Monday, May 13 To Madrid

Our trip from Barcelona to Madrid took just under three hours (621 km) on the high speed train which reached speeds up to 300km/hr. The weather got warmer as we head south towards Spain's capital city.

the scenery is just beautiful with rural farms dotting the landscape.

As usual, Gary is clicking away with I had a little siesta.

 

We arrived at Madrid's Atocha station close to downtown. Madrid feels upbeat and vibrant. Grandeur buildings line the streets from the early sixteen century. In 1561, King Philip II decided to move the capital of his empire from Toledo to Madrid.

After settling in to our apartment, we toured the city's main square Plaza Mayor. It is a cobbled and traffic free (sort of) square built in 1619 under the direction of Phillip III. Many events happened here during that time; bullfights, fires, royal pageantry and even executions.

 

Today cafes and restaurants line around the plaza along with tacky gift shops.

All this talk/walk about history made me hungry with the size of a kings appetite. El Born is well known to be the oldest restaurant (1725) in the world still in operation. It's a family run restaurant who's specialty is suckling pig and young roast lamb.

 

Needless to say that's what we ordered.

 

After a hardy meal, we slowly stroll through the tree lined streets back to our apartment.

 

But not without checking out the sales along the way.

 

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