Two dear friends that live near Franfurt came to see me on Sunday. They took me to central Frankfurt. We also went to an exhibit that was hands down the coolest thing I have done on this entire trip. Basically you experience the world as someone who is blind would. It was amazing and enlightening.
Here are pictures of Frankfurt.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Train ride north
I took the train from Milan to Frankfurt. It was a fantastic trip. Daylight lasted only through Switzerland but it was still a wonderful trip.
Here are pictures taken from the train. Due to the weather, dirty window, and the high speed of the train these are not the clearest photos but you can get an idea of how beautiful the Alps are.
Here are pictures taken from the train. Due to the weather, dirty window, and the high speed of the train these are not the clearest photos but you can get an idea of how beautiful the Alps are.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Change of scenary: Milan
Because I have not been able to finish sorting and organizing Florence photos, I will now switch to Milan. I spent a day wandering around the central part of the city. There is a beautiful shopping center next to the cathedral. The central rotunda has Louis Vuitton, Prada, a jewelers, and what is the fourth big corner label you ask????? Can you guess????? Sadly, it is McDonalds.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Florence Part 6: Florence from up high
The Church of San Miniato
The green and white façade is considered one of the finest examples of the Florentine Romanesque style. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, it contains fine artworks and splendid frescoes.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The huge square is famous throughout the world for its view over the monumental city center. The square, the gardens and the boulevards leading down to Florence, together with the other avenues encircling the city, were created by Giuseppe Poggi in 1869 when it was temporarily the capital of Italy.
The green and white façade is considered one of the finest examples of the Florentine Romanesque style. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, it contains fine artworks and splendid frescoes.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The huge square is famous throughout the world for its view over the monumental city center. The square, the gardens and the boulevards leading down to Florence, together with the other avenues encircling the city, were created by Giuseppe Poggi in 1869 when it was temporarily the capital of Italy.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Florence Part 5: Assorted locations
Ponte Vecchio
The first and therefore oldest b ridge in the city. Built in wood before the year 1000, then constructed in masonry and destroyed several times by the Arno in flood, it was reconstructed as we see it today by Taddeo Gaddi, a student of Giotto, in 1345. The characteristic shops on the bridge at first hosted butchers’ shops, as here they could conveniently throw their waste directly into the river, and were only later occupied by craftsmen, goldsmiths and jewelers, when the bridge became the main route leading to the Medici palace. Today it is a popular salon for jewelry and precious stones, displayed in the characteristic projecting shop windows.
Piazza della Signoria
The piazza has been the hub of political life in Florence since the 14th century. It was the scene of great triumphs, such as the return of the Medici in 1530, but also of the Bonfire of the Vanities instigated by Savonarola, who was himself burned at the stake here in 1498, denounced as a heretic by the Inquisiton.
NO PICTURES!
NO PICTURES!!
Many, well, most of the museaums in Florence do not allow photography. The following places we visited did not allow photography. But I managed to sneak a few. When we went to the Accademia to see David the guard near the statue was always yelling at the top of her lungs NO PICTURES!
The Academy Gallery
One of Florence’s best known museums because it boasts many sculptures by Michelangelo, including the famous David. It also contains a large number of paintings, brought here by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo to help the studies of the young artists at the Academy of Art, which still stands next door to the gallery.
San Marco
The museum of San Marco is situated inside the ancient Dominican convent, the spiritual centre of 15th century Florence, and contains the splendid frescoes carried out by Fra Angelico to decorate the monks’ cells. This was where the mad monk Fra Girolamo Savonarola preached.
Uffizi Gallery
Situated in the harmonious colonnaded square designed by Vasari, a symbol of 16th century Florentine architecture, the Uffizi Gallery was also the first museum to be opened to the public: the Grand Duke in fact gave permission for visitors to tour it from the year 1591. Its four centuries of history make the Uffizi Gallery the oldest museum in the world. Cosimo I de Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build the Palace, whose construction was started in 1560. It was later completed by Buontalenti, who also designed the famous Tribune, to house the administrative offices (or Uffizi) of the Government, because Palazzo Vecchio, which also over looks Piaza della Signoria, had become to small to hold them all.
