After spending over a week in southern Italy. We arrived in Madrid via Air Europa (not even a free sprite to be had) and in for a culture shock. at the sirport in Rome there was a abandoned bag with fluid leaking from it..when we reported it they sighed! But here in Madrid things seemed so "normal". In the taxi ride to the hotel we were pleasantly surprised to see lovely modern buildings and a new market in constuction...the center was busy but no chaotic and clean..The bill a steep 36 E.....we checked in to the Palace and went up to wait on our bags which did not appear for an hour and a half....yes we're still in Europe we tell ourselves...when we opened the door we found a lovely room,a light fixture coming off the wall. no view, and a sound system turning on and off at will..Seemed abnormal for a room this expensive .making a few calls and three hours later everything was ironed and fixed...

What happened to your report? Did you fall asleep or something? I see an ellipsis at the end of a sentence - then nothing.

that evening we had very delicous canapes with our cocktails under the stained glass atrium which featured a harpist.... we got transportation the beautiful Plaza Major for dinner on the square...we had the Iberan and Serrano ham, chichen l'orange.roasted pork and torte for dessert.. back to the palace we walk down to the neptures fountain and take some pictures.. we hear ex pres. Clinton and Bush senior are staying at the hotel...no we didn't see them...next morning we op for a city tour which includes the royal Palace. the city is very lovely but it looks like quite a hike by foot to most of the outer areas....I like the boulevard gardens.all watered by hand we note.I speak a little spanish but the accent is very thick and have trouble understanding the guide's english. it is hot but not bad it must be the altitude... after the Vatican and Versailles Im not expecting too much from the palace and for the first couple of rooms I'm not impressed but soon I'm in for a surprise~~I see the first of many incredible chandeliers...then the porcelin room which is amazing!!! this place can hold a candle in more ways than one....the red throne room and the dining hall...and finally an amazing collection of Stativarious instuments

we have a beverage at the coffee shop before we leave. back at the hotel I head off by myself to explore the area by foot and the Puerta del Sol is my destination. As usual I do not get the directions correctly but this helps get me to the Plaza Santa Ana (a vey small area with a playgound and deserted for the most part..)At the NE corner I see some wall murals of tiles that they are
restoring. these are beautiful what a treat! They go all around the building.i walk on and end up at the plaza Jacinto Benevente and another surprise the street sweeper statue that i've seen in pictures, I get out my map determined to find the Puerta del sol finally emerge from the dark street into the sun.It is a bit noisy as they are doing constuction on the side steet.I check out the sign and the giganutous blue sign,the staues and head for the Igles store for deparment store upstairs and grocery on the basement.In Paris last year i dint really have too much time to shop.First I spy the dimasiado items from Toledo, then on to cheap fans for friends,scarfs, shawls,bras wuth clear straps, shoes and so on..I have yet to learn of the system of buying in a large deparment store in Spain..I try my Spanish but eventually they call someone to explain the system which is easy once you've done it..as I head back i spy photo ops at thte Museo de Jamon and the Bull Bar across the street. The architecture is quite impressive as I prowl the streets.Back at the hotel we gussy up for a night out at a matadors venue out next to the ezpressway..we have various tapas

the grounds are lovely and lush and the building is very Spanish with the beams...the tapas include pigs ears,mainated seafood,pepper skewers,serrano ham and cheese.At dinner our appetizer has multiple personalities and we are not sure we liked it.One side is decidedly Mexican with guacamole and salsa..the other is quasi gourmet terrine of eggplant,"candied" corn and red peppers in aspic and finally a pear sauce on the side...It is a lovely night out and the perfect temperature.The next morning we head out to visit the Prado across from the fountain.There is a security line but not all tha crowded.The museum is not confusing and staightforward. Allow plenty of time as there are great paintings here. Don't moss the Goya Black Paintings in the corner and the still lifes upstairs...Spain seems to me to be the least different of any of the counties we have visited.anyone out there?

the least different from what?

Culturally ...the German way, the French way the Italian way seem more different to us...anyway our final day was spent on a trip to Toledo....up early we went off past the bull sign for a trip to Tuledo..We shopped a little and visited the catherdral...Again we were really impressed with the choir and the excellant dazzeling Chancel.then we headed out to the El Greco!it was big..and had lunch at a place called Vente de Aires...jamon,stuffed endive,eggs and fish omlet(whats it called?)as starters,beef filet and baked Alaska for dessert...and the best green apple liquer....when we got back we went to the big Igles in the shopping district to get food we bought canned mackeral,olives,belgim beer and chocolate,french seasalt,green apple liquer,sherry,and chestnut honey.We walk the Retiro park before heading out to leavea short trip but we really liked Spain....