Tag Archives: vacation

November 29, 2017 · 5:35 am

Three Days in Madrid — Day One continues


Edificio Metrópolis

Continuing our Day One walk-around Madrid, we headed back to the west from Buen Retiro Park. Traveling alone Calle de Alcalá we found some architectural gems rivaling those along Gran Via. Just outside the park is the Puerta de Alcalá in the Plaza de la Independencia.

Puerta de Alcalá

Make sure you zoom in on that area atop the arch:

Puerta de Alcalá

Continuing west you reach the Plaza de Cibeles, which contains the magnificent Cybele Palace:

Cybele Palace, Plaza de Cibeles

Continuing along Calle de Alcalá you pass in quick succession the Church of San José:

Iglesia de San José

The Edificio Metrópolis (pictured at the top of this article; closeup here) built in 1911:

Edificio Metrópolis

Along the way I also found this beautiful red cat watching over everyone below, as cats are wont to do:

Red Cat

Next up was the Church of the Calatravas:

Iglesia de las Calatravas

And right next to the church is this bit of Art Deco architectural style:

Madrid building

This Friday will not be the usual Fun Photo Friday, but rather a Fun Food Friday as we go out to dine on that quintessential Spanish tradition—tapas. To get to our restaurant we have to go south through Plaza de Canalejas, passing right by the beautiful Edificio Menses with its intricate brickwork and colorful ornamentation:

Edificio Menses, Plaza de Canalejas

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November 27, 2017 · 5:35 am

Three Days in Madrid — Day One


Edificio Menses, Plaza de Canalejas

Some of you who follow this blog may wonder if Ursula and I ever make friends with our fellow cruise travelers. Yes. We do. And we frequently plan together to join up on future trips, as well. Our trip beginning toward the end of October, 2016, was one such planned joint excursion with people we have traveled with before, and are planning to travel together again later next year.

Edificio Metrópolis

The particular couple with whom we met up in Madrid are Dolores and Earl Daniels of New Bern, North Carolina. And this trip would be a rather lengthy one — three nights in Madrid, Spain, followed by a high speed train to Barcelona. From Barcelona we would board a cruise ship for a transatlantic voyage aboard the Norwegian Epic to Miami, with stops along the way on Tenerife, Canary Islands; and San Juan, Puerto Rico; before disembarking in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Vincci the Mint

From Port Canaveral, Ursula and I were scheduled to part ways with Dolores and Earl, rent a car, head south to Miami, and the next day board another cruise ship, the Carnival Victory, for a quick cruise to Key West, Florida, and Cozumel, Mexico. So, ever the next several weeks, you’re going to visually visit several destinations aboard two cruise ships from different cruise lines. In addition to the scenic sights, you’re also going to read my review of the two cruise lines we traveled on this back-to-back cruise experience. Who will win, Carnival or Norwegian? Hint: It wasn’t even close, and one of these cruise lines will most likely never see my business again.

Casino Gran Via

Most of the photos you see today were taken along the Gran Via in central Madrid. The Casino Gran Via you see pictured above was mere minutes from our lodgings on Calle de la Montera, in the Hotel Luis XV. If you’re looking for affordable accommodations in the heart of Madrid, mere moments from the most important and visually stunning architecture and sights, then Hotel Luis XV is definitely worth your consideration.

Gran Via

As you can tell from these morning photos, the nearby buildings are spectacular.

Along Calle del Clavel, one block south of Gran Via

Gran Via is a very upscale shopping street, and the buildings here are noted for their baroque features.

Vincci the Mint

But the side streets near Hotel Luis XV can also hold some charm:

Madrid graffiti

About a mile west on foot is the Buen Retiro Park, which also holds some really great photo opportunities. Here is the Monument to Alfonso XII:

Monument to Alfonso XII

Parks are also great places for people photography, as well:

Buen Retiro Park

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November 10, 2017 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Quito Hop-on/Hop-off Favorites 2


Streetlights

This series on Ecuador began nearly five months ago, and the images presented during that series are but a fraction of the many taken during our ten days there. My first photos of Ecuador were taken in Guayaquil on February 14, 2016. The last shots were taken in Quito on February 23. In between we saw a cocoa plantation, walked the streets of Cuenca, stayed at the beautiful La Andaluza resort, traveled to Alausí and took the Devil’s Nose train, journeyed deep into the Amazon River Basin for another fantastic resort stay at La Casa del Suizo, visited a hummingbird preserve and crossed the high Andes, stood on the Equator at the Middle of the World, and finished in Quito.

Door Light

I sincerely hope you enjoyed the tour these past five months, and that you’ve not grown bored with Ecuador.

Independence Monument

Today’s Fun Photo Friday is the end of the road for this look at Ecuador, so here are some final images:

Reflections

Colors

Monumento a los Héroes del 10 de agosto de 1809

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