Now That is Special Madrid

It my third day in sunny Madrid. Weather is hot, no need of a jacket. Drinking way to much! Yesterday I meet up with Andre from Walks of Madrid. We visited a few tapas bars, I lost count how many we visited so it must be more than a few. Talked about life, politics, women, GB, women, Madrid, women, Spain and more about women. Also with us was a British writer, here for cricket match. The guy was funny as hell and would make anyone laugh, which I did almost every minute.

I think Andre is kind of disappointed I did not get to shot as many photos of tapas bar photos I planned to. But I was having to much fun that it makes up for lost photo ops. (Another trip to Madrid to do this!). On the other Andre and me shared so many drinks I can say I made another friend in Madrid.

Today is Monday Wow and it not even over!

Everything close, so was going to do some street photographs of Madrid. Get to the Royal Palace, I notice the was a parade, full of horses and the riders were all dress in costumes that remind me of the Napoleonic Wars. I chase them all the way to Plaza Royal. Took tons of photos at the Plaza and they also have horse drawn carriages. I follow some of the riders back to the Royal Place which in now rope off, to take more photos. I notice all the military personal are full military formal looking uniforms and there is a military band and honor guard.

Also of sudden the horse drawn carriages show up and the elderly gentleman inside start waving to the crowd. I wonder who is he? I have a good photo of him and will find out.

My best trips when something unplanned happens and I get great photos of it and it already happened! Life is good, as I like to say to people!

Tonight I meeting up with the Chairman and Connie from the Wellington Society. That sentence translates to more drink tonight!

Well my photos should be backed up by now to my portable and the batteries recharged for more photos!

Having way to much fun in Madrid!

Bill

Bill, I've got the inside scoop on what you saw today. A good friend of mine is a tour guide for the Palacio Real and she was there too, so when I read your post I did a little investigating.

What was going on was the traditional presentation of the new ambassadors to Spain. In this case, seven countries (I think one was Switzerland) had their new ambassadors hand in their credentials to the King of Spain. I believe it's a tradition that goes back to Carlos III. Apparently there is no official date for this act to occur. Obviously it's too much pomp for just one ambassador, so when they have five, six or seven, they celebrate it.

Tha carriages go to the foreign office building behind the Plaza Mayor and pick up one of the ambassadors and escorts him to the palace, where he/she hands in their credentials to the king. Then he/she is taken back to the foreign office and another is picked up. So, today the process was repeated seven times.

The man in the carriage was an ambassador and probably just excited to be getting all the attention.

By the way...and this is good information for anyone visitng Madrid...places like the Palacio Real are subject to visiting changes whenever an official act is held there. So, don't be surprised if you show up at the gate and are told to come back tomorrow. The palace can be closed on any given day. It isn't often...but it isn't rare either.

Anyway, Bill, I'd like to see that picture. I really enjoyed the ones from the "gathering" in NYC, as well as the ones from your website. Sounds like you're having a blast in Madrid. Good to hear.

Thanks for the info Murdy. Will send you an email and post a link here (if allowable by MM?) to let you know. I reviewed them. I am a tough critic on myself and I honestly did get some interesting photos.

Well I went out with the Chairman, got wasted and they had to take me back to my hotel. Two straight days of drinks is something I cannot handle.

The next day I was up six in the morning, not much of an hangover and decided to visit Segovia. The Roman Aqueduct is amazing. I guess the best Roman ruins you can see are outside of Italy. I skipped dinner in Segovia, since another of my goals was to see Goya´s frescoes at Chapel San Antonio de la Florida. I missed the chance to see them on my first visit to Madrid and was determine to see them on the second trip. The bus station for Segovia in Madrid is close by to the church. For me skipping dinner in Segovia to see the frescoes was worth it.

Since it was my last night in Madrid, I call the Connie and the Chairman for some last drinks in Madrid. The Chairman made promise to me that he will so me something. So it seems next year I have to come back to Madrid to keep him to his word.

