Spain trip - Madrid, pt. 1

San Ginés- first church!

Oh, yea, baby!

The Prado's north entry

Madrid's Atocha train station

Museo Reina Sofia hallway

Charles had a longer than anticipated trip to Spain on the flights to Madrid on Sunday/Monday.  A couple of delays set things back a tad but otherwise the flights were good and he arrived in Spain's capitol city in good order. 

The next hic-cup was getting to the train station for his transit card (buses/metro trains) and Madrid Card (entry to the museums, etc.). A nice bus ride to the Atocha station and wondering around for what seemed like ages (no one seemed to know what he was looking for!) before stumbling upon the kind lady at the counter who set him straight!!!

Leaving his rucksack in the "left luggage" lockers, Charles set out to see what he could see in this cosmopolitan city. On his was to the Cathedral he passed by the Iglesia Parroquial de San Ginés de Arlés in time for the 11 am mass, beautiful setting in what is possibly the oldest church in the city. There was a good congregation with about fifty in attendance. Since he missed worship yesterday he couldn't pass up the chance to worship in Spain.

A quick look at La Chocolatería San Ginés which was just behind the church down an ally. Amazing staff and goodies to offer passerby! 

On to the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena which is next door to the royal palace. A long climb to the top of the dome yielded a tired boy but with some awesome views of the city. The Romanesque crypt below the cathedral was also interesting to see.

Another metro ride and a long walk brought Charles to the prize of the day: The Museo Nacional del Prado. To get an idea of what he saw today, visit this link and click on the three hour visit. He took longer than the initially scheduled time as there were two additional visits (beyond the 3 hour tour) exhibits, "Goya in Madrid" and one on Rogier van der Wyden that he just couldn't pass up!

Though he was tired, one more museum beckoned, The Museo Centro Arte (aka, Reine Sofia).  This was across the street from the train station so it was on the way! If the Prado is traditional art of the European masters, Reine Sofia is for the art of the 20th century and today. Lots and lots of space, too much to see in one two-hour visit, but way cool!

A quick bite to eat and then perhaps an early bed time?

Tally: Two museums & two churches