More from Madrid

Greetings from Madrid, 

Today’s touring started with a walk to the Royal Palace.  It was about a one mile walk from our apartment. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family and  is used primarily for state ceremonies. It has 1,450,000 sq ft of floor space and 3,418 rooms.  The Royal Palace is one of the largest palaces in the world.  

While we were downloading the app before the tour, I had the opportunity to explain to my nieces what a cathedral was and the difference between a cathedral and a basilica, knowledge I know they appreciated.  In an unrelated note they showed me the exercise called an eye roll.  Apparently you have to do it often for it to be effective.  To say the palace was ostentatious would be a huge understatement.  We’ll post some photos but we finished the tour wondering how people could became so wealthy and so powerful just by being lucky at birth.   

After a needed lunch we set out to find the cloistered nunnery that sells cookies.   Rick Steves wrote about it so it’s become quite an attraction.  The door is unremarkable and after ringing the door bell, the door opens.  The customer walks down a hallway to a lazy Susan type device.  You place your order and supply the money and the lazy Susan is spun around.  The customer’s order is filled and his/her change is returned.  There is no conversation and you never see the nun.  Sadly, it was closed but we’ll try again tomorrow.   

Cathy’s cousins, Debbie Kolb and Lisa Maas were passing through Madrid today on their way to their starting point of the 500 mile trail of St. James.  The walk starts in France and takes them across Spain and is called El Camino.  We were only a long walk away from the train station so met them and had just enough time for a short visit.  We were grateful we had the chance to wish them well on their journey.  After the visit they left to begin their 500 mile walk and we chose to take a cab back to our rental - don’t tell Lisa and Debbie.