ADEOS MADRID

People, shops and shopping bags, more people, so many theatres, even more people, cafes & restaurants galore. This was the overwhelming scene that confronted us as we first stepped on to the Gran Via, Madrid’s main street. Wide-eyed and aware, Spanish, French, German words bounced off my ears. English uncommon.  “It must be coffee & churros time”, I suggested hoping to find a spot to watch, see order in the crowd, some sense to the traffic, meaning to the signs. The Churros was too deliciously distracting to see beyond the chaos so off we went again.  Gran Via here we come. 

We were now part of the crowd. The majesty of the buildings many topped with sculptures, angels, eagles, warriors and chariots some bronze others most likely marble drew our gaze upwards capturing our attention eight maybe ten stories high. Adorned with decorative window surrounds, timber shutters and wrought iron balconies.  “There’s no grime!” The usual dust, dirt suffocating the buildings in so many congested cities was absent.  Perhaps this is how the grandeur of the early 1900’s should look.  “Bravo Madrid!”

Not just the architecture impressed.  The “Ola” with a smile as we tried to make ourselves understood was a pleasure even though we were given two red sangrias and a white wine when we thought we had ordered one red and one white sangria.  

Adeos Madrid.  Next stop Barcelona via a bullet train at 300 km p/h. Whoosh!