However it was Cosimo’s son Francesco I who was responsible for the palace’s gradual transformation into a museum from 1581, when he closed the Gallery on the second floor with hu8ge windows and arranged part of the Grand Ducal collection of classical statues, medals, jeweler, weapons, paintings and scientific instruments there.
Untiring collectors, the Medici were forever adding to the Gallery: some of the most important elements in the collection came from the legacy left by Vittoria della Rovere, Ferdinando II’s mother, in 1631, together with the many acquisitions made by Cardinal Leopoldo de’Medici, which were to create the basis of the Gallery of Prints and Drawings and the collection of self-portraits, today displayed in the Vasri Corridor that links the Uffizi to the royal Pitti Palace.
Altered and rearranged several times over the centuries, the exhibition rooms are now composed of over 45 rooms containing about 1700 paintings, 300 sculptures, 46 tapestries and 14 pieces of furniture and/or ceramics. In actual fact the Uffizi owns about 4800 works, the raminder of which are either in storage or on loan to other museums.
The Church of San Lorenzo and library
Brunelleschi carried out the Medici Church of San Lorenzo by enlarging a mediaeval church consecrated by St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan in 393. The interior exemplifies Renaissance religious architecture and contains many important works of art, among them two pulpits in bronze by Donatello and the Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi. The church became a Medici family sepulcher because all the first Medicis were buried there. Michelangelo carried out the elegant Medici Laurentian Library, vestibule and reading room, which can be reached from the Cloisters.
The Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapels form the most famous part of the San Lorenzo complex. Pope Leo X and his cousin, the future Pope Clement VII gave Michelangelo the commission to carry out the New Sacristy, where Lorenzo the Magnificent is buried with his brother Giuliano, who were murdered in the Pazzi Plot in 1478, and their descendants, Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, and Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. Michelangelo decorated it with some of his most famous sculptures: portraits of the dead princes and his interpretations of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk. The huge octagonal Chapel of the Princes, designed by Mateo Nigetti is the official family sacrarium and mausoleum. The entire surface of the interior is a dazzling mosaic of dark marble and semi-precious stones.
The first and therefore oldest b ridge in the city. Built in wood before the year 1000, then constructed in masonry and destroyed several times by the Arno in flood, it was reconstructed as we see it today by Taddeo Gaddi, a student of Giotto, in 1345. The characteristic shops on the bridge at first hosted butchers’ shops, as here they could conveniently throw their waste directly into the river, and were only later occupied by craftsmen, goldsmiths and jewelers, when the bridge became the main route leading to the Medici palace. Today it is a popular salon for jewelry and precious stones, displayed in the characteristic projecting shop windows.
Piazza della Signoria
The piazza has been the hub of political life in Florence since the 14th century. It was the scene of great triumphs, such as the return of the Medici in 1530, but also of the Bonfire of the Vanities instigated by Savonarola, who was himself burned at the stake here in 1498, denounced as a heretic by the Inquisiton.
NO PICTURES!
NO PICTURES!!
Many, well, most of the museaums in Florence do not allow photography. The following places we visited did not allow photography. But I managed to sneak a few. When we went to the Accademia to see David the guard near the statue was always yelling at the top of her lungs NO PICTURES!
The Academy Gallery
One of Florence’s best known museums because it boasts many sculptures by Michelangelo, including the famous David. It also contains a large number of paintings, brought here by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo to help the studies of the young artists at the Academy of Art, which still stands next door to the gallery.
San Marco
The museum of San Marco is situated inside the ancient Dominican convent, the spiritual centre of 15th century Florence, and contains the splendid frescoes carried out by Fra Angelico to decorate the monks’ cells. This was where the mad monk Fra Girolamo Savonarola preached.
Uffizi Gallery
Situated in the harmonious colonnaded square designed by Vasari, a symbol of 16th century Florentine architecture, the Uffizi Gallery was also the first museum to be opened to the public: the Grand Duke in fact gave permission for visitors to tour it from the year 1591. Its four centuries of history make the Uffizi Gallery the oldest museum in the world. Cosimo I de Medici commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build the Palace, whose construction was started in 1560. It was later completed by Buontalenti, who also designed the famous Tribune, to house the administrative offices (or Uffizi) of the Government, because Palazzo Vecchio, which also over looks Piaza della Signoria, had become to small to hold them all.
