Madrid and London
May 1st, 2014, 08:33 PM
#123
Nice to read about the Sorollas. There was a great Sargent - Sorolla exhibition in Paris I saw about five years ago. Just brilliantly curated. I saw it in the Mini Palais. Now I must visit Madrid, I see.
May 2nd, 2014, 05:10 AM
#125
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Thanks, europeannovice, I hope you get there and take a day or 2 more than I did for Madrid.
Thanks also, lateday and santa, but my endurance is so much less with this #$%^& asthma. DH and I walked all day when we were younger. Most frustrating. On the other hand, one savors more at a slower pace, eh?
Now that you mention Sargent-Sorolla exhibit, Leely2, I'll start watching as well. Do you recall if portraits by both artists were included? Sighing for art.
OK, next hints:
21. Don’t forget to tip the concierge and the room cleaners.
22. Madrid airport is huge. Allow extra time for a ½ hour walk to your gate.
23. Don’t get confused if your gate number is R,S,T—it isn’t 3 different gates-- it’s one!
24. If you hire a driving service, build in time to go through customs, go to john, pick up luggage and maybe change money. For me, a taxi seems fine as long as there is a firm airport rate.
Thanks also, lateday and santa, but my endurance is so much less with this #$%^& asthma. DH and I walked all day when we were younger. Most frustrating. On the other hand, one savors more at a slower pace, eh?
Now that you mention Sargent-Sorolla exhibit, Leely2, I'll start watching as well. Do you recall if portraits by both artists were included? Sighing for art.
OK, next hints:
21. Don’t forget to tip the concierge and the room cleaners.
22. Madrid airport is huge. Allow extra time for a ½ hour walk to your gate.
23. Don’t get confused if your gate number is R,S,T—it isn’t 3 different gates-- it’s one!
24. If you hire a driving service, build in time to go through customs, go to john, pick up luggage and maybe change money. For me, a taxi seems fine as long as there is a firm airport rate.
May 2nd, 2014, 05:24 AM
#126
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Day 5-Easter Monday-Last day in Madrid
21 April 2014
Rainy and cool (maybe 60s?)
Meals:
Breakfast: choc. croissant, slice of ham and triangle of watermelon with that wonderful coffee.
Lunch: Huge ham and cheese sandwich on flatbread (more like ciabatta)-Not bad for airplane food.
Dinner: Hotel Strand carvery: Roast beef, roasted potatoes, apple sauce, carrots, Yorkshire pudding and a glass of house wine. £17—quite tasty.
The 7 a.m. wake up call found a groggy person wishing for 2 more days in Madrid. I didn't make it to Toledo, darn it.
At breakfast there is a group of guys who are, almost to a man, a tall, good-looking cross between fireman calendar models and steampunk punks. Cargo pants, tight t-shirts (some with ‘satis+y’ printed on them), and lots of keys chains and tattoos.
I ask at the desk and they say they are the Nike men. Electricians says one person. Shoes says a nearby tourist. A mystery says moi as googling doesn't help. My Simòn is on holiday until Wednesday but I had bought a card at the Prado for him and written a thank you note along with his tip . I left change each day for room cleaners.
So, the driver was 10 minutes early and we arrived through periods of rain at the airport. Because it is a holiday, not too much commuter traffic. Pick up was at 9:20 and we were there at 9: 45. The airport is vast but I thought attractive with curved ceilings lined with wooden planks.
I didn’t see an auto check-in machine but there wasn’t much of a line at British Air. The clerk showed me the way for my gate and said it will be about a ½ hour walk. I don’t know why that made me wheeze since I’d walked further in all of the museums, but it did. And a wheel chair was called for. It had to be stress.
Although the wheelchair contingency got through security in record time, it took almost 1.5 hours to get to the gate. We were taken outside and put into a van where we waited for another van. It was a tad convoluted but I was grateful.
