This morning after breakfast in our room, we walked to the Plaza Puerto del Sol and looked at a few restaurants. The trouble is that, being Sunday, everywhere near the Plaza is packed.
We started following a self-guided walk from a guidebook. At the south side of the plaza is a government office that is notorious for being Francisco Franco’s police headquarters. Apparently an inordinate number of those being detained and interrogated “jumped” from the windows to their deaths while trying to “escape”. This plaza is also where the war against Napoleon started in 1808. Napoleon had imposed his brother as the king of Spain. There was a protest and Napoleon’s soldiers massacred the protesters here. This is also the centre point of the highway system of Spain or kilometre zero.
This morning, the plaza was all set up for a rally protesting violence in Spain’s continuing political issues. It looked peaceful but with the huge crowd and large police presence, we thought it best to move on.
From the Puerta del Sol we walked a few blocks to the Plaza Mayor, built in 1619. It has been the site of bullfights, royal events and many trials and executions during the Spanish Inquisition. Those found guilty during the Inquisition were paraded around the square wearing billboards listing their sins. Then they were either slowly strangled or burned to death. It’s quite pleasant on a sunny 20C Sunday, though.
From there we walked a few steps to the Mercado San Miguel, a glass building full of food vendors. It’s very busy on a Sunday. We bought a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) and then at another booth, a glass of white wine. As we shared our snack, we started talking to a Japanese couple next to us who spoke fairly good English. They work for an airline and were here for meetings and getting in a little sightseeing. They have travelled the world and have been to Canada several times. They even took a tour to Yellowknife to see the northern lights. Canada’s natural wonders are very attractive to the Japanese people.
We walked a few more blocks to the Cathedral of Almudena, next to the Royal Palace. We didn’t go in because the crowds are too much on a Sunday. Maybe tomorrow.
Later, we walked back down near the Mercado San Miguel to a small Chinese restaurant. Anita has a sore throat so we thought some soup and some noodle dishes might be easy to swallow. After we ate, we wandered around the Plaza Mayor a bit more enjoying all the buskers and artists. Back at the Plaza Puerta del Sol there was still a huge crowd so we didn’t bother staying there. The time changed in Spain last night so it’s getting dark a little earlier now.
We started following a self-guided walk from a guidebook. At the south side of the plaza is a government office that is notorious for being Francisco Franco’s police headquarters. Apparently an inordinate number of those being detained and interrogated “jumped” from the windows to their deaths while trying to “escape”. This plaza is also where the war against Napoleon started in 1808. Napoleon had imposed his brother as the king of Spain. There was a protest and Napoleon’s soldiers massacred the protesters here. This is also the centre point of the highway system of Spain or kilometre zero.
This morning, the plaza was all set up for a rally protesting violence in Spain’s continuing political issues. It looked peaceful but with the huge crowd and large police presence, we thought it best to move on.
From the Puerta del Sol we walked a few blocks to the Plaza Mayor, built in 1619. It has been the site of bullfights, royal events and many trials and executions during the Spanish Inquisition. Those found guilty during the Inquisition were paraded around the square wearing billboards listing their sins. Then they were either slowly strangled or burned to death. It’s quite pleasant on a sunny 20C Sunday, though.
From there we walked a few steps to the Mercado San Miguel, a glass building full of food vendors. It’s very busy on a Sunday. We bought a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) and then at another booth, a glass of white wine. As we shared our snack, we started talking to a Japanese couple next to us who spoke fairly good English. They work for an airline and were here for meetings and getting in a little sightseeing. They have travelled the world and have been to Canada several times. They even took a tour to Yellowknife to see the northern lights. Canada’s natural wonders are very attractive to the Japanese people.
We walked a few more blocks to the Cathedral of Almudena, next to the Royal Palace. We didn’t go in because the crowds are too much on a Sunday. Maybe tomorrow.
Later, we walked back down near the Mercado San Miguel to a small Chinese restaurant. Anita has a sore throat so we thought some soup and some noodle dishes might be easy to swallow. After we ate, we wandered around the Plaza Mayor a bit more enjoying all the buskers and artists. Back at the Plaza Puerta del Sol there was still a huge crowd so we didn’t bother staying there. The time changed in Spain last night so it’s getting dark a little earlier now.
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