Spain: Madrid, Segovia and Toledo

MADRID - Calle De Alcala (I think). I passed these two tourists and I remember thinking how lost and alone they looked.

MADRID - Parque Del Retiro

MADRID - Parque Del Retiro - Another one of those showery days of patchy light and awesome skies.

MADRID - Parque Del Retiro - One of those grab shots. It struck me at the time that the statues in the foreground were calling to or watching over the small child. I must have a fanciful mind.

MADRID - Parque Del Retiro - Monument of Alfonso XII

MADRID - Parque Del Retiro - This is a great place to take a break from sightseeing. It's relaxed and there's always something going on, mainly from buskers and musicians who do not busk.

MADRID -Rastro flea market

MADRID -Rastro flea market - Busker

MADRID -Rastro flea market - This is an amazing market which seems to go on endlessly. It is packed with people, so beware of pick pockets.

MADRID - Calle Mayor - Street sellers: These guys, who seem to move in small groups, are very cautious. Their wares are mostly copies of expensive brands. They lay their goods out on the cloth very quickly. One of them keeps watch (the guy standing). They are always ready to flee, and do so by pulling on the string and hauling their swag. I'm not sure how well they do.

MADRID - the Museum of Jamon - Guess what the specialty of the house is. We had our last meal in Madrid here (lunch); a paella for two. The paella was wonderful. Even more wonderful was being able to relax and observe the regular, well dressed and well heeled clientele. The local society matrons and old men who have obviously been regular customers for years. It was glimpse into a bygone, slow-paced era, one not seen in the fast-paced worlds most of us inhabit today. It's well worth setting aside two or three hours of valuable sight-seeing time for this rare experience.

MADRID - Plaza Mayor - at night

MADRID -Plaza Mayor - Alison

MADRID -Calle de Carlos III - Busker

MADRID -Calle de Carlos III - Busker

MADRID - Palacio Real -Plaza de Orient: A showery day with good patchy light

MADRID - Palacio Real -Plaza de Orient: I had to wait for this light, but I think it was worth it.

MADRID - Palacio Real -from Plaza de Orient: I'm a sucker for skies like these.

MADRID - Palacio Real -Plaza de Orient - This was one of those shots I had to work for. The statue looked quite innocuous from the front (see 6 photos back), but from the rear it looked quite menacing. When the light was bad I took a shot like this one, but inadvertently deleted it. I got Alison to walk past again, i order to capture the moment again. It's a grim scene, but I like the feeling of menace and transience.

MADRID - Puerta del Sol, Calle del Carmen: The 'Bear and the Strawberry Tree' a bronze statue that has become the symbol of Madrid (I'm not sure why).

TOLEDO

TOLEDO - While walking back to the Plaza Zocodover a fierce wind blew up and the skies darkened over the countryside. I probably hung around too trying to get photos, because we got quite we before finding a cafe on the Calle del Comercio (or the main drag).

TOLEDO - Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes

TOLEDO - Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes