Sightseeing in Spain - January 21-27,2013

The Biologist traveled to Spain in January 2013 for a 3-day business meeting in Madrid and was able to squeeze in a little sightseeing before and after the meeting.

Day 1:  The Biologist's flight left Jacksonville in the early afternoon.  The first leg of her journey took her to the Atlanta Airport in Georgia, where she met up with three colleagues who were on the same flight to Madrid.  Fortunately, it wasn't a long layover... or at least it wasn't supposed to be.  However, the plane had mechanical problems and a new plane needed to be flown in!  Glad they discovered the problem before we were over the Atlantic!

Iglesia de Santiago

Day 2:  Our overnight flight landed in Madrid in the morning and the four of us shared a cab to our hotel in the historic downtown area.  As soon as we checked in and dropped our luggage off in our rooms, three of us headed out to explore the city.  Our first stop was Plaza Mayor, a plaza in the city's center that has origins dating back to the 1500s, that has an article on Wikipedia, is the site of a Philatelic Photograph, and is home to an Equestrian Statue of Philip III, a Monarch of the World.  Then we took off to the Iglesia de Santiago.  This Old Church, a Catholic Church featured in Wikipedia that has two Signs of History about it, is a medium-sized church dating from the 19th century and is located near the Royal Palace. Unfortunately, the church was closed so we were unable to get inside.

Palacio Real de Madrid

Next we headed over to the Palacio Real de Madrid, a beautiful palace of Baroque Architecture that is the site of a Philatelic Photograph.  Although this Spanish Heritage site is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, it is only used for state ceremonies.  We took the palace tour and were amazed by its opulence.  Unfortunately, photography was not allowed so we have no photos to share of the interior.  By the time we finished our palace tour, it was getting late and it was time to head back to the hotel, although we did make a short stop at a European Post Office and our way!

Days 3-5:  Time to work. Our meeting location was about a 10-minute walk from our hotel, and on Day 5 a few of us took a route to the meeting site that took us by the Palacio del Marques de Perales, the 18th century palatial home of the Marquis de Perales del Río.  The building, which has a lovely Baroque facade, is a Spanish Heritage site and is now the headquarters of the National Newspaper according to Wikipedia.  The meeting location was also only about 100 meters away from a geocache, our first geocache in Spain!

Galacia Cross

After our meeting ended on Day 5, there was still about an hour of daylight left, so the Biologist did a little nearby exploring and found the Galacia Cross in the Plaza Jacinto Benavente.  This Christian Cross bears the Statues of Religious Figures of the crucified Christ, Virgin Mary, baby Jesus, and Apostle James, and marks the Way of St. James.  Next, the Biologist spotted the Orpheus Fountain depicting the legendary Greek musician, poet, and prophet.  This beautiful Fountain included a Dog Statue and a Musical Instrument and, according to Wikipedia, is an Exact Replica of the original fountain that used to be at this site but was taken apart in 1865.  And then just before darkness fell, the Biologist stopped to admire the Iglesia de la Santa Cruz. This Old Church is a Catholic Church that was built from 1889-1902 and is a Spanish Heritage site with a statuesque Bell Tower.

Vertices Geodesica

Day 6:  While most of the other meeting participants headed back home today, three of us stayed over through the weekend.  The first goal for the day was to head to the Feria area of Madrid where we found a Vertices Geodesica.  This waymarking target was a difficult one to find in Madrid.  I had identified several in the city... at least on paper; however, most of them were atop buildings that did not have access to their rooftops and weren't visible from the ground.  Luckily we found the one in Feria.  Unluckily it was behind a locked fenced-in area so we were only able to take photos from afar.  Fortunately they were good enough to post.  Whew!  That was a tough one.

Next we headed back to the city center to the Puerto del Sol where we spotted an Equestrian Statue of  Historic Figure Carlos III, a Monarch of the World who ruled as King of Spain from 1759 to 1788 according to Wikipedia.  Close by was a cute Statue of a Bear on its hind legs with it front paws resting on a strawberry tree.  The statue represents the city's coat of arms.

Madrid Coat of Arms

Bear with Strawberry Tree

We split up at that point and the Biologist started moving away from the city center toward the popular garden known as the Jardines del Buen Retiro, but on the way she found a Dead Poet's Society Memorial to Cervantes, a famous Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright best know for his magnum opus, Don Quixote.  This Statue of an Historic Figure was the subject of a Philatelic Photograph.  The Biologist had brought along a picture of the stamp in hopes of finding the statue but wasn't sure exactly where it was located.  Fortunately, she stumbled upon it while out and about playing tourist.  Sweet!

Un Pintor Para El Prado

Also on the way to the garden, the Biologist spotted an Occupational Monument titled "Un Pintor Para El Prado," in recognition of artists (painters), located on the grounds of the Museo del Prado, the main Spanish national art museum.  Then on to the absolutely stunning Iglesia de los San Jeronima el Real, which is a Spanish Heritage site.  This Old Church is a Roman Catholic Church from the early 16th century has a stunning Doorway of the World, not to mention twin Bell Towers and a multitude of Gargoyles and a Unique Weathervane!  Some excellent waymarking opportunities here, that's for sure.

