AN EVENING IN MADRID

 It had been many years since we were in Madrid, Spain, and we had one evening there before leaving for Lisbon, Portugal. Our goal was to take an evening stroll, and find a place for a drink and a dinner. Our daughter-in-law once removed Elizabeth had arrived a couple of days earlier, and we were in the same hotel in the downtown section of the city. We three walked through a beautiful park across from the hotel, and found ourselves on the grounds of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Completed in 1751, the Royal Palace is the largest in Western Europe at 135,000 square meters (1,453,128 square feet), and has 3,418 rooms. Imagine the heating bill! Unlike many other palaces, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open to the public for events and tours. 

We walked in a neighborhood adjacent to the Palace grounds. Every small or large plaza had outdoor tables for restaurants, and most of these were filled with happy people. We finally managed to get a table at a restaurant at about 6PM, and they were only serving drinks; food service started at 8PM. Luckily, our drinks were accompanied by peanuts and potato chips, which somewhat helped assuage our hunger. We sat and talked, enjoying the plaza and park around us, with a view of the palace, until we could order dinner. 

As we relaxed, we watched as people in fine clothing walked by towards the opera building near the restaurant. A night at the opera! 

At 8 o'clock we were moved to a table with a table cloth, and we ordered dinner. We saw some police gathering, then people in business attire, an official-looking photographer, and a lot of activity. Finally, a man showed up, who was escorted around by a coterie of functionaries (we assumed), and various things were pointed at. We asked wait staff who he was - they shrugged. 

We enjoyed a leisurely meal, with wine, and lingered until the after-opera crowd started filling the restaurant. At that point, we decided it was time to move on. 

We strolled back to the hotel past a memorial fountain, the Royal Palace, and through the palace grounds. A perfect evening in Madrid. 

The next morning, Sherry and I left for Lisboa, one of our favorite cities. 

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posted by paul

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