A little magic in Madrid

Madrid greeted us with a clear but dark morning at 5 degrees, a little on the chilly side. Tired, disorientated and dizzy we found our way to our hotel, Vienna Suites, with a pre booked mini bus (Aero City- 26 Euro; Not bad for 4 people).

The rest of the day consisted of a walk around the nearby Palace, Cathedral, Plaza De Espana and a scrumptious Spanish lunch at the Plaza de Mayor. We fumbled along for the rest of the day, jet lagged, interspersed with rests at the hotel. Dinner was some sausages cooked by Anne and her assistant, yours truly, in our room and off to bed by 7.00 p.m. Us Muskovits’ are such a sociable lot!

Day Two feeling a little better, and unbeknown to me, we were off shopping (with a modicum of sightseeing thrown in too). Katie was in her element with a spring in her step. At one stage Katie and I were together in a rather chic store looking for a winter coat where I, trying to sound like a fashionista, enthusiastically exclaimed; “No Katie, that’s a jumper!” to which she dismissively replied; “If mum dies, we’re screwed”.  In the end, both Katie and Colie picked up 70-100% pure woollen winter coats for under $130 each. (Clothing is so much cheaper in Spain).

The Del Prado museum was such a cultural highlight. We can thank King Philip IV of Spain for the legacy of a wonderful Rueben’s collection.  Colie was an astute navigator and by the afternoon we had mastered the Madrid underground (1 euro per person to any location with trains arriving every 1 to 5 minutes) and it proved a real antithesis to Sydney’s archaic transport system. 

Sadly the football gods conspired against me. Although there was a game at the Bernabou tomorrow I would only be able to watch it on TV.

Between the girls Katie, like her Dad, had assumed the mantle of photographer in residence. When Colie was quizzed why she was not taking photos, her incisive response was; “Life is one big photo”.

Day Three saw us feasting on; you guessed it, more shopping. Apart from a visit to the National Museum which saw us reacquainted with Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso’s famous painting depicting the Spanish civil war; Guernica.  A late lunch at 1.30 pm, early by Spanish standards, in the Plaza of Porte de Sol was a wonderful experience as was the tapas and cocktails later at the Vienna Cafe near our hotel. The waitress gave a hearty laugh when she brought me my cocktail; Sex on the Beach. 

That night Anne and I visited the illuminated Temple of Debod (An Egyptian monument brought over piece by piece in the late sixties), situated high on a hill in a Park, with great views of the Palace. I took lots of photos while amorous Spanish couples publically professed their love to the world. 

And what of the news of world as we travelled (courtesy BBC and CNN).

§                                                    The Pope allows contraception under extenuating HIV AIDS circumstances

§                                                    New Zealand miners trapped underground with the rescue currently thwarted    due to poisonous gases

§                                                    NATO summit

§                                                    Three arrested for the murder of a man found in a car in England

§                                                    The Brits want Prince William, recently engaged to Kate Middleton, and not Prince Charles to be their next King

§                                                    England bullish about their chances in the Ashes series against Australia beginning next week

§                                                    Quiddich being played in US Colleges minus the flying. (Some might say Life imitating Art poorly)

And my impressions of Madrid?

§                                                    Wonderful architecture

§                                                    Spontaneous street music

§                                                    A city in love with its cuisine and its cuisine in love with the city

§                                                    A living art culture
                      Long queues in the Plaza for lotterry tickets

§                                                    Proud, well dressed men and women

§                                                    Barcelona football paraphernalia worn in Madrid

§                                                    High Police presence

§                                                    Pushy people in a hurry

None-the-less all of us came to the consensus that we were pleasantly surprised by Madrid and were held captive by her charm.

Muchas Gracias Madrid.

Spain is a bookend to our inaugural two week Moroccan odyssey. Madrid now, and Barcelona after, nestled in-between our North African affair of the senses.

And what of Morocco as she expectantly awaits.

Will she be an awkward first date, or a jilted lover?

Perhaps she will be a long lost love or just a friend?

We shall see.

Until next time,

Good tiding and God’s blessings

Janika

PS As I conclude this blog, Nepal has caught up with Colie. She has come down with flu and is valiantly struggling. With a dose of antibiotics, rest, love and care hopefully the worst will pass within a couple of days.