San Francisco El Grande

Merrie and I hopped on the Hop–on Hop–off bus at its stop near the Palacio Real so we could get a quick overview of the city. No seats on top of the bus, so we were stuck unfortunately on the lower level without a good view of the sights. We soon figured out that we would never get a seat on the top unless we were actually on the top when people got off––some other people figured this out before we did. So we climbed up the stairs and stood on the top in places that we didn’t think the bus movement would throw us down into the aisles. You aren’t supposed to do this for your own safety, but no one was checking the top of the bus so we got away with it. We did finally get seats, but where did all these tourists come from? We did not expect Madrid to be so crowded with tourists at this time of the year, but it was. All the photos in this album were taken from the top of the Hop–on Hop–off bus. This photo is of San Francisco El Grande, Madrid’s main church. We were told that it definitely is worth a visit as it contains works by Goya and Ribera. We didn’t visit it for lack of time.

San Francisco El Grande

Another Church

I thought this was an interesting building, but I do not have a name for it.

Another Church

Gateway

I also do not have the name of this gateway, but it would have been one of the original gates into the city of Madrid.

Gateway

Gateway

A view of the city of Madrid through the gateway.

Gateway

Madrid Street

A Madrid street.

Madrid Street

Estacion de Atocha

Estacion de Atocha or Atocha Station, Madrid’s train station. We took the AVE train to Seville from here several days later. You can see from its clock that it is now 12:30 p.m.

Estacion de Atocha

Traffic Sign

Left to Cordoba and Toledo; right to the Prado and to Valencia.

Traffic Sign

Near the Prado

Booksellers and buyers near the Prado.

Near the Prado

Museo del Prado

In front of the Museo del Prado, Madrid’s world famous art museum.

Museo del Prado

Museo del Prado

The front of the Museo del Prado. We were to visit it this Sunday.

Museo del Prado

Parque de Madrid

Entrance to the Parque de Madrid.

Parque de Madrid

Beautiful Building

Madrid has a fabulous collection of beautiful buildings, many of them built in the early 1900s.

Beautiful Building

Puerto de Alcala

Until the mid–19th century, this 1769 granite gateway marked the easternmost boundary of Madrid.

Puerto de Alcala

Puerto de Alcala

Close–up of one of the statues on top of the Puerta de Alcala.

Puerto de Alcala

Street Scene

Buildings and a church.

Street Scene

Street Scene

The old and the new.

Street Scene

Traffic Jam

Traffic jam on a Madrid street. Actually, we were held up by a number of traffic jams which our bus attendant blamed on Tony Blair’s visit.

Traffic Jam

Plaza de Colon

This square is dedicated to Christopher Columbus (Colon in Spanish). The concrete structures are inscribed with quotations about Columbus’ journeys. The building in the photo should be the National Library and Archaelogical Musuem. You can see the statue of Christopher Columbus on the very far right of the photo.

Plaza de Colon

Plaza de Colon

The Christopher Columbus statue.

Plaza de Colon

Plaza de Colon

Another view of the Christopher Columbus statue.

Plaza de Colon

Palacio de Comunicaciones

The Palacio de Comunicaciones, the name of this beautiful building, translates into the “Post Office.” This is Madrid’s main post office and was built early in the 1900s.

Palacio de Comunicaciones

Fuente de Cibiles

The Funete (Fountain) of Cibeles is in front of the Palacio de Comunicaciones at the Plaza de Cibeles. It is named after Cybele, the Greco–Roman goddess of nature. The fountain is one of Madrid’s symbols.

Fuente de Cibiles

Gran Via

We are now entering the Gran Via (the main street of Madrid––many cities in Spain have a Gran Via). The buildings on the Gran Via started being built in the early 1900s, and especially at this beginning section, the view of so many beautiful buildings together is awesome.

Gran Via

Gran Via

The top of the Edifico Metropolis, built in the Parisian style in 1905.

Gran Via

Gran Via

You need to look at the top of these buildings for more surprises––here, the warrior statue.

Gran Via

Gran Via

The Rolex building (or at least with a Rolex sign on it).

Gran Via

Gran Via

More of the Gran Via.

Gran Via

Gran Via

Another building on the Gran Via with murals on it.

Gran Via

Gran Via

Close–up of the mural.

Gran Via

Gran Via

Close–up of a bas relief on one of the buildings.

Gran Via

Gran Via

Another building on the Gran Via.

Gran Via

Gran Via

And another building.

Gran Via

Gran Via

The Hotel Tryp Gran Via with a McDonald’s on its street level.

Gran Via

Gran Via

A Hotel High Tech farther along. From a website, I found out that these hotels are very modern in decor and have high–speed connections in the rooms. We saw quite a number of these hotels, especially in Madrid.

Gran Via

Gran Via

Even farther down the Gran Via, which at this point becomes less exquisite. But one of the highlights in this section is the Hostal Alcazar.

Gran Via

Off the Gran Via

I think that we made a turn off the Gran Via before we saw this building.

Off the Gran Via

Palacio Real

We took the full Hop–on Hop–off bus circuit and are now back at the Royal Palace, where we hopped off.

Palacio Real