"De Madrid al Cielo".

"De Madrid al cielo".  (from Madrid to heaven). It's a popular proverb there in Madrid. That roughly means that after having seeing Madrid the next nice thing one will see is heaven.I don't know, I am not to sure about that very high regard o pour Madrid , as what the Frenchmen use to say. Not denying that the  fact about Madrid being a beautiful city with many back drops and settings. Madrid will give you the feel of all the ages of yesteryear's. Old, medieval, rustic and full with historical troves that reflect the look of Europe through its existent since then.   

Statue of Don Quixote De La Mancha another version of Robin Hood maybe.

Madrid is the capital of Spain since 1562, is located at the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula.

Because of its central location and high altitude, the climate of Madrid is characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters.

Madrid is a city of great monuments. Among its highlights are the medieval center dating back to the Habsburg Empire and the Prado Museum.

The best of Madrid in 4 days But Madrid is not just a cultural destination. It is also a lively metropolis with many pubs, cafes, discotheques and nightclubs open late into the night. Don't be surprised if you get stuck in a traffic jam at four in the morning, and the people you meet are not necessarily going off to work....they never seem to sleep enough thus you may came across groggy faces the next morning walking around in Madrid. 

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City Park in Madrid-Don Quixote De La Mancha Square

The Medieval Madrid We start our walk in Barrio de la Morería, where the Moors had their law-court, and arrive from here to three squares which characterize the medieval Madrid: Plaza de la Paja, the commercial center of this epoch, Plaza de San Andrés and Plaza de Cruz Verde. Around this area we may have the feel of medieval Madrid.
 

Stalls around the City Park- Surprisingly the stall owners are Bangladeshi.

Long shot  of the stalls, I bought a pair of hand glove here - too cold today 

 Of particular interest are the Mudejar-style buildings, as the church of San Nicolás de los Servitas, the tower San Pedro el Viejo and finally Casa de los Lujanes at Plaza de la Villa.
 




"El Madrid de los Austrias" is how Spaniards call the part of the city that was blooming when Spain belonged to the Habsburg-Empire. Under King Charles I, at the same time Charles V of the German Empire and the first of his family to reign Spain, the importance of Madrid grew, but it was Philip II who made it the capital. To visit the buildings of this epoch, mainly in Renaissance- and Baroque-styles, is perhaps among the most impressive Madrid has to offer.


Our tour starts at Puerta del Sol, in the very center of town. Passing through some narrow streets we arrive to the Descalzas Reales, to the Monastery de la Encarnación, Palacio de Uceda, and, through Calle Mayor, to Plaza de la Villa, a beautiful square with interesting buildings: Casa de la Villa, Casa Cisneros and Tower of Lujanes. Just behind there is one of the best-known and most impressive squares of Madrid, Plaza Mayor, with Casa de la Panadería, an old bakery, and Casa de la Carnicería, an old butchery, as mayor attractions. In the center of the square there is a statue of Philip III.

Citreon still the choice voiture in Spain.

Nothing less...Citreon everywhere..

Other buildings worth visiting in this part of town are the Cathedral of San Isidro, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photo and Casa de Lope de Vega, the house of the famous writer, located in a street named after another great man of this genre, Calle Cervantes. This area is just near La Roja Club Stadium. I mean       " Real Madrid Stadium" where few government ministries such as the welfare department and internal ministry is located.

The outset look very calm and tranquil....no football today.Spanish are just crazy about football...makan bola..eat bola...tidor bola..sleep bola... The only different back home, football fans are just made about this round thing. It is transnational.here ..you can see football fanatic may not only from local but surprisingly there are fanatic from many other part of Europe and some from middle east, they just fly over the week end to watch the game of their favorite team. No wonder Madrid Airport is just like another bus station, hive with activity and confusing at time.

Back to how Madrid come to her existence, historically. When the Bourbon family took over the Spanish crown, Madrid grew to its actual importance. The Royal Palace, Palacio Real, was built in that epoch. To have a walk through through the Bourbons' Madrid you should start again at Puerta del Sol, where you find the remarkable old post.office, Casa de Correos. Walking along Calle Alcalá, one of the most important boulevards of Madrid, you arrive to Casa de Postas, another old post-office, and Real Casa de Aduanas, the Royal Customs Office.

The Royal Palace- Ferdinand & Isabella used to stay here..

Spanish love their King-Juan Carlos...Monarchy is still alive in Spain..

 In the Academy of Arts there is a café with extraordinarily beautiful decoration - maybe a reason to interrupt your sightseeing-trip for a moment, although not only your cup of coffee but alone to enter costs money here ...

Having taken some refreshment, now you will be in the mood to visit the Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia, a chapel that is considered a masterpiece of neoclassic architecture. Where the streets Calle Alcalá and Gran Via cross, you find the splendid 18th century baroque church Iglesia de San José, and later, at the crossing with Cibeles there is the Palace of Buenavista, built 1777 for the Duke of Alba.

Now a museum..cum A Royal reception "de placio" for foreign royal visitors.

From here you may either continue on Calle Alcalá and arrive to the triumphal arch of Puerta de Alcalá, or follow Paseo del Prado with its beautiful fountains of Cibeles, Apollo and Neptune, the Botanical Gardens and the Astronomical Observatory.

In this epoch many parts of Madrid were modified fundamentally, specially by Joseph Bonaparte, who after his brother Napoleon had conquered Spain took over the government and wanted to build in the center of Madrid a wide boulevard in the style of Paris' Champs Elysées. The square Plaza de Oriente with the Teatro Real, Madrid's opera house, were created then. His projects were stopped by Napoleon's final defeat.

 

The triumphal arch of Puerta de Alcalá

 From Plaza de Oriente you pass (once more) Puerta del Sol and arrive to Calle del Prado, with the Palacio de Congresos, Teatro de la Zarzuela and Banco de España.

Museo del Prado needs to be visited with time, as it includes one of the great Museums of Arts in the world.

Parque del Retiro Photo, close to it, is certainly the most beautiful park of Madrid. Here you may have relaxing walks or do some boating on its central lake. The most interesting buildings are the Crystal Palace and the Velazquez Palace.

Real Madrid FC - The shoppe for Real's premium.

The back area of the stadium..

The Real Emblem..shining so with the million of Euros generated,

The Front-- Entrance to the Authentic Real 's Shoppe - funny all ADIDAS!!

Again back to the real Madrid...I mean back to the historical winding road of Madrid. At Paseo de la Castellana you find the most impressive works of this century:

The beautiful gardens Jardines del Descubrimiento at Plaza de Colón, with a big statue of Christopher Columbus, who by the way is called Cristobal Colón in Spanish (now you know who gave his name to all the square). Centro Cultural de la Villa is a cultural center that organizes concerts and other performances each night. More up the Castellana there are several interesting examples of modern architecture: Torres de Colón, Edificio de la Unión y el Fenix, Bankunión, La Adriatica, Compañía de Seguros de Occidente, La Caixa, and the Palace of Congresses and Expositions. The Open Air Sculpture Museum is certainly worth visiting as well.

Among the more interesting works from between 1980 and 1990 are the Fish Market of Puerta de Toledo, the redesigned Train Station of Atocha, the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, the Windsor-Tower, erected over the base of other buildings, the Torre Picasso by Japanese architect Yamasaki of a height of 150 meters, Edificio Sollube and the impressive Torre Europa.

Just that for know, maybe later more insight of Madrid from me, from a difference perspective.

Arriva...!!!!Madrid,