A quick weekend trip to our favourite city. The continent in Summer, it was cold and chilly and then lovely and sunny the day we departed for London. This time we toured the Pantheon, some churches and explored more of our favourite neighbourhood - the Latin quarter.
I finally tracked down Square Jean Falck. Looked like in the old days it may have been grander, but now is a car park in a gritty area of Paris. Click on photos to enlarge.
The Seine by night and by day…
Exterior and interior of the Pantheon
The underground crypts.
Church, a sketch in progress..
Jeff has iconic Paris in his palm and backpack!!
Jeff had to be in Madrid in July (uggh…) so we tacked on an extra day and I joined him. We lucked out with the weather, it was unusually cool for them, still hot for us, but manageable. It was nice to be in Castellano territory - after being completely thrown by signs, etc. in Barcelona.
We finally were able to use points on Starwood for a decent hotel and stayed at the Palace (Westin). Lovely hotel, in a very central location. Directly across from El Prado and a super botanical park. My Mother told me years ago, at age 8 - I cried the whole way through the Prado museum, so we decided to skip it anyway : )
We saw the most amazing Flamenco show at Casa Patas, reputed as one of the best and most autentico in Madrid. Read a review here. To say we were blown away, is putting it mildly.
We keep agreeing that the Spanish siesta rocks, and the US should adopt immediately…much more relaxed folks..
While Jeff was working, I found solace from the city noise and heat and paid a euro to enter the park across from the Prado and write postcards. Photos below - click to enlarge:
While walking and on the double decker bus tour - city scenes: (we were really impressed with all the beautiful tile work and wall paintings)
Our hotel, Westin Palace.
The Catedral de la Almudena.
The amazing ceiling inside the cathedral, 2 flamenco guitarists in the cathedral courtyard. Their melody was haunting and floated all around..best free concert in a long time.
On the walk up the hill from the cathedral, we came across these ruins.. near the park Emir Mohamed 1. Not sure if Roman…
distant view of cathedral
more beautiful, random tile work
In the Retiro, Madrid’s central park.
Interior of the train station, read in the guide book it was a destination. Gorgeous - with a tropical rain forest, we got misted as we walked by!
Jeff and I have been watching the TDF on TV together for the last few years and were so excited that this year, for the first time in over 20+ years, the grand depart and time trials were going to be in London. We got some photos of the parades going along the Thames and stationed ourselves at the end of the time trials. We watched them come in one at a time and then gasp for breath after they finished, quite exciting! Jeff took a real camera, I shot with the little point and shoot and took movies. Click on pictures to enlarge..
That blue blur is a rider..
After each time trial, the riders could barely breathe and the press just surrounded them..craaaazy.
July found us busy with 2 sets of visitors. Firstly our SF friends Felipe and Brad stayed at Chez Pedigo. They were en route to Dubrovnik, influenced by our trip perhaps : )? Upon their return via London, we all saw a fabulous production of Billy Elliot in the West End.
Jeff’s parents arrived in London after a super trip in Scotland and England. As they were not jetlagged, we had decided to have a big Bastille Day party - so they met about 30 or so of our ex-pat friends. Jeff’s friend Ken from the bay area was in town too and was able to join the fun as well. We took Bob and Masako to the lesser known parts of London - including the canal boat ride in Maida Vale - to Regent’s Park. This was made all the more fun by the tour of school children on our boat - they were so funny. (Pics below) Had a dinner at our local Yakitori in Hampstead with our friend’s Ted and Mari - and Masako proclaimed it “very authentic”. Jin kichi on Heath Street. Jin Kichi.
We toured Fenton House in Hampstead. They have a wonderful collection of harpsichords and lovely gardens. It is a National Trust property, so we go for free. See pictures below. Country Life magazine describes it as “London’s most enchanting country house” Fenton House - Hampstead.
And for the gastronomic delight of their trip, we took them to Borough Market, oh the cheeses, olives, pies, meats, wines!!!
The underground crypts.
