Madrid (Spain) | Madrid in the Rain - Day 136

The Royal Palace of Madrid is a massive building. It looked stunning against last night's stormy sky.

The rain started last night and continues this morning. I am still recovering from my cold and occasionally suffer from excess mucus production. This seems to get better later as the day progresses.  So after a late and causal morning, I decide to wander away from the hostel and revisit some of the sites I saw last night. The Plaza Mayor [Town Square] is alive with people, despite the rain. In the center of the square is a statue of King Phillip III, who finished renovating the courtyard in the late 16th century.

The colorful building in the middle of this picture catches my attention. The façade is filled with colorful paintings of people and animals.

The beautiful tourist market, Mercado de San Miguel, is not far from Plaza Mayor. I can see why the market is so popular with tourists. The building is beautiful.

Madrid has a very classic feel. The architecture is stunning, and the pastel-colored buildings are beautiful. I love this city. 

The skyline in Madrid is stunning. Buildings of various heights and shapes add to the city's presence.

The plants on the terrace of this stunning building near the shopping district are beautiful. I love seeing the green scape.

This is another example of the dramatic skyline. In addition, some buildings have massive bronze statues that add flare to the skyline.

Today's light is terrible for taking pictures of these magnificent bronze statues that dress up the skyline in Madrid. However, with a bit of photo editing, I could get this one to become visible. It is an example of these massive bronze statues that decorate many buildings. Some buildings have chariots with armored men, and others have archers. They are stunning. This one sits atop a building that is being renovated in the photo above.

I hear beautiful classical music down the street. When I arrive, a small group of people is gathered listening to these musicians. When the song finishes, most of the crowd disperses. Some walk up and leave a donation. I stay for another piece while another group gathers. When they finish, I drop the euros in my pocket and head down the street.

Around 7 pm, I meet up with Anne, and we walk southwest to the La Latina neighborhood of Madrid. Bario La Latina is a trendy neighborhood near Centro Madrid, known for its narrow streets, tapas bars, and cantinas. We find a little cantina with a rooftop sitting area and order dinner. I tell Anne about my whirlwind tour of the city yesterday evening with Borja. Tomorrow, we are going for Ceviche in an authentic Spanish Mercado. The Peruvian restaurant there has received several awards for its Ceviche. "What is Ceviche?" she says. It's raw fish cured with lime or lemon juice. It's bright, acidic, and native to Latin America. "I like sushi, but I am not sure I could do Ceviche," she says. I laugh. I tell her, don't let your Mind write your story before you experience life. "That's a good tip. I have a hard time with that," she says. 

Anne and I spend the evening trading stories from the Camino. "I want to hear stories of how the Camino provided on your Camino," she says. I laugh. I frequently told Peregrinos on the Camino, how the Camino always provides. It feels good to speak with someone else who believes in this saying too, I say. 

Anne is leaving for Valencia, Spain, tomorrow, so we end the evening early. I appreciate it, too, as I am still not feeling 100 %. I've been blessed to have great company while in Madrid. I expected this week to be spent mostly on my own. Instead, I got the opportunity to spend two of my evenings with great people, Borja and Anne.