You want to eat dinner when?

As advertised, we did not get up very early on Thursday - indeed, Hank was up earlier than I was, and brought me coffee in bed!  (I haven't had anyone do that for me in a long, long time!)

We did get into town, though, to see the last of the "big three" museums, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, based on a private collection (just like you prefer, Ray).  It is a vast private collection, though, with three floors in a modern building and paintings from the Renaissance to the 20th century, with plenty of Titian, Bernini, ElGreco, Van Gogh, Renoir, Picasso, and Edward Hopper.

We then continued our walk along the grand boulevards of old Madrid to the Puerta del Sol, which is considered the heart of Spain, mile zero (as everyone keeps telling us).  There, we encountered the bear and the madrona (not like our madronas, really a strawberry tree!), which is the symbol of the city of Madrid, as well as the other fine architecture below.

Carlos III of Spain

Just your average corner!

We then decided to try to have a meal at the Restaurant Botin, which claims to be the oldest restaurant in the world - in business since 1725, known for its suckling pig, and the place where Goya was a dishwasher before he became the official painter.  However, - wait for it - it is closed between 4 and 8, tourist dollars or no!  So instead, we decided to declare victory, and go back to "our" bar (officially known as Il Jardin) in "our" town (Mejorado del Campo), for the usual drinks (which the bartender prepares for us when he sees us coming in!  Lucky they serve substantial snacks with the booze (see next story).

Yesterday, we had an automobile adventure, taking the car on the freeway (gasp!) to get to El Escorial, the "monastery" of Phillip II, about 50 kilometers north of town.  Hank is a super navigator (or "copiloto" as they say here), and there was no difficulty either coming or returning.  These outer freeways appear very new, and although they are well used were not overly crowded.  And here, the fast driving warmed the cockles of my heart - I was driving at 120 clicks and people were passing me as though I were standing still!

The town of Escorial as well as the site (which has been an official Heritage Site for many years) were both charming.  As usual (and lucky for the readers, I guess) not too many photo ops, but some.

After the drive home, we saw a local site (pre bar).  A local eccentric is building his own cathedral in Mejorada del Campo, a la Gaudi (one has to wonder what the city fathers and mothers have to say about it!).  He was there at the site, even though it was pretty late, and he is eccentric, I will give him that!  He told us that they had been building this for fifteen years, and expected to be completed in another 3.  I think he was being a bit optimistic, myself, but who knows.  Anyway, judge for yourselves.

And then, for the final adventure!  We thought that since Hank was leaving today, we would actually try for a real (and hopefully nice) dinner.  There were at least two fine dining spots which had been recommended in our own neighborhood.  We dutifully waited until 8 P.M., and then headed off to the first.  No, I am sorry, they said (they is a bit of a euphonism, as it was only a stray waiter who happened to be smoking out front in his tuxedo), the place does not open until 9:30, dinner probably not until 10.  Okay, the usual broken field running, we tried for the next one.  Ah, we thought, better luck, there are a million cars out front.  (actually, Hank thought better luck, I thought, we won't get in because all the tables are full).  As it turns out, neither one of us were right - it was a catering place only, no dinner served! 

So, back to the bar for us - they were indeed serving real food, albeit things like fried sardines and hamburgers.  Frankly, I was happy to just get off the road.  Driving in a strange place with a strange car is wearing at the best of times, and even more so at night. And you all know what a rotten sense of direction I have.  Hank was very patient with me, and, as noted, a great navigator, but it was wearing nevertheless.  Next time, I will stick to home exchanges a bit closer to the action, I think.

Anyway, Yolanda and Eduardo (and their son Gorge) picked us up this morning, and we took Hank to the airport!  I think he had a great time (in spite of my negativity and driving anxiety), and that the trip met his expectations.  After the airport run, the rest of us went for churros and chocolate.  Churros as sort of a long, thin donut item, terrific served hot, and, in this case, with a cup of thick, warm chocolate sauce to dip it into!  Yum!  (no diet here, although admittedly we are not eating many real meals, at least in Spain.

Well, I am girding my loins for the drive to the subway.  At least it is sunny (we have been totally blessed with the weather, not too hot and not too cold, and only a few drops of rain in Pompeii) and Saturday, and if I get lost in the roundabouts, as I surely will, there will be no great loss.