Madrid

Madrid is a south-western European city and the capital and largest municipality of Spain. The population of the city is almost 3.2 million and that of the Madrid metropolitan area, around 7 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after Paris and London.

While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; a large number of national museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums. Cibeles Palace and Fountain have become the monument symbol of the city.

OK, so my take on Madrid.  GIANT ASS CITY and very busy.  I was there on a Sunday but so many people out walking, eating, shopping.  Tourists and residents alike. Beautiful buildings, parks, statues.  I went to El Rastro, Europe's largest flea market and omg it went on and on.  I finally had to call a halt to looking and move on but it was great...something for everyone.  Every Sunday.  The church is the Cathedral and it's newish (1990's) but the ceiling is what I went for.   Fabulous.  They were starting mass and shooed out all the looky-loos (like me) but I got some nice shots.   Wonderful sculpture outside with Jesus giving the keys to the kingdom to Peter (Pedro, of course!)  Lovely young folks with their parents (damn) looking at the Royal Palace (no, I didn't go in... no photos.)  Couple of dads w/ babies.  The infant, the man told me proudly is a little boy, 10 days old.  He was so sweet with that little handful.  Like I said, Madrid is big but still very livable and walkable and so much to do and see.   I had lunch in the Corte Ingles department store.  Kind of newish building but so old school, like I remember Belks and Rich's.  Each store has a restaurant on the top floor.  I had delicious salmon, salad and asparagus.  And getting around is SO EASY  The Metro.  OMG.  Expansive, cheap and immaculate.   The stations were very clean.  I didn't see trash or smell pee anywhere.,  A world class city in all respects.