On the plane, two gentlemen are to my right. I ask if they’ll say a few words in English to get me in the mood. One immediately quipped with his lovely British accent, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on our plane!” I said, “Thanks, Henry Higgins” and thought about maitaitom’s post title as well.
Flight is fine but we are about 10 minutes late and almost an hour in customs line. Guess I’ll be paying a parking supplement for justairports. Jack is still waiting but we have to walk to the parking garage and I pay an extra ₤6 for the wait. I had visions and being whisked away in a private car waiting just outside the door so was a tad disappointed. Car was a Toyota Previa with black leather interior.
About an hour into London and the roads are crowded with people coming home from holiday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday so lots going on. Petrol is £1,28 per litre at a gas station we pass. We also pass ‘bupa’, a private care hospital for folks who can afford private care.
It is almost 4 by the time we get to the Strand Palace. The hotel is on the Strand and is about a 5-minute walk to Trafalgar Square, which we pass and see it filled with people celebrating (2 days early) the Feast of St. George. I will return to check it out.
Jack leaves me off but doesn’t know if he’ll be my driver on Saturday. I will learn there are over 100 cars in the justairports fleet. The Strand Palace Hotel is in an imposing building outside and bustling with groups on the inside. Check-in is swift and I can save £3,00 if I’ll only reserve for breakfast (£15,00 normally). Thinking, I’d be able to find cheaper food nearby, I didn’t do it. On the other hand, I get a free 7-day wi-fi card.
My room is on the second floor and faces a rather dingy and empty court yard but it is quiet. It is also spartan compared to the one in Madrid. A single bed, a closet with one shelf, and a smallish bathroom with a tub/shower combo. Not much counter space either but I only brought tiny bottles so it was OK There is a club chair though. Perfectly acceptable but no frills. Oh, the hair dryer was in a space in the desk.
I quickly unpack and get on the “road”. First stop is concierge desk where I meet Sen. He is fabulous even though he imparts the bad news that I’ll have to purchase 2 new adaptors (at £5,00 each!). The only free map is in a magazine but it’s sufficient. He changes my Euros to Pounds, gets me a matinee ticket to “Jersey Boys” for tomorrow and helps me figure that I won’t really need a bus pass. He does give me exact change for 4 bus rides just in case. He will be on the desk through Wednesday so I make a mental note to tip him before then.
Off to Trafalgar Square and a look around my new ‘hood'. The hotel is across from the Savoy and amidst several theatres. I notice Simpson’s and think it is familiar. Online later I will find: http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/
By the way, there are 3 PCs in a small room in the lobby. Only once did I see all three in use. There’s a large lounge, a small bar and a full-service restaurant. DH and I liked having a resto in our hotel. So often we came “home” too pooped to worry about where to go. And, I’ve mentioned the convenience of popping upstairs after breakfast.
Trafalar Square is filled with tables and chairs, food stalls, a music stage with 2 people lip-synching to rock and roll music. A “dragon” breathes out candy to children brave enough to touch its nose. You can google for St. George and the Dragon info.
I do a quick walk through then over to St. Martin in the Fields where they are rehearsing for a performance of the Messiah that evening. I rest there and let the music pour over me. Decide not to get tickets that night. A stroll back to the hotel reveals how close I am to Covent Gardens. JR and I visited this area during some free time on our guided tour in 1995. He was relieved that we hadn’t had more time to shop and I can feel his ashes quivering as I delight in the ability to return once again!
By now, it’s time for dinner for I go to the Strand’s resto (it has a name but I didn’t write it down and can’t remember. Maybe The Carvery? There was also an Indian Curry resto as well. There was a buffet with roasted pork, beef or lamb, salads and lots of veggies. I didn’t check out desserts.
To room, emails and to bed.
21 April 2014
Rainy and cool (maybe 60s?)
Meals:
Breakfast: choc. croissant, slice of ham and triangle of watermelon with that wonderful coffee.