However it was Cosimo’s son Francesco I who was responsible for the palace’s gradual transformation into a museum from 1581, when he closed the Gallery on the second floor with hu8ge windows and arranged part of the Grand Ducal collection of classical statues, medals, jeweler, weapons, paintings and scientific instruments there.
Untiring collectors, the Medici were forever adding to the Gallery: some of the most important elements in the collection came from the legacy left by Vittoria della Rovere, Ferdinando II’s mother, in 1631, together with the many acquisitions made by Cardinal Leopoldo de’Medici, which were to create the basis of the Gallery of Prints and Drawings and the collection of self-portraits, today displayed in the Vasri Corridor that links the Uffizi to the royal Pitti Palace.
Altered and rearranged several times over the centuries, the exhibition rooms are now composed of over 45 rooms containing about 1700 paintings, 300 sculptures, 46 tapestries and 14 pieces of furniture and/or ceramics. In actual fact the Uffizi owns about 4800 works, the raminder of which are either in storage or on loan to other museums.
The Church of San Lorenzo and library
Brunelleschi carried out the Medici Church of San Lorenzo by enlarging a mediaeval church consecrated by St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan in 393. The interior exemplifies Renaissance religious architecture and contains many important works of art, among them two pulpits in bronze by Donatello and the Old Sacristy by Brunelleschi. The church became a Medici family sepulcher because all the first Medicis were buried there. Michelangelo carried out the elegant Medici Laurentian Library, vestibule and reading room, which can be reached from the Cloisters.
The Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapels form the most famous part of the San Lorenzo complex. Pope Leo X and his cousin, the future Pope Clement VII gave Michelangelo the commission to carry out the New Sacristy, where Lorenzo the Magnificent is buried with his brother Giuliano, who were murdered in the Pazzi Plot in 1478, and their descendants, Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, and Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. Michelangelo decorated it with some of his most famous sculptures: portraits of the dead princes and his interpretations of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk. The huge octagonal Chapel of the Princes, designed by Mateo Nigetti is the official family sacrarium and mausoleum. The entire surface of the interior is a dazzling mosaic of dark marble and semi-precious stones.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Florence Part 4: Santa Maria del Fiori, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery
Ok, this is the big one. The church that dominates the Florentine skyline. You can't miss the Duomo if you try. It is beautiful. A little history about the buildings in the square and then, of course, pictures.
Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore took six centuries to complete. It’s name, Holy Mary of the Flower, is a clear allusion to the lily, the symbol of the city. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio(1245-1302), one of the greatest architect-sculptors of his age, it was erected around the ancient Cathedral of Santa Reparata, which was torn down as soon as the new building was roofed over, its remains, as well as the tombs of Giotto and Brunelleschi, can be visited from the interior.
Filippo Brunelleschi completed the Cathedral in 1436 with the elegant cupola, still considered a marvel of engineering. Brunelleshchi won a competition for its commission in 1418, the dome is egg-shape and was made without scaffolding.
In 1572 Giorgio Vasari started to paint the frescoes of the cupola of the Cathedral, drawing inspiration from the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. He died in 1574 after having carried out only a third of the work, and Frederico Zuccari, completed the project. The frescoes have been scrupulously restored, and it is now possible to appreciate the power of the cycle.
The façade of the church was completed in the 19th century.
Clock by Paolo Uccello 1443 – in line with the ora italica, according to which the 24th hour of the day ends at sunset.
Giotto Bell Tower
Built on a square plan, the Giotto Bell Tower rises on the right of the Cathedral. It was designed and built by the great artist in the last years of his life 1334-1337 and completed by Fancesco Talenti in 1359. Faced in priceless green, red, and white marbles, it is decorated with 56 bas-relief titles by Adrea Pisano and Luca Della Robbia. 413 steps lead up to the panoramic terrace.