We visited a few bull bars and I ask for something not as noisy as the bars we were visiting. They took me to a wine bar and a very good one. La Cruzada located on Amnistia 8, a block away from Teatro Real.

The wine was fantastic, but the tapas we were served were... Well let me put it this way there are tapas at bars and tapas at La Cruzada are in a class all by themselves. I wish I found out about this place on my first night in Madrid, because I would have visited every night. If you are into wines, care what you drink, looking for good food that goes with the wine, give this place a try and you will not be sorry.

The last two days I been in Santiago de Compostela taking a vacation, a real vacation. The weather is strange. In the morning it is cold, that you need a wear a jacket. But late afternoon it is hot, too hot for wearing a jacket. The last two nights I have not needed to wear my jacket and I get back to my hotel around 11:00 at night.

My first day in Compostela, I had lunch at Cafe Manolo. For six euros I had a two course meal which was a big salad, follow by steak with fries, bottle water, bread and two glasses of wine. For six euros this food was good for the cheap price I paid. I still cannot believe it cost me six euros.

I also found in Compostela, Cafe Casino and I have been visiting everyday. It is one of those old time cafe, that have lounge chairs that you would find in peoples living rooms. The cafe is lay back and I find it is a great place to relax, drink, eat, read, talk or think to one self. I love these types of cafes.

Today is Thursday night as I write this and I had another unexpected photo op. Twice already the gods must be smiling at me.

This one was interesting how I found about it. Yesterday I had to get my laundry done and the tourist office gave me a map and direction for some places. When I got there they were all close so I try again this morning to get my laundry done. At the laundromat the women attendant said my cloths would by ready in over an hour. I told her I would come after four since I want to spend my time see more of Composelta.

I went back at five in the afternoon to pick up my laundry. On my way there, I notice on one of the streets some people were building a stage and I saw a poster nearby. I cannot read any Spanish, but I can connect the dots. The poster had a outline of a woman´s figure, the poster mention a time of 21:00 tonight and the stage they are building was a model runway stage. I know its another photo ops so I went back to the locate before nine.

Now the stage has stage lighting, reserved seating and it is crowded. I pull out my camera, walk pass everyone and park my feet right next to the stage were the models come out. No one says anything to me, even the pros look over me and my photo gear. I do not care I am on vacation to have fun and shooting models is fun!

Sure enough it was a fashion show. They had female, male and children, modeling cloths. All the female models were attractive and I took photos of all of models. I would have to say the female models were hot. I guess you can say they same thing about the male model but I NO EXPERT in the field!

If anyone can give me some details about tonights Fashion Show in Compostela I like to know some more and does Compostela have many fashion shows?

One day for Barcelona and back to work.

Bill

Bill, you create pictures with words as well as you take them with your camera! I've got a sneaky suspicion that you're enjoying Spain!

Good for you Bill!
I was in Santiago in June. We arrived at the bus station at about 11:00PM. I think arriving anywhere (unfamiliar)that late is best avoided.
We had NO bookings so we had to look for a place.
I am fluent in Spanish so I was able to ask how to get to the "tourist district". The replys were always confusing as there are several ways to get there...the roads were dark and vacant. We even had to take a short-cut throught the bushes! anyway after asking 2 or 3 times we were standing in front of the cathedral. We went into the Parador to ask some info for accomodations. The price? ~ 300 Euros. The front desk was kind enough to give us a map and reccomended a little place just around the corner. We found the place right away. By then it was midnight but got let in, we saw the room and took it. The name of the place is the "Pico Sacro". The price was very good. There is a little coffee bar right in the lobby where we had breakfast each day. The owners are super nice I cannot recommend this place enough. Quiet and 3 min from the cathedral.

Today is my last day in Compostela and I had another photo op.

I was planning to go see the Roman Lighthouse today, as day trip. But when the alarm clock went off at six in the morning, I was not in the mood and went back to bed for a few more hours of sleep. That morning I came up with a substitute idea. I would spend the morning taking candid photos of the pilgrims that arrived that before the noon mass. It was fun taking photos of them and I did learn something from studying those pilgrims (which is going to make a story when I finish it!)

