After an unanticipated seven month stay in the US to recover from my shoulder injury in Hanoi, Vietnam, I’m finally getting back to my adventures around the world. For a time, I wasn’t sure everything would work out to get me back on the road. But, although I might need more treatment on the shoulder, I’m in a good place to start again. I’m very, very excited, especially since my youngest son has joined me on the first leg of my trip.
We arrived in Madrid on September 11th and made our way to a lovely 2-bedroom apartment in the old city of Madrid. It is the capital and most populous city in Spain and second-largest city in the European Union. We dropped off our bags and headed straight to the Prado, the very reason that we were in Madrid as my son wanted to see The Garden of Earthly Delights. This is a famous triptych painting by Hieronymus Bosch, created between 1490 and 1510. It depicts scenes of paradise, earthly pleasures, and hell, exploring themes of temptation and sin. I loved seeing it, but I didn’t need to go back to see it several times, as did my son.
The next day on our way to the Plaza Mayor, we saw the royal carriage take the King to the palace and back. It was quite a grand procession of horses and drums.
The Plaza Mayor is the major public square in the heart of Madrid. It was once the center of Old Madrid and was first built during the reign of Philip III. Shops and places to eat line he edge of the square. It’s a great place to do some people watching. On Sundays, a large flea market is held in the square.
From the plaza, we strolled through the beautiful palace gardens on our way to the Temple of Debod, and ancient Nubian temple.
The Temple of Debod is an ancient Nubian temple that sits on a hill overlooking the palace and the city of Madrid. The temple was originally erected in the early 2nd century BC. The Egyptian government donated the temple to Spain in 1968 as a sign of gratitude for their participation in the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia.
The temperature in Madrid is ranging from 88-95 degrees. However, there is almost always a shade to walk in and a breeze to keep things a bit cooler.
