España - Madrid
After many long hours of ‘modern’ air travel, finally Madrid, the beginning of our adventure of seeing some of this beautiful country. A good nights’ sleep, breakfast to stoke up energy and we are off to see Madrid, first a panoramic bus tour, with a stop at the Temple of Debod, built in Aswan, a gift of Egypt as thanks for it’s preservation, and then……………… our first Grand Circle (the travel company we are with), discovery. Plaza de Toros, the largest bull fighting venue in Spain. Whether you condone or despise the ‘sport’, the fact is that it is a signature of Spanish culture. Although not as popular as in the past, here for the summer months, the matador is hailed for the bravado preformed before the thousands in the stands. Since the season is over, we toured the facility and watched students who dream of carrying on the tradition of their fathers, practice the moves that may someday provide them with the skills of the besting the bull.
Temple of Debd
Plaza de Toros,
Students practicing the art of bull fighting
A short lunch, we then went in search of Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace.
Located in the centre of the Buen Retiro Park in central Madrid is an imposing glass palace modeled on London's Crystal Palace. It was built around 36 years after its London counterpart in 1887, and designed by the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco who was responsible for another building in the park, the Palacio de Velázques . The Palacio de Cristal, in the shape of a Greek cross, is made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework on a brick base, which is decorated with ceramics. Its domed roofs makes the structure over 72 feet high. The glass palace was created in 1887 to house exotic flora and fauna as part of an exhibition on the Philippines, which was then still a Spanish colony. The palace is used today for contemporary art exhibitions.
Located in the centre of the Buen Retiro Park in central Madrid is an imposing glass palace modeled on London's Crystal Palace. It was built around 36 years after its London counterpart in 1887, and designed by the architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco who was responsible for another building in the park, the Palacio de Velázques . The Palacio de Cristal, in the shape of a Greek cross, is made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework on a brick base, which is decorated with ceramics. Its domed roofs makes the structure over 72 feet high. The glass palace was created in 1887 to house exotic flora and fauna as part of an exhibition on the Philippines, which was then still a Spanish colony. The palace is used today for contemporary art exhibitions.
Crystal Palace
Lovers in the park
October, 25, our second day is an hour bus ride to Segovia, a World Heritage City, in the autonomous region of Castile, beyond the mountains to the northwest of Madrid. The Aqueduct of Segovia, located in the much-visited Plaza del Azoguejo, is the defining historical feature of the city, dating from the late 1st or early 2nd century. Acknowledged as the most important Roman civil engineering work in Spain, it consists of about 25,000 granite blocks held together without any mortar, and spans 2700 feet with more than 170 arches, the highest being 90 feet high.
The Alcazar of Segovia, the royal palace located on top of a rock between the rivers Eresma and Clamores, is documented for the first time in 1122, although it may exist in earlier time. It was one of the favorite residences of the kings of Castile, built in the transition from Romanesque to Gothic and Mudéjar decor highlighting its ample rooms. Isabella was crowned Queen of Castile in the main square.
The Segovia Cathedral is the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. It is considered the masterpiece of Basque-Castilian Gothic and is known as "The Lady of Cathedrals." This is the third largest cathedral in the city, and retains the cloister of the second, located opposite the castle. It was consecrated in 1768 and has dimensions of 500 feet long, 150 feet wide and 100 high in the nave, and has 18 chapels.
The Alcazar of Segovia, the royal palace located on top of a rock between the rivers Eresma and Clamores, is documented for the first time in 1122, although it may exist in earlier time. It was one of the favorite residences of the kings of Castile, built in the transition from Romanesque to Gothic and Mudéjar decor highlighting its ample rooms. Isabella was crowned Queen of Castile in the main square.
The Segovia Cathedral is the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. It is considered the masterpiece of Basque-Castilian Gothic and is known as "The Lady of Cathedrals." This is the third largest cathedral in the city, and retains the cloister of the second, located opposite the castle. It was consecrated in 1768 and has dimensions of 500 feet long, 150 feet wide and 100 high in the nave, and has 18 chapels.
SEGOVIA PANORAMA
Aqueduct of Segovia
Play slide show (below)
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Toledo/Flamenco
Arriving in Toledo after an hour bus ride, our guide took us on a walking tour via the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi and then on to the Old Synagogue, the oldest in Spain. Although now a museum, we were enlightened as to the history of Jews, Muslims and Christians from the times of the Romans to the Inquisition and to the present. From there we headed to the Tomb of Conde de Orgaz where the artist El Greco’s celebrated painting hangs. Our guide's explanation of the painting made even I, an appreciator of this grandiose masterpiece.
As we exited, a Bentley automobile stopped, and out stepped an elderly man, the former King Juan Carlos to enter the cathedral. Nary a murmur was heard from the locals, while we tourists stood with cameras clicking and wondering how we live in America burdened by the image of terror behind every face while here life seems so ordinary.
Arriving in Toledo after an hour bus ride, our guide took us on a walking tour via the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi and then on to the Old Synagogue, the oldest in Spain. Although now a museum, we were enlightened as to the history of Jews, Muslims and Christians from the times of the Romans to the Inquisition and to the present. From there we headed to the Tomb of Conde de Orgaz where the artist El Greco’s celebrated painting hangs. Our guide's explanation of the painting made even I, an appreciator of this grandiose masterpiece.
As we exited, a Bentley automobile stopped, and out stepped an elderly man, the former King Juan Carlos to enter the cathedral. Nary a murmur was heard from the locals, while we tourists stood with cameras clicking and wondering how we live in America burdened by the image of terror behind every face while here life seems so ordinary.
Burial of Conde de Orgaz - El Greco
Former King Juan Carlos
Church Ceiling
Synagogue of El Transito
Continuing through the streets of this World Heritage City, we marveled at the architecture of this old city. Returning to Madrid, we visited a Flamenco school where we were given an explanation and demonstration of this signature art form, followed by dinner in their restaurant.
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