MADRID, MAY 2026

Getting ready to leave  San Diego behind, May 19th, 2026

San Diego to Madrid through London Heathrow

First morning in the Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Mañana lloverá. Casa de Diego, of course, sells umbrellas...

Posada del Peine, near the Plaza Mayor, is the oldest hotel in Madrid, originally established in 1610. Very interesting architecture, and very well maintained

Puerta del Sol, with the Iconic Tío Pepe watching us.

Puente de Arganzuela footbridge over the Manzanares river, designed by the French architect Dominique Perrault and inaugurated in 2011

Río Manzanares, carrying a small flow of water, at least at the end of May

Puente de Toledo, within walking distance of the Arganzuela footbridge over the Manzanares  river,  was built between 1718 and 1732, when the river was much wider than it is today. Great architecture by Pedro de Rivera.

East side of the Punte de Toledo, with much of it over the Parque de Madrid Río

Parque de Madrid Río, on both sides of the Manzanares River

Chamberí Metro Stop, currently an interesting museum

Chamberí Metro Stop Museum

Chamberí Metro Stop Museum

Chamberí Metro Stop Museum

Chamberí Metro Stop Museum

Chamberí Metro Stop Museum

Our daily lunch, a Rodilla sandwich. Good quality and affordable.

One of Madrid's landmarks, the Metrópolis building, where Gran Vía ends at the Calle de Alcalá

Plaza de la Villa in central Madrid, in front of the former City Hall

The growth of Madrid between the 9th century and 1656

Roman mosaics, discovered at the beginning of the 19th Century

Wooly rhinoceros inhabited the area 100,000 years ago

Very interested in the details...

Excellent display of the Fiestas de San Isidro posters over the years

Fistas de San Isidro 1967 thru 1970

Fiestas de San Isidro, 1947

Iglesia de San Andrés, with its unique dark interior

Typical Spanish Balcony

Despedidas de solter@s? No, gracias!

The Santa Cruz Palace, originally built as a courthouse and a jail, is now the building housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Back to the Plaza Mayor, two days before our departure

A very good Russian salad at La Rayúa de la Latina

La Rayúa's paella

Gran Vía

Corredera Baja de San Pablo

La Hermosita Corredera - Madrid es Madriz