We're Joining a Tour

 Just moved to a new hotel in the outskirts of Madrid, a place called Aranjuez. I think the whole town used to be a royal residence. The palace is across the courtyard from this hotel.

Not long ago I commented about the term 'ABC" going from "Another Beautiful Castle/church" to mean "Another Bloody Castle/church"?

Well!

By the time we leave Spain, I may well have migrated to AFC.

Anyway, we're meeting the next mob this evening, this trip is only 9-days, starting with today.

Here's an idea of where we will be for the next 9.

We'll be back in Barcelona next weekend

Kevin’s ready

 We just came out of Sarah’s favourite Spanish David Jones. Again.

There’s a security guard at the door. Always was. No surprise there. 

What did surprise me, however, was that today’s guard is armed.

It wasn’t the gun I noticed first, it was the belt. Now I expect a kitted out mall cop to have something like this Bat-utility belt…

What I did NOT expect to see was this…

For some reason I thought of the poet laureate of Australia, Mr James Jefferies Esq.

To quote from a rather famous live performance,…

“The average security guard in America earns $16 an hour. Not a lot of wiggle room to be a fucking hero! Someone comes onto the school and… [Mimicking machine gun] And you’ve got Kevin. Now, I’m sure Kevin’s shit-hot at Call of Duty, but it might not fucking cut it, ladies and gentlemen.”

I can’t see a case where a Kevin or a Barney Fife even draws his gun, let alone carries spare bullets on his belt. And aren’t the bullets normally in a clip these days, so that real police can carry spares without looking like Wyatt Earp, or taking 10 minutes to reload!!

Probably an Eastwood fan.

Show a bit of Leg, Miss Piggy

 I mentioned earlier that the Portuguese get slippery over sardines. And custard tarts. No. Not together. 

Anyway, in Spain it appears to be leg of pig. 

I have no idea. 

Every deli, and there are many, or any bar that serves food, has this in pride of place on the counter.

 

Not just ham on the bone. Ham on the leg. Trotter and all.

It’s a thing here. I’ve seen one set up in all its glory, with half the thigh sliced off. Just like carving the Sunday roast. 

It’s such a thing here, such a Spain thing, that it’s a tourist thing  you see inflatable pig legs hanging up in toy and souvenir shops!!

W T F

I found Sarah the palace that matches that church

 The main Royal Palace in Madrid. 

Something we learned over here? There is never just the one.

They have a collection of instruments made by some guy called Antonio Stradivari, who was apparently quite the thing at the turn of the 18th century.

Worth a mention

 Heading towards Madrid has been a little cooler, but still some warm days. 

In case you’re interested…

People watching

I mentioned earlier my surprise at seeing cigarette butts all over the ground. I guess it’s because I have spent the last few years in countries that are actively discouraging smoking. Maybe this isn’t one of those places. They seem to have got onboard the recycling bandwagon, but not the smoke-free one.

Something else I’ve noticed a lot is the young ladies wandering around with bare midriffs. I’ve seen more belly-buttons in the last few weeks than an obstetrician sees in a lifetime.

Is it fashion, hot weather, or terrible laundry shrinkage? You decide. 

Saw a couple of other things:

They have beggars here. Like most places, many will be caused by one addiction or another.

This one has mastered begging during a siesta. Clever.

This guy has a mobile cattery. I was going to make a joke about “What does the Kathmandu?” But gave up on it.

Not a begger, but I think there’s an addiction here.

Now for the absurd. What do you give somebody who has everything?

A spare wheel carrier from Louis Vuitton, obv…

But wait, there’s more…

Went into a budget supermarket chain, maybe just a boyish dairy. Certainly not Sarah’s David Jones supermarket.

Anyway, in amongst the crowded shelves, they have randomly selected items that apparently require a higher level of security.

Something a little odd.

There’s a 5-star hotel across the road, and for the last 2 days, every entrance and exit was swarming with teens, waiting for a glimpse of this week’s heartthrob.

So, it could be Harry Styles, Julio Iglesias, or the 3rd dancer from the left in one of J-Lo’s music videos. Who knows?

A Plaza on Every Corner

We’re staying in the middle of Madrid for our post-tour rest. An area called Plaza de San Martin. 

I’m using the term ‘area’ rather loosely. Literally 170m up a cobbled street is Plaza del Callao.

Head 200m in another direction is Viajés El Corte Inglés, a department store that Sarah has fallen in love with. Think David Jones in Spain.

This is where she found her supermarket.

On the opposite side of that store is Puerta del Sol, another massive plaza.

Lots of old buildings, most beautiful, all well maintained.

Paddington? Probably not

I have no idea why these guys are everywhere 

Sarah likes Police horses

Head 350m in another direction from the hotel door, and you arrive at Plaza Mayor, the big square mentioned earlier. I know your mother told you that size doesn’t matter, but the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca was bigger. Just sayin’.

Did I mention that Sarah likes Police horses?

I found Sarah a church

 

Sarah’s happy place

 I found her a supermarket 

For some reason white asparagus is a thing here. It’s everywhere. 

Saw this randomly at the supermarket entrance.

No clue. 

On the top floor, found a food court of sorts. Collect what you want, some precooked, some made to order, and pay as you head to the tables.

Not too different from places we’ve seen in Bangkok etc.

But I did like the little trolleys to carry your trays. 

They also have pour your own beer. Normal or alcohol free. 

I think mine was beer free.

I may need to rethink my plan of financing my next O.E. as a barman.