It was around eleven when a large group of men and women dress in black uniforms entered the cathedral. Seeing them alerted my camera instincts so I decided to attend the 12 noon mass and found myself sitting on the right wing of the cathedral, 45 minutes before mass started. Lucky for me a very old gentleman sat next to me before mass started

Since the mass was in Spanish and I do not understand it, I followed the gentleman sitting next to me. He stood, I stood. He sat, I sat. He made the sign of the cross with his hands, I did it too. The only thing I did not do is sing, because I cannot sing even in English!

After communion, then the did swing the huge incense burner. I checked the tourist office, there was nothing planned while I was in Compostela.

It is amazing to see and it is better when it unexpected. Yes the camera gods were smiling on me again! Did take some amazing photos of the incense burner while it was swinging. Better yet, because when it being used, it spouts a huge amount of smoke like a smoke stack. Compare to the boring photos I took when it was just hanging in the cathedral doing nothing.

I took a tour later on the day and my tour guide told me someone must have paid for them to swing the incense burner. Lucky me because it did not cost me anything!

Tomorrow I fly to Barcelona, were I thought I was going to take all the interesting photos of this trip!

Bill

Bill, it seems to me that you are the kind of person with the ability to be in the right place at the right time But that is consequence of two skills any tourist should have to enjoy and squeeze the most of a trip: patience and curiousity.

Fernando

Bill I am more than happy with the pictures you took in fact I can´t wait to see the ones you so kindly took at sunset. As for La Cruzada I go there often, it is also one of my favorite wine bars. Which tapas did you have?
Also, I suppose you must have great pictures of Queens. You seem to be very fond of this NY neighborhood and you arose my curiosity.

Thanks
Andres

Andres

I wish you send something to me while I was in Madrid. I carry my portable PC, for the camera and I have a CD of photos of were I live and work. It to share with people I meet on my travels and might never get a chance to visit NYC. I think it is rare things to meet a New Yorker with photos.

We were served three types, but the one the was the best was bread with small round "sweet" meat. Now I going to have to post the photos when I get back. More photos!

Barcelona is a photographer´s eye candy. Amazing place to photograph. The street preformers are unique. I thought I seen them all but not the ones along Barcelona´s Ramblas.

I show the preformer the money I going to drop in the bucket. Start taking a few photos while the performer is frozen. Then drop the money in their bucket and them the street preformer with acts up for my camera and I take a few more. But I do not stay around to long because of my expensive camera might draw attention from those who would like to help me part with it.

Today, Sunday, I took the Barcelona Walking Tours, Modernisme. Very good tour and if you are in Barcelona I can highly recommended. It is two hour walking tour for eight euros. I did not even take one photo while on the tour and I had my camera. It was so informative tomorrow I wanted to hear every word and tomorrow I will take the photos of the buildings I visited today. But now I think my photos will be better because I understand what I am shooting instead of taking photos because the building is interesting to look at.

Late in the day today, I hang out on the roof of La Pedrera, to get photos of the chimneys at sundown. It was worth sitting for an 1/2 hour waiting for the right light and security did not mine. Took some interesting photos and I can say top of La Pedrera does look better at sundown.

Tomorrow more of the same, because Barcelona is just full of photo ops.

Bill

FYI

The front of the Barcelona´s Catherdal is cover because of restoration. The only thing that can be seen the top.

Visited Sagrada Familia three times. That is because the sun in the morning and afternoon will hit different parts of the Sagrada. The afternoon sun will light up the color windows. They do have some completed but the real interesting one are blocked by construction. To bad but they look like the one I seen in Madrid´s Cathedral.

For me the best time to visit Sagrada is late in the afternoon when the sun low. The statues found at the entrance, seem to be more dramatic is the warm yellow sun.

I had to wait until 6:30 when they kicked out the tourists, the workers departed and then security closed both main doors with the writing on it to photograph it. It was a long wait from 6:00 to 6:30 and I did not move from my spot. Tour group came, the guide looked at me and I gave her a New Yorker Piss off look. Big deal she had someone in the middle of her tour group not interested in her tour. I got my photos!

