And I bring you back to a sentimental region of my beloved Spain. This is the Comunidad de Madrid in the kingdom of Spain. We rode and walked all over there , and even took the bus ! The memories are huge too much to put into words , and will always be, with the hope one day to visit again, eventually, Let me tell you with some personal older pictures of my personal curiosities of the Comunidad de Madrid !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I
The Comunidad de Madrid or Community of Madrid is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain, consisting of the province of Madrid. Its capital is the city of Madrid. It is bordered by the provinces of Guadalajara, Cuenca, Toledo (Castile-La Mancha), Ávila and Segovia (Castile-and-León). The Community of Madrid and the Province of Madrid therefore have their territory in common. The regional tourist office webpage :https://turismomadrid.es/en/
I lived right off the Metro Line 5 of Madrid in the neighborhood of Quintana and the district of Ciudad Lineal! I do take it just to go back to my old piso or apartment and reminicent of youthful nice days when there with my dear late Mom Gladys. I have taken my dear late Dad Elio, my dear late wife Martine, and my sons along to this spot; its like a pelerin for me , need to do it, whether visiting or working.
The Las Ventas Monumental bullring of Madrid is awesome! You get here on foot best, but also Metro Ventas lines 2 and 5(mine!). The inaugural poster dates back to 1931. A replica is found in the Puerta Grande ( big entrance gate). However, the official opening was in 1934. In 1947 Livinio Stuyck created the San Isidro Fair coinciding with the patron’s Saint day. It is, at present, the fair with the greatest number of celebrations. Las Ventas is the name given to the bullring in Madrid because it was called the area in which it is located ,the neighborhood of Ventas and in the district of Ciudad Lineal (same as mine)
The Retiro park, my Retiro, my Madrid!! I had to come back to the Retiro park, yes it was practically my backyard, not far from my house when lived in Madrid and many times running, chasing,and eating , playing you name it in it. The park of my first loves, my youth, my adolescent my early days of free life in my beloved dear Madrid. Even here, my journey with what later became my wife started, my dear late wife Martine (our first trip out of France with her I had to take her to Madrid and the Retiro was grand ) she always loved to come here each year with me and then with the boys. I can say my life can be resume with one word Retiro. This is Madrid at its best.
The Teleférico of Rosales aka of Madrid starts from the Paseo del Pintor Rosales to arrive at the Plaza de los Pasos Perdidos of Casa del Campo at a spot call Cerro Garabitas. In this terminal there is a restaurant-cafeteria and a car park and in the Paseo de Rosales another car park, with 350 places, and a restaurant, EL Balcon de Rosales, which unfortunately has closed and there is talk of doing a library there now by the city.
I have come here each time in Madrid since 1970 , with some years of absent has been pretty consistant until 2019, Then, the virus ,and my father Ellio illness which kept me at home, now looking forward to be back ,eventually, The chocolateria San Ginés is a must when in Madrid. You too can make it your own mark stop in Madrid and delight yourselves with it,
The Paseo de la Castellana , commonly known as La Castellana, is one of the longest and widest avenues of Madrid with 6 km of palaces and towers We, also, stayed in a nice hotel when I first took my girlfriend in September 1990, later wife and now dear late wife Martine. It was a moment to impress the new girl and book the Fénix Tryp hotel at Calle Hermosilla just after the Plaza de Colon with windows looking over it. Now it is a Melia Hotels property. The hotel is an icon for us as well. We even have visited couple times afterward! Decorations inside are the same!
The Puerta de Alcalà a monumental entrance to my Madrid and from which I always entered the city when living there. I have no words to describe it every time I see passing by it with my late dear Mom Gladys! and later my dear late wife Martine,and now the 3 boys: memories for a lifetime.
My passion for football/soccer/calcio is huge. I am the one who yelled screamed and sing/dance even in bars when the games of my beloved team is on. We won FIFA Best Club of the 20C and the IFHHS European Best club of the 20C as well !!! And we are en route to name again the Greatest Club of the 21C having won more league and champions title than any. the Santiago Bernabeu stadium of my Real Madrid CF , A visit or tour to the stadium will make your life better for sure, and if into football/soccer is a must for all fans and those looking into history of the best footaball/Soccer club of all time Once a Madridista, always a Madridista to the grave. There is no other team club alike in the history of the game of football/soccer. Hala Madrid!!!! Of course, I have come to the stadiums many times but will have some personal best pictures on this post ok
The Madrid tourist office on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/santiago-bernabeu-stadium
The official Real Madrid CF: https://www.realmadrid.com/en
You have a Calle Mayor in Alcalà de Henares ,we went looking frantically for the House Museum Cervantes at no. 48 ,opened to the public since 1956. You come in for free!!! and right into the courtyard or patio. You take the walk tour into the surgery room, from his father’s trade; then the dining room, kitchen, ladies’ drawing room, a puppet show of the novel Don Quijote, his bedroom, bathroom private parlour, children room,and exhibition hall. Official webpage: https://museocasanataldecervantes.org/home-english/
The highlight for us is the local food and off tourist trails we headed for one closer to the plaza de Toros, the DeCañas en Fedario, at Calle Postas ,68 in Aranjuez. A memorable lunch by chance and we hit it right on wonderful ambiance nice folks great food and off we went again! The RestaurantGuru reviews: https://restaurantguru.com/De-canas-en-Fedario-Aranjuez
The Church of San Antonio in Aranjuez was designed as a royal chapel. Moreover, it was originally an oratory of Felipe IV. It was made in the 18C. The space is arranged according to a system of arcades, using a set of curves and counter-curves. It is circular in plan and has a beautiful dome. It was strongly marked by Italian art.
There you go folks, another dandy in my dear Comunidad de Madrid and my beloved Spain. A hugely memorable spot going back to enfant times which remain attach to me forever ! Memories that goes beyond a travel description, You should try it , worth the detour, recommended, And again, hope you enjoy the post on my personal curiosities of the Comunidad de Madrid !!! as I.
And remember , happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 