We are back to my dear Spain again !! love it !! We came by car of course and took time to see new areas and old repeat as could not be in Spain without stopping in my Madrid! I came again with my boys and dog Rex, and it was a thrill as usual! I like to tell you more of Madrid to heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it everyday !!! Let me take you to the calle de Alcalà 331 of Madrid, part II !!! Sit back and enjoy with me the next several posts ; and hope you enjoy it as I.
The city of Madrid is the capital of the kingdom of Spain, and located in the Comunidad de Madrid region From my latest escapes it is 211 km from Valladolid City , 198 km from our rental house in Velliza, 183 km from Tordesillas, 172 km from Rueda, 159 km from Medina del Campo, 199 km from Simancas, We made long walks all over the City , and took the metro when necessary, three times. I love to tell you of our latest escape to the wonderful City, for the memories of always and return, eventually. This is the most sentimental post for me as used to lived here with my dear late Mom Gladys , always remembered and thankful for all she gave me!
I have to come back here, its a must for me when near the City or in it, memories forever, The simple humble wonderful Plaza de Quintana, along Calle de Alcalà, by metro line 5 in the neighborhood of Quintana , and the district of Ciudad Lineal! My first entry and my first apartment or piso in Madrid was at Calle de Alcalà 331, 2do A , Buzon 67, right as you came up the metro station of Quintana in the line 5 of metro de Madrid! Memories that will never go away even if in those early days of the 1970’s with my Mom Gladys,so poor had no camera no photos to show; it is all in my mind. And to go to Elipa to play baseball for the Real Madrid CF organisation!! I would take the bus P13 that after the EMT transport in Madrid was created it became the line 113, still running today!
Lots of walking especially going to the back park of
Parque El Calero! This is a great blog like to give credit as essentially they talked about the old movie houses in Madrid now gone; mine was the
cine Aragon (as Alcalà used to be called!) it was almost next to me ,last closed in 2005. I still emotionally remember how my dear late mother
Gladys took me to
Calzados Victor Calle de Alcalà 278 to buy me my first shoes in
Spain! and the immense joy to have my 3 boys going there and buy them shoes as well , really a great feeling would love to repeat this summer. 94 years in the spot and about 56 now doing shoes there !!!And well will need a book so many places there to remember and enjoy , even the wonderful
Docamar in the sublime
Plaza Quintana, the best patatas bravas in Madrid since 1963! Our home away from home and do stop by now when visiting!
Not to forget the
Plaza de la independencia or independence square where the
Puerta de Alcalà is located. The old Communication palace now call
Palacio de Cibeles, and its
Cibeles fountain (symbol of
Real Madrid FC triumphs celebrations) and the
Circulo de Bellas Artes or fine arts circle with wonderful views of Madrid on its top floor café. And what about the gorgeous
Real Academia de Bellas Artes San Fernando! And of course the
Casino de Madrid : Calle Alcalà ,15 just gorgeous! Across from the Casino you have the building call Banesto and here was installed the first American bank in Spain; it has deco of elephants big ears in the front façade.
And from 1623 the convent and Church or
Iglesia de las Calatravas , even after destroyed the Queen Isabel II had it rebuilt in 1872. Very near the
Puerta del Sol on
Calle de Alcalà, of course. More on the
Iglesia de San José and the
Apolo theater. Continue on the
Ministerio del Ejercito or army ministry with a nice garden on what it was the Palacio de Buenavista built in 1769 for the Duques de Alba, that never occupy it.
There was a curve on the road here in the 1940’s ,and was remodeled to look what you see today, This is a pedestrian area surrounded by shops and open on one side to Calle de Alcalá. At no 292 on Calle de Alcalá we find the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Fàtima (see post) or the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, presided over by the crowned image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. It has a school annex. This is the church my mom came the most and I always tag along.
We lived in a modest apartment or piso at Calle de Alcalà 331, apartment 2do A , Bùzon 67,or mailbox, in Madrid 28027 zip code area. This is metro Quintana ,line 5 right there as you come up. The working class of real Madrid.
In the Plaza de Quintana, there still even if less on Sunday mornings a sort of market for the trading of stickers, coins, stamps and other more or less childish barter elements has been meeting for a quarter of a century. Even if most of the pieces are not vintage , ephemeral enthusiasts , collectable posters dating from the 20C and 21C are starting to find real little treasures. It is probably among the most popular markets in its category in Spain, even ahead of the Rastro de Madrid. Yes we traded football players cards!!! The time was spent at school, very strict, chasing girls not so strict, and playing sports. Helping my mother as always with her to go out shopping and doing the house work. I was a busy young men. My most memorable experience was going out with the adults who would take me to the different tapas restaurants for a caña ,a glass of beer or chatico, a glass of wine. These outing made it possible for me to know most of Madrid or all at that time. I was helping out those chase by the authorities as well. Something that I am very proud of today. Spaniards do not know yet what they have gain, many wasted on nationalistic fervor that is and can only be dangerous to the health of the country. Madrid will always be one of my homes no matter where I must live in the World. Once biten it is hard not to missed the city friendly casual ambiance. Another city in the trail of Ernest Hemingway !!
Some of the emblematic monuments closed to my apartment at the times were the Puerta de Alcalà and the Monumental Ventas bullfight arena.
The Madrid tourist office on the Puerta de Alcalà: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/puerta-de-alcala
The Madrid tourist office on the Las Ventas bullfight arena: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/plaza-de-toros-monumental-de-las-ventas
The Comunidad de Madrid tourist office on Madrid : https://turismomadrid.es/en/discover/cityofmadrid.html
There you go folks , another wonderful nostalgic, sentimental trip to my dear Spain, Madrid is always nostalgic sentimental words cannot describe it ! This is a vibrant cosmopolitan cities of friendly faces and smiles to share in long conversations about life and more ; I love it, And these places are part of my life forever ! We will be back here again,eventually!, Its a pilgrimage by now ,all worth it, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the calle de Alcalà 331 of Madrid ,part II !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Published by pedmar10
I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world.
My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting.
Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers
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