Madrid 1

Tue 18 Apr

After a late night, we had a late start, but so does everyone in Spain. We found some breakfast then headed of to find our way to the Muséo Thyssen-Bornemisza. This is a private art collection ranging from Renaissance, through Impressionist to modern. It's a huge collection laid out in an easy-to-follow way; although we started at the ground floor and worked our way up the next two, but should have down it the other way around.

We had a light lunch (really afternoon tea) at a nearby café, then walked a few blocks to the Parque de El Retira. This is 120 hectares of gardens, paths, a boating lake and many public buildings. Back towards the apartment we passed a huge public building where graduating university students were getting their placements to medical schools. We talked to a young girl who had got a placement to do cardiac medicine. She was with her very proud parents and was very happy.

Sculptured pine trees in El Retira

Local buskers

Picnickers near the lake in El Retira. Could be a scene from a Seurat painting.

We had paella and sangria for dinner but made sure we were back before 22:00 which was the approximate time for a big football match to finish. This was between Réal Madrid and Bayern Munchen - a quarter-final of the Champions League. There were Bayern fans all over the city especially around the bars. We were able to watch the last part of the game back at the apartment as it went to extra time. Anyway the Bayern fans will have to go home disappointed.