Final shots of Madrid!

And so dear readers, our time in Madrid has come to an end.  Boo-hoo!

I won't be posting a blog too often while we're in San Mateo, since it's less about "exploring a new city" and more about spending time with family and friends.  I will resume more frequent blogs when we're in Auckland, NZ starting Dec. 14th.

Here are some random final shots of BEAUTIFUL Madrid! 

Just as we were crossing Calle de Mayor, a huge herd of sheep were making their way down the street led by costumed shepherds.  Nobody seemed to know what they were doing there!

The Plaza de Cibeles is a square with a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures with fountains

Really beautiful architecture

We visited the Centro Sefarad Israel (Israel-Spanish Cultural Center) which offers Hebrew classes, lectures and rotating art exhibits.  We saw an exhibit of Daniel Schinasi, born in Egypt in 1933 and originally from a Sephardic family from Livorno, Italy.  He was the founder of Neofuturism movement.

A Daniel Schinasi painting

Madrid has MANY large parks and we explored most of them. 

Lago de las Casa de Campo

The area around the River Manzanares in Madrid has recently been developed into 6 kilometers of walking paths, bike trails, playgrounds, greenery, ponds and fountains called Parque de Arguanzela  There are also many pedestrian bridges.  We just loved walking here!

Pedestrian bridge

Overhang

Fall colors in the park

Fountain 

Maze

Here we have the Mad Hatter who was sitting outside the Prado Museum.  I found him intriguing as he "poured" the little live white mouse (on the left) into the teapot and then back again into the cup. 

Madrid’s four-story vertical garden from 2008 on the front of the CaixaForum is one of the world’s most lush living walls to date.

Very calming

The national symbol of Madrid is a bear stretching on his hind legs for fruits on the Madrono tree. It symbolizes the resiliency and strength of the industry of Madrileños.The fruit from the tree, which is not native to Madrid but Galacia, is bitter when eaten raw and is used to make liqueur.  

ADIOS!