We are about to depart for the train station in Madrid to take an overnight train to Lisbon, Portugal. This will be the first night train we have taken, and it will also be the last train ride of our trip across Europe!
Speaking of trains, I am sure you have all heard about the devastating train accident in northwest Spain last night that killed at least 78 people and left many more injured. It has been a sad day here and our thoughts and prayers are with the families whose loved ones were killed or injured. I can't imagine what they are going through right now.
Thanks to all of you who have texted,or sent Facebook messages checking on us.
We spent the day exploring Madrid so that Chris could see some of the places I discovered when I was here two years ago during my Lilly grant trip. We had a good time ... but it was a scorcher here ... 99 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.
First we walked to the Plaza de las Cibeles because the Palacio de Comunicaciones building is located near-by. I posted some pictures of this building last night. It is absolutely stunning. Its construction is a mix of North American monumental style from the Gothic period but it also has a Renaissance look to it. The building is used for the central post office, as well as the city hall. I visited the building last summer and in 2011 and had the chance to go to the top of it, where you can walk around and get a great overview of Madrid from the tower. Chris and I spent 15 minutes at the top and were treated to some great views of Madrid.
Next, we walked to Retiro Park, Madrid's biggest area of green space and one of my favorite parts of the capital city. All across the enormous park are monuments, beautifully landscaped lawns and gardens and even a big lake where people were taking boat rides. The landscaping is perfect, the gardens and flowers are colorful and all the trees provide several patches of shade where you can just sit down and watch the world pass. The monument to Alfonso XII looks over the lake, including the enormous marble lions.
After visiting the park, we took the metro back to the Sol stop and found a small restaurant for lunch. We ordered some tapas and salad ... the perfect lunch when it is almost 100 degrees outside!
We boarded the metro again to go see the Plaza de Toros (Bullfighting ring). We walked around the perimeter of the ring but didn't go in. There are bullfights in Madrid every Sunday from March to October. When Madrid celebrates the Fiesta de San Isidro in mid-May, there is even a bull fight every day. Built in 1929, the bull fighting ring's exterior is made of bricks and has ceramic titles. It's a Moorish edifice.
We returned to the Puerta de Sol afterward and thought about seeing a movie but instead found a Starbucks with AC and WiFi. We finally wrote some post cards and mailed them, but I think we will make it home before they do!
It is almost time to head to the train station ... look for an update from Lisbon tomorrow! (And we are both hoping that we can sleep tonight in our four-person train car!)
Thanks for reading,
Justin
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