Tuesday, April 26, 2011

4/22-23 Madrid

La Plaza de España is near the major shopping area of Madrid. It is dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the most important Spanish author. He is the figure in white stone and the characters from his most important novel are located down front - Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.
On this side we were interested to see a scene from the short novel that we read in class this year - La Gitanilla.

We have been taking turns trying to find our way using the map and the street signs. Here Dylan is giving it a go.Small charming streets are everywhere. This one was near the Plaza Mayor.



We had bocadillos de calamares for dinner in the Plaza Mayor and afterwards we found this lovely illuminated building.


We want something like El Estadio de Santiago Bernabeu for our soccer fans. Real Madrid plays here and it never floods. There is enough seating for all of Southern Vermont.


The players seat´s are pretty nice too, as you can see by these guys´ faces.


4/22 Madrid

Madrid is a wonderful place to visit even when raining and dreary. We visited the Palacio Real today and managed to snap this picture of the front when there was a random ray of sunshine. The palace is not used as the home of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia now. They live in a smaller palace, but it is used for important government events.
Here Bit is just amazed at the sights.


We had to ask special permission in order to take this photo in the guardhouse of the palace.


We stopped in the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) for this shot of the group.


The restaurant under the archways had wonderful churros y chocolate. We also had some traditional torrijas which Hannah says taste like French toast but better.




Here we are at Boston´s Logan airport anxious to get on our Iberia flight.


What a surprise to find Spanish students and their families waiting for us at the airport. Do you recognize these faces?