Spain is a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos. The previous ruler, Francisco Franco, ruled as dictator from 1936 to 1975.
On Our Own
After dinner we slowly strolled back to our hotel, Hotel L'Opera. We noticed that the number of people on the street nearly doubled later in the evening. There were many young people heading out to meet friends, as we were heading back to our rooms to retire. This is a city that doesn't sleep! Some nightclubs don't even open until 12:30! We looked at the many purses, watches, and crafts that were laid out on sheets in the street. It was funny to watch them all quickly disappear when a police car came into view. And I had my eye on a cute red bag that suddenly moved down the street!
Travel Tips
Be sure to ask your guide if it is permissible to purchase goods from the transient street vendors. We have been in some cities where it is illegal and you could be fined if you do make a purchase.
Upon our arrival in Madrid, we boarded our large orange bus for a city tour, narrated by Federico. Now we were on his home turf, and you could hear the pride in his voice as he pointed out landmarks. Madrid is a huge metropolis, with busy streets and modern buildings. We passed the beautiful flag-fying Madrid City Hall with the fountain of Cibeles in front. The bullfighting arena was another stop. Although Barcelona no longer has bullfights, the sport continues in Madrid. Federico explained how to get tickets to the tourists who were so inclined.
There was another statue of Columbus. Then we stopped for one of Federico's entertaining stories at the statue of Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho. After listening to Federico, we're all determined to get Cervante's book when we return home.
Parque del Retiro
We had a beautiful, sunny afternoon for walking in the park. This was once royal property until opened to the public by Charles III. There were musicians playing by the lake and ice cream stands on the walkways. We were happy! The crystal palace sparkled as the sun was beginning to set. The grounds were immaculately kept with flower borders, grassy areas, and some unusual trees and bushes. My favorite were the "broccoli" trees.
Wine Tasting
This evening we went to a local restaurant for some wine tasting. After the tasting, we stayed with some of our new friends and ordered dinner. Ordering different foods from the menu and sharing them gave us a chance to taste several different specialties. The restaurant owner surprised us with a sweet wine to finish the evening. What a night!