Lunch: Huge ham and cheese sandwich on flatbread (more like ciabatta)-Not bad for airplane food.
Dinner: Hotel Strand carvery: Roast beef, roasted potatoes, apple sauce, carrots, Yorkshire pudding and a glass of house wine. £17—quite tasty.
The 7 a.m. wake up call found a groggy person wishing for 2 more days in Madrid. I didn't make it to Toledo, darn it.
At breakfast there is a group of guys who are, almost to a man, a tall, good-looking cross between fireman calendar models and steampunk punks. Cargo pants, tight t-shirts (some with ‘satis+y’ printed on them), and lots of keys chains and tattoos.
I ask at the desk and they say they are the Nike men. Electricians says one person. Shoes says a nearby tourist. A mystery says moi as googling doesn't help. My Simòn is on holiday until Wednesday but I had bought a card at the Prado for him and written a thank you note along with his tip . I left change each day for room cleaners.
So, the driver was 10 minutes early and we arrived through periods of rain at the airport. Because it is a holiday, not too much commuter traffic. Pick up was at 9:20 and we were there at 9: 45. The airport is vast but I thought attractive with curved ceilings lined with wooden planks.
I didn’t see an auto check-in machine but there wasn’t much of a line at British Air. The clerk showed me the way for my gate and said it will be about a ½ hour walk. I don’t know why that made me wheeze since I’d walked further in all of the museums, but it did. And a wheel chair was called for. It had to be stress.
Although the wheelchair contingency got through security in record time, it took almost 1.5 hours to get to the gate. We were taken outside and put into a van where we waited for another van. It was a tad convoluted but I was grateful.
On the plane, two gentlemen are to my right. I ask if they’ll say a few words in English to get me in the mood. One immediately quipped with his lovely British accent, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on our plane!” I said, “Thanks, Henry Higgins” and thought about maitaitom’s post title as well.
Flight is fine but we are about 10 minutes late and almost an hour in customs line. Guess I’ll be paying a parking supplement for justairports. Jack is still waiting but we have to walk to the parking garage and I pay an extra ₤6 for the wait. I had visions and being whisked away in a private car waiting just outside the door so was a tad disappointed. Car was a Toyota Previa with black leather interior.
About an hour into London and the roads are crowded with people coming home from holiday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday so lots going on. Petrol is £1,28 per litre at a gas station we pass. We also pass ‘bupa’, a private care hospital for folks who can afford private care.
It is almost 4 by the time we get to the Strand Palace. The hotel is on the Strand and is about a 5-minute walk to Trafalgar Square, which we pass and see it filled with people celebrating (2 days early) the Feast of St. George. I will return to check it out.
Jack leaves me off but doesn’t know if he’ll be my driver on Saturday. I will learn there are over 100 cars in the justairports fleet. The Strand Palace Hotel is in an imposing building outside and bustling with groups on the inside. Check-in is swift and I can save £3,00 if I’ll only reserve for breakfast (£15,00 normally). Thinking, I’d be able to find cheaper food nearby, I didn’t do it. On the other hand, I get a free 7-day wi-fi card.
My room is on the second floor and faces a rather dingy and empty court yard but it is quiet. It is also spartan compared to the one in Madrid. A single bed, a closet with one shelf, and a smallish bathroom with a tub/shower combo. Not much counter space either but I only brought tiny bottles so it was OK There is a club chair though. Perfectly acceptable but no frills. Oh, the hair dryer was in a space in the desk.
I quickly unpack and get on the “road”. First stop is concierge desk where I meet Sen. He is fabulous even though he imparts the bad news that I’ll have to purchase 2 new adaptors (at £5,00 each!). The only free map is in a magazine but it’s sufficient. He changes my Euros to Pounds, gets me a matinee ticket to “Jersey Boys” for tomorrow and helps me figure that I won’t really need a bus pass. He does give me exact change for 4 bus rides just in case. He will be on the desk through Wednesday so I make a mental note to tip him before then.
