Jardines de San Sebastián, Temple de Debod, Plaza d'Espana, The Prado, Parque Retiro, Museo Regina Sofia

OK guys, time to do some serious sight seeing. We took a last look at the neighbour's place and found quite accidentally the Sabatini gardens right next door. They are done in the classical Spanish style with manicured lawns, statuary and geometrically patterned hedges. And I wish my wisteria grew like the one we saw there.

The Temple de Debod is the the Parque Montana a little further north. The park affords some great views across the eastern side of Madrid. If it's not raining. And it was. The temple itself was built during the Roman occupation and is amazingly good nick. At certain times you can even go into it and, I don't know, perform a pagan ritual or something.

Next stop was the Plaza d'Espana and the statue to Cervantes. As a kid I loved the stories of Don Quixote and Sancho and was keen to visit here. If you haven't read them I urge you to do so. A foolish old man trying to be a bold and daring Knight of old on horseback, doing deeds of right and chivalry when he was a 100 years too late and chivalry was a thing of the past

Let's walk over to the Plaza del Sol, pat the bear and then move on to the Prado dodging buskers on the way. At any time the plaza is alive with people and buskers are there aplenty. Mickey and Minnie Mouse mascots, Super Mario, Peppa Pig, Winnie the Pooh, that homicidal doll Chucky, you name it, you can get your photo taken with them for a few euros.

The Prado is the largest art gallery in the world with the largest collection of old masters. They literally number in the thousands with Titans, Carravagios, Goyas, Reuben's, blah, blah, blah, the list just goes on. You name it, you can be pretty sure they have it.

And you can't take a picture of a damned one of them. What a bugger.

Ok, we got our Old Masters culture fix, lets move on the the Parque Retiro. This is just behind the Prado and covers about 500 acres or so with pristine lawns, woodlands, rose gardens, meandering paths and a wonderfully popular artificial lake. For not much at all you can hire a row boat and take your girl/family/friends boating for a while. And many do it must be said. Me? I like my gelati too much for that kind of foolishness.

One last stop for the day, as it was approaching 7:00 pm by now, was the gallery of Reina Sofia which is itself enormous and houses the more modern of the arts. Jackie waited in line to fulfil her dream of seeing the Picasso masterwork of the civil war, Guernica.

Please, please, let's call it a day and eat something. Chocolate churros to the rescue.

 One last look at the neighbour's house.

This is the North facade.

Jardines de Sabatini.

We weren't looking for it but were glad to have found it anyway.
A happy accident and really beautiful.

Temple de Debod is an ancient Roman temple kept and maintained by the city.

The statue of Cervantes in the Plaza d'Espana.

He wrote the wonderful stories of Don Quixote and his faithful servant Sancho.

The mad knight himself, Don Quixote with his servant Sancho Panser.

Great stories of a man out of step with current realities.

 In the Plaza del Sol is a famous statue of El Oso y el Madrono (the Bear and the Strawberry Tree)
Rubbing his foot is good luck or something.

The Prado is the largest Art Museum IN THE   WORLD !!!

Thousands of paintings by old masters like Reuben's, Titian, Goya and of course Valezquez.

And no photos allowed inside (damn it). You'll have to wait.

The Parque Retiro is a gianormous and beautiful parks and gardens area in the very heart of Madrid.
It is quite the done thing to take your girl boating on the artificial lake.
Jackie and I settled for some gelatis and just watched them.

This the the Palacio del Cristal. 

It is one of a couple of structures in the park and now used as exhibition space for the arts.

This is an amazing statue that it even exists.
It refers to the Angel Caido (the fallen angel) who, if you read your bible, then went on to become the Devil. In a catholic country there is a statue to the Devil !!!

Dipping churros in melted chocolate is a great way to end a very busy day.