Baptistery
Faced in green and white marble and a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque art, the octagonal-shaped Baptistery (1128) is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, Patron Saint of the city. According to tradition, it was founded in Roman times. In 12th century the original sandstone of the external revestment was covered with Green Prato and white Carrara and marble inlay: the final result is a prototype for Romanesque architecture. The splendid doors are the work of Pisano and Ghiberti.
Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore took six centuries to complete. It’s name, Holy Mary of the Flower, is a clear allusion to the lily, the symbol of the city. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio(1245-1302), one of the greatest architect-sculptors of his age, it was erected around the ancient Cathedral of Santa Reparata, which was torn down as soon as the new building was roofed over, its remains, as well as the tombs of Giotto and Brunelleschi, can be visited from the interior.
Filippo Brunelleschi completed the Cathedral in 1436 with the elegant cupola, still considered a marvel of engineering. Brunelleshchi won a competition for its commission in 1418, the dome is egg-shape and was made without scaffolding.
In 1572 Giorgio Vasari started to paint the frescoes of the cupola of the Cathedral, drawing inspiration from the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. He died in 1574 after having carried out only a third of the work, and Frederico Zuccari, completed the project. The frescoes have been scrupulously restored, and it is now possible to appreciate the power of the cycle.
The façade of the church was completed in the 19th century.
Clock by Paolo Uccello 1443 – in line with the ora italica, according to which the 24th hour of the day ends at sunset.
Giotto Bell Tower
Built on a square plan, the Giotto Bell Tower rises on the right of the Cathedral. It was designed and built by the great artist in the last years of his life 1334-1337 and completed by Fancesco Talenti in 1359. Faced in priceless green, red, and white marbles, it is decorated with 56 bas-relief titles by Adrea Pisano and Luca Della Robbia. 413 steps lead up to the panoramic terrace.
Baptistery
Faced in green and white marble and a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque art, the octagonal-shaped Baptistery (1128) is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, Patron Saint of the city. According to tradition, it was founded in Roman times. In 12th century the original sandstone of the external revestment was covered with Green Prato and white Carrara and marble inlay: the final result is a prototype for Romanesque architecture. The splendid doors are the work of Pisano and Ghiberti.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Florence Part 3: A little mix of stuff
In this set of photos you will see:
The Arno River
A statue in Piazza Mentana
the Tempio Maggiore Israelitico
Items on display in the Museo di Storia della Scienza
The Arno River
A statue in Piazza Mentana
the Tempio Maggiore Israelitico
Items on display in the Museo di Storia della Scienza
Florence: Part 2: Hotel Villa Liana
We stayed at two different hotels in Florence. They were on opposite sides of central Florence. I had wanted to stay in a hotel that was in the traditional Florentine or Tuscan style. Wood or tile floors, quaint eclectic furniture, and a long history attached to the building. We couldn’t pick between two so we decided to opt for staying at both.
The first, Hotel Villa Liana was by far and wide not only our favorite but will be remembered fondly our whole lives. It was a beautiful hotel and we had an incredible room. They put us in the second floor room of a little bungalow. We climbed a stone staircase up to a gazebo and a bridge that took us to our room.
We spent several perfect evenings sitting under the gazebo having a picnic dinner. We would stop at a grocery store after a day of exploring and pick up fresh baked bread, prosciutto, parmesan cheese, and a bottle of wine. The parmesan cheese we picked was only .99euro a pound which translates to about $1.50 lb. And it was heaven. I think the first time, and probably the second night we had it we were both speechless over the wonderful flavors in the cheese.
The second hotel, Hotel Ariel was also a nice hotel. But it did not hold the magic that the first one did. It was actually in a more exclusive section of Florence a block away from the Arno river. It was also only a few blocks from the US Consulate. The cars were bigger and more expensive and the streets were certainly a bit quieter. We enjoyed our stay and it was very close to the train station where we would both depart from so it was ideal for what we needed at the end of our trip.
The below pictures are from Hotel Villa Liana.
The first, Hotel Villa Liana was by far and wide not only our favorite but will be remembered fondly our whole lives. It was a beautiful hotel and we had an incredible room. They put us in the second floor room of a little bungalow. We climbed a stone staircase up to a gazebo and a bridge that took us to our room.