Finally the Biologist made it to the garden where she spotted Love Locks on a fence surrounding an enormous ahuehuete (cypress) tree.  Unfortunately, there were only four locks on the fence so far so it wasn't enough to post under this lovable category.  While in the garden, she spotted a monument to famed Spanish dramatist Jacinto Benavente who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1922.  Next she strolled along the Paseo de las Estatuas or Statue Walk and spotted 13 (yes, THIRTEEN!) Monarchs of the World.  Wow, the Biologist sure did look funny running from statue to statue and taking coords and photos of this royal entourage.

Paseo de las Estatuas or Statue Walk

After leaving the part from its northern end, she did a double take when she spotted the Alcala Gate.  This magnificent Freestanding Arch, the subject of a Philatelic Photograph, was commissioned by King Charles III and completed in 1778.  Across from the neo-classical gate was the Banco de España or Bank of Spain, a Spanish Heritage site that was also the subject of a Philatelic Photograph and according to Wikipedia is the national central bank of Spain and was established in 1782 by King Charles III.  Cha ching!  Also near this location was the James Joyce Irish Pub with a Pub Sign depicting the pub's namesake, James Joyce, an Irish novelist and walking in his trademark hat and glasses.

Alcana Gate

Alcana Gate Postage Stamp

Continuing on the way back to the hotel, the Biologist stopped at a couple more historic Catholic Churches listed as Spanish Heritage sites.  These Old Churches were both of the Baroque Architecture style.  Just lovely.  She also spotted a couple more Dead Poet's Society Memorials.  All in all, a great day for wandering around Madrid.

Garcilaso de la Vega

Day 7:  Today, the three of us remaining in Spain after our meeting ended took a half-day tour to historic Toledo, located about 70 km south of Madrid.  It was a whirlwind tour, but we got to see some of the most amazing buildings in the old city area.  The tour bus dropped us off at the at the base of the hilltop on which the old city is located.  Then after taking escalators up most of the way, we began the rest of our climb on foot.  We first came across the Iglesia de Santa Leocadia (Church of Saint Leocadia), a Catholic Church that was constructed in the 13th century.  This Medieval Church is listed on the Spanish Heritage site and has a Bell Tower and Doorway of the World.  Next to it was the Iglesia de San Pedro Mártir (part of the Convent of San Pedro the Martyr), which dates from the late 1500s.  This Old Catholic Church is also listed on the Spanish Heritage site and has a Sign of History, a nice Bell Tower, and a Coat of Arms above its entrance.  Across the way from the convent was a small garden with a Statue of Historic Figure and Dead Poet Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536), a Spanish soldier and poet claimed to be the most influential poet to introduce Italian Renaissance verse forms, poetic techniques and themes to Spain.

Toledo Cathedral

The next stop on our walking tour was the spectacular Toledo Cathedral (also known as the Catedral de Santa María de Toledo or the Cathedral of Saint Mary), which has quite an ornate Bell Tower and Doorway of the World. According to Wikipedia, this Medieval Roman Catholic Church is "one of three 13th-century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered, in the opinion of some authorities, to be the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain. It was begun in 1226 under the rule of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century when, in 1493, the vaults of the central nave were finished during the time of the Catholic Monarchs." Unfortunately, because we only took the half-day tour instead of the full-day tour, we didn't have time to go inside.  What a shame.  I'm sure it would have been awesome to see.

Monastery Dome of the Underworld

A bit further along we came to the Palacio de Fuensalida, a 15th century palace and a Spanish Heritage site.  This palace was built in the Toledo Mudéjar style, which is a blend of the Gothic, Plateresque and Mudéjar Architecture styles of which very few specimens remain in the Spanish heritage.  Next was the Iglesia de San Juan de los Reyes (aka Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes or Monastery of Saint John of the Kings), which was built from 1477-1504 and is listed on the Spanish Heritage site.  Fortunately, we had time to go inside This Old Medieval Catholic Church, which has a beautiful Dome of the Underworld, and got to see its verdant courtyard that is surrounded by Gargoyles.


After exiting the monastery, we began making our way down the hilltop until we came to Saint Martin's Bridge, a medieval bridge over the river Tagus that was constructed in the late 14th century.  This historic Arch Bridge is a Spanish Heritage site constructed in the Gothic Architecture style.  After taking some photos of the bridge and the view of the river from the bridge, we hopped back on the bus and made our way back to Madrid.

Saint Martin's Bridge

Day 8:  Today, it was time to bid farewell to Spain.  The Biologist hopes she'll make it back to this country some day to see more of it than Madrid and Toledo, although they were both wonderful.  But she just barely scratched the surface.  So for now it's adiós y nos vemos luego Spain!