 First look at Madrid, Spain |
 Checked into the Hotel Melia Madrid Princesa |
 Lunch at "Cerveceria 100 Montaditos" |
 Dinner at El Pimiento Verde, Madrid |
 Capitol Cinema in Madrid |
 Puerta de Alcala (1778), Madrid |
 Puerta de Alcala is the oldest triumphal arc in Europe |
 Puerta de Alcala was the gate of the former walls of Philip IV |
 Fall in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Fountain of the Galapagos in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Street Perfomer in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Monument to Alfonso XII in Buen Retiro Park was inaugurated in 1922 |
 Fountain of the Artichoke in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Palacio de Vel zquez in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 At Palacio de Velazquez in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Palacio de Cristal (1887) in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Inside Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), Madrid |
 Crystal Palace Lake in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Fountain of the Fallen Angel (1922) in Buen Retiro Park |
 Fountain of the Fallen Angel stands at 666 m above sea level |
 Gargoyles at the base of the Fountain of the Fallen Angel |
 Statue of King Alfonzo XII |
 Our guide called these 'brain trees' |
 Brain Trees up close |
 Leaving Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Jacinto Benavente Monument in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid |
 Palacio de Cibeles (1919) is Madrid's City Hall |
 The Metropolis Building (1911), Madrid |
 Cruzcampo Gran Reserve is the local beer in Madrid |
 Santa Anna Square in Madrid |
 Statue of Bear and Strawberry Tree in Puerto del Sol, Madrid |
 The Bear and Strawberry Tree are from Madrid's Coat of Arms |
 The 'House of the Royal Post Office' is the seat of Regional Government |
 Km Zero Madrid marks the spot from which all of Spain's national roads are measured |
 The Belltower on 'House of the Royal Post Office' officially rings in the New Year in Madrid |
 Narrow Storefont with Apartments above in Madrid |
 Oldest Hotel in Madrid (1725) |
 Gate to Plaza Mayor, Madrid |
 Plaza Mayor (Main Square) was built 1590-1619 |
 Casa de la Panaderia (Bakery House) (1619) undergoing renovations |
 Sailor on Plaza Mayor in Madrid |
 Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain |
 'Locks of Love' on the railing around the equestrian statue of King Felipe III , Plaza Mayor |
 Potable water fountain in Madrid |
 Three-wheel Stretch Golf Cart in Madrid |
 Plaza de La Villa has 15th, 16th, and 17th Century Buildings on 3 Sides |
 Plaza de La Villa is the Historic Center of Madrid |
 15th Century Tower in Plaza de La Villa, Madrid |
 'Mudejar-designed' door was popular in the 15th Century (Plaza de La Villa) |
 Old Church near Plaza de La Villa |
 Madrid's Coat of Arms in the Sidewalk |
 Almudena Cathedral in Madrid was completed in 1993 |
 The Royal Palace of Madrid (1735-55) |
 Royal Guards at Armory Square Entrance of the Royal Palace, Madrid |
 Madrid Mounted Police |
 Spanish Mounted Royal Guard |
 End of Changing of the Royal Guard |
 Traffic on the Gran Via in Madrid |
 Cibeles Fountain (1782), Madrid |
 Las Ventas Bullring (1931) holds 23,298 fans |
 Monument to matador Jose Cubero |
 La Ventas is the 3rd Largest Bullring in the World |
 Bar inside Las Ventas Bullring |
 Flamenco Show inside Las Ventas Bullring |
 The 'traje de luces' (suit of lights) traditionally worn by matadors |
 Flamenco |
 Flamenco |
 Flamenco |
 Flamenco |
 Flamenco |
 Flamenco |
 Hotel bed raises up so that maids don't hurt their backs |
 The Temple of Debod is in Parque del Oeste, Madrid, Spain |
 Temple of Debod was built in Aswan, Egypt in 2nd Centrury BC |
 Gateways to the Temple of Debod |
 The Temple of Debod was dismantled and rebuilt in Madrid in 1968 |
 View of Madrid from Parque del Oeste |
 Overlooking Madrid Cathedral and Royal Palace |
 Parish Church of Santa Teresa y San Jose‚ (1916-28) |
 Adjacent Modern and Historic Buildings in Madrid |
 Miguel de Cervantes Monument was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII in 1915 |
 Statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza |
 'Don Quixote' is the most influential work of literature from the Spanish Golden Age |
 Back of the Cervantes Monument |
 Fountain in Plaza de Espana, Madrid |
 The Manzanares River in Madrid, Spain |
 Farming on the Manzanares River in Madrid |
 The Church of St. Andrews was built on the site of a 12th Century Christian Church |
 Garden on the Wall in Madrid has no soil |
 Back at Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid |
 Comfort Stop across from the Bullring |
 Looks like Susan is in Love |
 Iberian Ham is a specialty in Madrid, Spain |
 Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is home of Real Madrid Soccer Team |
 Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was built in 1947 |
 The Gate of Europe towers were designed by the American architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and have a 15 degree inclinati |
 Colorful apartments in Madrid |
 The Central Bank of Spain in Madrid |
 Cibeles Fountain (1782) is one of the symbols of Madrid |
 Building of the Americas (1941) Madrid |
 Last look at Cibeles Fountain before Leaving Madrid |
 Olive farm on the road to Toledo, Spain |
 Crossing the Tagus River in Spain |
 Toledo, Spain was part of the Roman Empire around 17 A.D. |
 The Alcazar was used as a Roman Palace in 3rd Century A.D and was restored in the 1540's |
 Overlooking Toledo, Spain in the Rain |
 Puerta de Bisagra is a 10th Century City Gate in Toledo, Spain |
 Series of 6 Escalators take visitors up the hill to Medieval Toledo, Spain |