Another thing about Familia that is not mention in any tour book and why you should visit, is that you get an sense of the effort and the years to build these European cathedrals. Replace the metal scaffolding with wooden ones. Replace the cranes with rope. Replace the hard hat workers with craftsmen in robes. It is the same thing. The only thing now it faster and seeing all the work being done as you walk through the Sagrada, you know why if you read somewhere in a guide book took 800 years to finished a cathedral in Europe.

I think I becoming popular with some of Barcelona´s street performers. If I take a good photo of their act, I give them my card with my website address telling them that I will post a photo when I get back. Now when I walk pass some of them, they say hi or give me a nod with their head acknowledging me.

Tomorrow I visiting Montserrat. Will bring my jacket and lunch.

Bill

I took the first train in and last train out when I visited Montserrat. Spent the whole day there, I am exhausted and need a vacation from Montserrat. At least my legs do!

All in all I think Montserrat is amazing and depressing.

Depressing with all the sick or handicapped people showing up looking for a miracle. It made me think see them. They are looking for miracles by going to shrines like the one at Montserrat. Healthy people look for miracles by playing the lottery. Same thing, its just a different god people give money to.

Maybe I need a miracle too. God if you make me the smartest person on the planet I promise to spend the rest of my life looking for a cure for cancer. God I am I still idiot. I guess you want people to have cancer.

Visually Montserrat is amazing when you get away (run away from them fast as you can) from the main square and cathedral where all the tourist hang out. You have to walk the trails taking in the views which I think make Montserrat different from the religious experience and why I came.

I did two walks in Montserrat. The easy one to Santa Cova Monastery. Very picturesque views and lots of photos ops.

When I reached the Monastery I had to wait 45 minutes for two women to leave who were praying. I let them have their peaceful time, did not want to disturbed them with the snap of my camera. But the did try my patience.

After that I went up, really up to the top were they have the nature walks. Foolish me I did the Sant Joan over 1300 meters up (over 4000 feet) walk. It takes over an hour one way and the last leg is nothing but steps. My legs are still hurting from all the pounding from those steep steps when I walked down. Carry 20 pounds of camera gear does not help the situation and running make it to the funicular because I was not sure when the last one was.

I am proud I did make it up there. Managed to take photos of the sign showing the how high the point is, the compass and most of all the views. I wished someone was there to take my photo to prove I did it, but I have the memories. On the other hand I did it because I really did not know how high and long it was going to be. (Reading the last sentence the word 'idot' pops into my head)

Today I visited Barcelona´s beach in the morning. If I live here I wonder were I want to have my morning coffee. Up the mountain? Near by at a cafe? Or on the beach? Because they are all close by and in walking distance. I think that one of the things I find in Barcelona that makes it unique. It´s diversity. Can one say that about other places in Spain? (I do not know the answer)

Tomorrow is Sitges, last day trip I will make. It is getting close to the end of my vacation. Today is the first time I thought about work, but it was just for a second.

Bill

(Bill, who is thinking writing the stuff is a complete was of his time and the only one who is interested in reading it is Bill.)

I finally made a mistake in my travel plans. Having just come back from Sitges for the day, I wished I made plans to spend the night there.

I love the peace and quite along Sitges´s beaches (different from the noisy Barcelona) and found the time to take off my shoes, roll up my pants and walked along the beach barefoot. My feet loved the wet sand and cool water, it was the rest my feet needed from the beating they took Montserrat.

I had lunch, expensive one 40 euros at La Salseta, Saint Pau 35 in Sitges. It was recommended by the owner of the hostel I am staying at. I always have expensive meal and the end of my trip and was not disappointed. My main meal was layers of pork stuff with black and white sausage. A meal to remember and I will.

Tomorrow is my last day in Barcelona. The next day I fly home and the day after that I go back to work. Right now I feel I won the lottery, spent all my winnings now I go back to work because I am broke. I guess next year I will win the lottery again.

This will be my last message posted, take care all. :o

Bill