My Russian travel friend, Sergey, whom I had met on my South American trip to Peru and Equador several years ago, was finishing a graduate degree in Porto in Portugal. He invited me to join him before he left for a "guided tour of Portugal" We agreed to meet in Madrid at the start and spend 2 days there so Sergey could see Madrid since he had not been there before. We stayed at my favorite small hotel right downtown within sight of the Teatro Real, Madrid's famous opera house and only a few blocks from the Royal Palace. We toured the famous Madrid Cathedral and the Royal Palace, facing each other across the huge plaza. A walking tour across downtown Madrid past the Porto del Sol and then to the world famous art museum, The Prado Museum. While there we took advantage of it being located at the edge of the wonderful, very large Madrid Park, the Parque del Retiro. I had never had time to explore that park on previous trips. Madrid is one of my very favorite cities, and I again had a wonderful time in the sunny, pleasant climate there. I love to enjoy Sangria and tapas, sitting outdoors in the sun in the Plaza Oriente, viewing the little park and the Royal Palace behind the park. A great time was had and then we flew over to Porto the next day.
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| Isabel II Plaza and famous Teatro Real opera house |
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| Puerta Del Sol |
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| Congress of Deputies |
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| Plaza Del Oriente with Royal Palace behind |
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| front entrance to Museo Del Prado |
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| Museo Del Prado approaching from side |
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| Buen Retiro Park entrance |
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| Looking into huge, lovely park |
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| Statue near park center |
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| Wonderful sculptured trees in park |
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| Large, lovely lake near park center with many activities |
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| pond in front of Crystal Palace |
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| Remarkable interior of Crystal Palace |
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| small portion of park's huge rose garden |
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| Main entrance on Plaza into the immense Spanish Royal Palace |
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| Changing of the guard at the Royal Palace |
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| view from Grand Stair case in Royal Palace |
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| great ceiling above Grand Stair case in Royal Palace |
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| Almudena Cathedral across plaza from Royal Palace |
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| view of imposing Cathedral interior |
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| gracious gardens at the end of the Spanish Royal Palace |
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| view of the gardens with the Royal Palace behind |
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| another view of the lovely Sabatini Gardens |
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| tapas and sangria in the sun on Plaza Oriente |
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