Madrid Day 3, 28th August 2013

Well started as usual by awaking early followed by brekky in cafe. Every place we eat in I'm surrounded by meat,lovin' it. Sorry Michelle,  :-) Getting into habit of pastry, coffee and OJ and then off on the adventure.
Today we decided to follow son Alec's advice, who was here only a couple of months ago, and go to the Museo Sorolla; WOW.!!!! It may:-)  be just Jane and I as we both really like Impression but this little gallery in his original house was just memorable , both for the beautiful paintings and the history of the place and family. A must see for anyone coming to Madrid.
I will do separate post for Sorolla.
It was then onto the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu  ( home of the real Madrid FC ) followed by more coffee , bread and whatever. It was a bit of a grey day so decided to do  the Palacio Real, but a stop too far on the metro meant more walking and we stumbled past the Parque Del Campo Del Moro which was beautiful and gave a lovely view of the Palace. By now the sun was out, so this must mean up hill walking :-)  and we came across the Crypt at Almundena Cathedral which looked cool and inviting. Spectacular inside.
By the time we got to the Palace was time for quick bite and water ( can't believe how much I'm drinking ) and then a couple of hours touring the Palace. Amazing place as you would expect, but no photos allowed inside. The Amoury was unbelievable with amour from El Cid and all through the 1500's and on. Can't believe how interested we BOTH were in it. Not enough time to spend in that one part alone.
By now late arvo so time for cirveza ( great place to drink surrounded by jamones ) and then a siesta, really getting used to this.

After Jane's siesta we went to the tapas market, which is a little tourist orientated but heaps choice in one place. Couple vino's, numerous tapas and a gentle walk back to the hotel where Jane decided to retire for the evening AT 8.30 !!!!!!!! . I then went back out for a few hours and got some good images accompanied by a couple of vino tinto's.  :-) . Love this city.

Of course I haven't forgotten you Paul.

Please let me know if photos aren't good as I'm using mobile version of Blogger and shrinking images for upload. They look OK on my tablet but its screen is only small.

Brekky surrouned by Jamones

Street art

Museo Sorolla

Metro Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Parque Del Campo Del Moro looking up to Palace.

Crypt at Catheral

Gold, gold, gold ....

amazing

Palacio Real de Madrid

Brick cieling arch from below

Cirveza surrounded by more meat.

Paul's

Tapas market for dinner

More food

Opera House at sunset

Statue in Palace Square

Heaven 

Street Performer

Crazy

Why?, cause I can

Madrid Day 2, 27th August 2013

Got up very early this morning (5.15) after looovely proper sleep. Madrid doesn't start early we have now found out so finally some brekky at a little cafe in Plaza Mayor and then a walk while waiting for sunrise  to take a shot of the Plaza. Jane already sick of me taking heaps of images, but she'll get used to it. :-)   Only 362 today :-) Stopped for at 2nd coffee at StarYUK'S on the way to the gardens, NEVER again.

A lot of walking today especially the 'art' precinct. Went to the Museo De Prado for a few hours in the afternoon after walking around the Botanic Gardens ''Real Jaredin Botanico'' and the ''Parque Del Retiro'' which was enourmous and beautiful with the most delightful and never ending  box hedges and large trees 'everywhere'. It also contained the Palacio De Cristal and a large monument to Alfonso XII.
Viewed the city from the old post office, now restaurants and galleries ,after glass  lifts and finally many stairs. Finally finished the afternoon with another ride on the hop on hop off bus, but this time to different areas, before retiring to room for siesta.

Followed this with tapas and cirveza for dinner followed by more walking around the city. Fantastic fun and just cant see enough.oh well retiring for the night and looking forward to tomorrow.

oh and of course, another knocker for Paul.

Cafe for brekky

Plaza Mayor

Patterns in everything. Old wall.

Botanic Garden

Palacioo De Cristal

Feeding sparrows in Parque Del Rettiro

Lion knocker

Lovely ice cold cirveza

Drying ham everywhere

View of Madrid from old Post Office

Madrid Day 1, 26th August 2013

Well after leaving Brisbane at 2.30pm on Sunday we finally arrived in Madrid at 9.30 in the morning 27 hours later. Successfully negotiated Metro and the change to the train (separate systems) which put us right underneath the plaza Del Sol with a 50m walk to the hotel. Thankfully room was ready so after quick change and shower, pavements were hit. Here is a few random from bus and walking. Loved tapas for lunch with wine and finished day with goooood cold cirveza. Hit the pillow at 9 ( Jane crashed earlier) and now happily up at 5.15 feeling very refreshed.
Oh almost forgot, Paul to continue the tradition here is the first of  my knockers .  :-)

Knocker for Paul

Hopefully not sign of times.

Wine and cirveza

Manly NSW with the new #Fujifilm #X20

Just a few photos I took while in Manly NSW in July with the new Fujifilm X20 camera. A great little camera, especially for anyone travelling that takes exceptional quality images due to the unique Fujiflm XTrans sensor. Has a great 4X optical zoom from the Fujinon stable that combined with the large 2/3 XTrans sensor produces great images, especially in low light. 

Please note files have been compressed for uploading.

                

     

              

                     

       

Bundaberg Trip

Here's a few images taken on a recent trip to Bundaberg and back.

Moving Carriages

Cane Train

Net Fisher on Dusk

Burrum Heads at Sunset