 Toledo is known as 'City of the Three Cultures' for the historical influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews |
 The Jewish Quarter of Toledo is designated by three markers |
 Walking through Medieval Toledo, Spain |
 St. Mary the White is a former Jewish Synagogue built in 1180 |
 St. Mary the White was designed by Moorish Architects for non-Islamic purposes |
 St. Mary the White was consecrated as a Christian Church after the slaughter of the Jews in Toledo |
 Only one Star of David is left in St. Mary the White |
 The Convent of Santa Ursula (1259), Toledo, Spain |
 Approaching the Cathedral of Toledo through the narrow streets |
 The Cathedral of Toledo, Spain (1227) |
 Officially this is 'The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo' |
 Stained Glass in the Cathedral of Toledo |
 Gigantic Mural in the Cathedral of Toledo |
 Portal of the Clock (14th Century) in the Cathedral of Toledo |
 Clock (14th Century) above Portal in the Cathedral of Toledo |
 "Retable" of the Cathedral of Toledo (1497-1504) |
 Choir Area in Toledo Cathedral |
 Music Stand in the Choir at Toledo Cathedral |
 Choir Members stood but had a small ledge to rest their butts |
 The Eagle of St. John in the Choir at Toledo Cathedral |
 Baroque altarpiece consists of figures done in stucco, painting, bronze castings, and multiple colors of marble |
 The Ceiling of the Sacristy in Toledo Cathedral was painted in 7 months by one man using both of his hands |
 'The Disrobing of Christ' (1579) by El Greco in the Toledo Cathedral Sacristy |
 The most important object in the Toledo Chapel is the Great Monstrance of Arfe (1517-24) |
 The Great Monstrance contains 40 lbs. of 18 karat Gold and 400 lbs. of pure Silver |
 Side entrance to Cathedral of Toledo, Spain |
 Tasting the local Mahou Beer in Toledo, Spain |
 Walls of Toledo, Spain dating to the 10th Century |
 Modern suburbs of Toledo, Spain |
 Rainbow after a rainy day in Toledo, Spain |
 Leaving Madrid |
 Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen outside Madrid |
 Ranching between Madrid and Salmanaca, Spain |
 Overlooking Avila, Spain |
 Walls of Avila completed between the 11th and 14th Centuries are 10 feet thick |
 Farmland near Salamanca, Spain |
 Crossing the Tormes River in Salamanca, Spain |
 Plaza Mayor (729-55) in Salamanca is the most important plaza in Spain |
 Blank Medallion on column in Plaza Mayor is where image of Franco was removed in 2017 |
 Hornazo de Salamanca is the local meat pie |
 Hornazo de Salamanca is filled with pork loin, spicy chorizo, and hard-boiled eggs |
 Monument to the poet Adares, located in the Plaza del Corrillo in Salamanca |
 Rua de Mayor Strret in Salamanca, Spain |
 Maestro Salinas (1513-90) was a blind composer & musician and was chair of music at the University of Salamanca, Spain |
 The University of Salamanca (founded 1134) is the 5th Oldest University in the World |
 The 'frog of Salamanca' is on the top of the left skull on the facade of the University of Salamanca |
 Patio de Escuelas at the University of Salamanca |
 The walls of the University of Salamanca are covered with centuries old markings by students using bull's blood and olive oil |
 This font is called 'Salamanca' and originated in the 1400's |
 Compania Street in Salamanca, Spain |
 The 15th Century 'Shell House' in Salamanca has over 400 shells on the exterior |
 17th Century Clerica Church was originally known as the Royal College of the Company of Jesus |
 Church of San Martin (1103) in Salamanca |
 Stork's Nest on Bell Tower of Church of San Martin in Salamanca |
 The House of 3 Religions -- Muslim, Jewish, and Christian |
 The Old Church of San Isidoro in Salamanca, Spain |
 Street leading to the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 The New Cathedral of Salamanca was started in 1513 and consecrated in 1733 |
 Inside the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Inside the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Cupola in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Altar in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Pipe Organ in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Choir Loft in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gold Chapel in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Madonna and Child in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Apse in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Coat of Arms on Crypt in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Another view of the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gargoyle on the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gargoyle on the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gargoyle on the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gargoyle on the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Gothic Portal in the New Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Symbols added to the Cathedral's facade during 1992 restoration include an astronaut and a faun eating ice cream |
 Rabbit on the facade of the Cathedral is discolored from people rubbing it for luck |
 The Old Cathedral of Salamanca (at end of street) was built in the 12th Century |
 12th Century Frescoes in the Cathedral of Salamanca |
 12th Century Frescoe in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca |
 12th Century Frescoes in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Medieval tomb in the Old Cathedral of Salamanca |
 In the Old Cathedral of Salamanca |
 Leaving Salamanca, Spain |
 Leaving Salamanca, Spain |
 Roman Bridge of Salamanca, Spain is believed to have been constructed between 27 BC and 79 AD |
 Roman Bridge and skyline of Salamanca, Spain |
 Old Aqueduct in Spanish Countryside |
 Rock Wall Hedgerows in Spain |
 Ranching in the Highlands of Spain |
 Sheep grazing near the border of Spain and Portugal |