedrals, and magnificent view of the towers as seen in the pics. Avila was located at 1130m above sea level, brought us some coolness away from the hot hot Madrid. The city walls were constructed between 11th and 12th century, started by the Romans and Muslims.




The Overview


The Walkway


Residences which resemble HDB flats







We went Segovia then for lunch…it was roasted pig..the best roasted pig which I ever had..the meat was so tender that it melted..im not exaggerating..it reallie did so… Segovia was very beautiful with the Alcazar and the Aqueducts.


The Aqueducts



The Aqueduct is a well-preserved monument belonging to the Romans. It transports water from a nearby river in the mountains, mainly to the Alcazar, which you will see later.


Scenic from Aqueduct


Since ancient times…

Lunch is Next!


Tender meat, unique taste of the Segovia Soup, Delicious salad makes a great lunch in Segovia!






Church in Segovia

Alcazar is our next stop, also known as the Segovia Castle. Its majestic look kept us awed. Believed to be built in 1120s..serve as a castle, palace, prison before..


Stone Fortication


Alcazar




Within Alcazar




View from Alcazar

Somehow, we thought that the skies in Madrid was very mesmerizing..with little wisps of white clouds hanging in the blue blue sky…it wasn’t reallie hot..as there were occasional winds in this weather..a nice feel to just take a stroll and appreciate the structures and history around us that day.


Dramatic Clouds

In the evening, we went to Mercado St Miguel to check out their local market. Tapas bar..fruit stalls…butchers..poultry..cava…beer..anything you can think of can be found in this market.



A great way to know what the locals do after work..there are many stalls which sell pig’s legz..we wonder what was that..and was enlightened when we reached Barcelona..more on that later..


Pork legs, anyone?






Plaza Mayor

For dinner, we dined in a place called El Lacon..nice place to chill out and we drank Sangria..i tink that was a mistake..as heard from my fren in Barcelona that Sangria is only drunk by tourists..Spanish dun drink Sangria..haha..apparently drinking Sangria can make you drunk pretty fast…that aside..we ate paella..is like seafood cooked with rice…it wasn’t so satisfactory to our taste as we find it too salty…we think that the Spanish paella we had in London last year was still better..


Seafood Paella


Actions in Plaza Mayor