Off to Trafalgar Square and a look around my new ‘hood'. The hotel is across from the Savoy and amidst several theatres. I notice Simpson’s and think it is familiar. Online later I will find: http://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk/
By the way, there are 3 PCs in a small room in the lobby. Only once did I see all three in use. There’s a large lounge, a small bar and a full-service restaurant. DH and I liked having a resto in our hotel. So often we came “home” too pooped to worry about where to go. And, I’ve mentioned the convenience of popping upstairs after breakfast.
Trafalar Square is filled with tables and chairs, food stalls, a music stage with 2 people lip-synching to rock and roll music. A “dragon” breathes out candy to children brave enough to touch its nose. You can google for St. George and the Dragon info.
I do a quick walk through then over to St. Martin in the Fields where they are rehearsing for a performance of the Messiah that evening. I rest there and let the music pour over me. Decide not to get tickets that night. A stroll back to the hotel reveals how close I am to Covent Gardens. JR and I visited this area during some free time on our guided tour in 1995. He was relieved that we hadn’t had more time to shop and I can feel his ashes quivering as I delight in the ability to return once again!
By now, it’s time for dinner for I go to the Strand’s resto (it has a name but I didn’t write it down and can’t remember. Maybe The Carvery? There was also an Indian Curry resto as well. There was a buffet with roasted pork, beef or lamb, salads and lots of veggies. I didn’t check out desserts.
To room, emails and to bed.
May 2nd, 2014, 10:25 AM
#130
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Thanks ann (a saint for all reasons?!), jent103 and tom.
I absolutely recommend DH Paseo del Prado hotel. My room was a tad dark but that wasn't too much of an issue.
Wanted to say that I successfully used my bank debit card for cash and my Visa (non-chip version) for the meals and stuff I bought in both countries. No problems. One person had to type in the card number and I think it was at the Prado gift shop.
My crocs worked very well. On the floors that were concrete, feet and legs got more tired. The dressy shoes were a tad tight in the vamp so I only wore them the first night and to flamenco. Otherwise, they would have be OK for short walks.
I absolutely recommend DH Paseo del Prado hotel. My room was a tad dark but that wasn't too much of an issue.
Wanted to say that I successfully used my bank debit card for cash and my Visa (non-chip version) for the meals and stuff I bought in both countries. No problems. One person had to type in the card number and I think it was at the Prado gift shop.
My crocs worked very well. On the floors that were concrete, feet and legs got more tired. The dressy shoes were a tad tight in the vamp so I only wore them the first night and to flamenco. Otherwise, they would have be OK for short walks.
May 2nd, 2014, 11:11 AM
#131
TDudette, this was the book they published to go along with the S/S exhibit, which showed at the Thyssen as well as the Petit Palais. You might find it of interest.
http://www.amazon.com/Sargent-Soroll.../dp/8475067654
Glad you made it to London safe and sound!
http://www.amazon.com/Sargent-Soroll.../dp/8475067654
Glad you made it to London safe and sound!
May 2nd, 2014, 11:23 AM
#132
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Oh Leely2, that book came up when I googled Sargent-Sorolla and I'm so bummed at the cost but how can I not buy it? Thanks for continuing to tempt me.
Here are 12 photos that might give you an idea of what I saw. I didn't do justice to the pretty buildings in Madrid.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/322199...7644469792111/
Here are 12 photos that might give you an idea of what I saw. I didn't do justice to the pretty buildings in Madrid.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/322199...7644469792111/
May 2nd, 2014, 12:20 PM
#135
TD - I've discovered that we'll be able to see a fair selection of Sorolla's work in the Museo de Bellas Artes in Valencia - lucky us!
http://sorolla.museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es/en
and to think that if you'd not gone to Madrid and done your TR, I'd never have known of his existence.
http://sorolla.museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es/en
and to think that if you'd not gone to Madrid and done your TR, I'd never have known of his existence.
