Sunday, May 14, 2017

Madrid

Our day in Madrid started off with our Hop On bus, which in essence is the city tour.....there are 2 routes....and we took 1in the morning and then lunch then the 2nd tour.
Madrid is much different from Barcelona.... The same basic characteristics with the wide boulevards, heavy growth with lots of trees and parkways....very beautiful. But not the major attractions in the old town like in Barcelona.  The city is quite flat and no beaches, so reminds me more of an inland Orange County or even LA....except for the wide boulevards and many many circular roundabouts with a fountain in each one. Just a very beautiful setting.
The architecture seems to be much bolder and formal....which fits with the Hapsburg Dynasty....and the Royal Palace kind of sets the pace. Not the Gauldi style but much bigger and heavier....
And, the major attractions are few, in that the Royal Palace is the big draw and major attraction. Today we are going to the adjoining Cathedral.....as well as the San Francisco Cathedral....and both of these are supposedly very interesting. It will be hard to top Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.  We will then go to The Prado...one of the major art museums in Europe.
As I will be asked when speaking...how do you compare Madrid with the other major cities...more later as we are off.....


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