We spent several perfect evenings sitting under the gazebo having a picnic dinner. We would stop at a grocery store after a day of exploring and pick up fresh baked bread, prosciutto, parmesan cheese, and a bottle of wine. The parmesan cheese we picked was only .99euro a pound which translates to about $1.50 lb. And it was heaven. I think the first time, and probably the second night we had it we were both speechless over the wonderful flavors in the cheese.
The second hotel, Hotel Ariel was also a nice hotel. But it did not hold the magic that the first one did. It was actually in a more exclusive section of Florence a block away from the Arno river. It was also only a few blocks from the US Consulate. The cars were bigger and more expensive and the streets were certainly a bit quieter. We enjoyed our stay and it was very close to the train station where we would both depart from so it was ideal for what we needed at the end of our trip.
The below pictures are from Hotel Villa Liana.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday: Madrid Zoo
According to the travel guides Madrid is home to one of the best Zoo's in Europe. So we decided to take a look on Sunday.
We were not disappointed!
We were not disappointed!
Saturday exploring
Saturday was another lovely day in Madrid.
We headed off on the Metro to go to the Prado. What is a trip to Europe without visiting a big famous museum????
The art collection is amazing. It was pretty cool to see in person some of the paintings in my art history books.
Next to the Prado is the botanical gardens. A beautiful and peaceful place to explore.
Not far from the Prado is a huge park called Parque del Retiro. We were not aware at the time but there was a huge rally planned on Saturday to protest changes the government wants to make in abortion laws. Up to a million people were expected to be around central Madrid. It was CRAZY. But we still enjoyed the park.
We jumped on the Metro and packed in like sardines to head to a different part of the city. I don't know that I have ever been so compacted with a group of people ever before. It was very cozy to say the least.
What ended up being an unexpected advantage was in preparation for a million people the police closed off all the streets in and around central Madrid. So walking around was actually a breeze.
We went back to Plaza Mayor and watched dancers perform from several different countries. They were performing traditional native dances.
Because we knew the closest Metro station was in the heart of the rally we wandered down some beautiful streets of Madrid to a different Metro station. We found it! But then discovered that all of the Metro trains were packed full of people. And the number of people cramming onto the train got more and more jammed. But then at one stop everyone got off. We unknowingly picked the Metro line that goes to the stadium. And there was a Football game about to start. (Soccer)
Finally we got back to our neighborhood and had dinner at the big entertainment complex near the train station. All the tv's were tuned to the football game and beer flowed freely. It was a lot of fun. And there was so much energy in the crowds. We only wished we had realized at the time that it was a football match. We would have hopped off with the crowds and tried to get tickets.
Oh well..........it was still a fun day!
We headed off on the Metro to go to the Prado. What is a trip to Europe without visiting a big famous museum????
The art collection is amazing. It was pretty cool to see in person some of the paintings in my art history books.
Next to the Prado is the botanical gardens. A beautiful and peaceful place to explore.
Not far from the Prado is a huge park called Parque del Retiro. We were not aware at the time but there was a huge rally planned on Saturday to protest changes the government wants to make in abortion laws. Up to a million people were expected to be around central Madrid. It was CRAZY. But we still enjoyed the park.
We jumped on the Metro and packed in like sardines to head to a different part of the city. I don't know that I have ever been so compacted with a group of people ever before. It was very cozy to say the least.
What ended up being an unexpected advantage was in preparation for a million people the police closed off all the streets in and around central Madrid. So walking around was actually a breeze.
We went back to Plaza Mayor and watched dancers perform from several different countries. They were performing traditional native dances.
Because we knew the closest Metro station was in the heart of the rally we wandered down some beautiful streets of Madrid to a different Metro station. We found it! But then discovered that all of the Metro trains were packed full of people. And the number of people cramming onto the train got more and more jammed. But then at one stop everyone got off. We unknowingly picked the Metro line that goes to the stadium. And there was a Football game about to start. (Soccer)
Finally we got back to our neighborhood and had dinner at the big entertainment complex near the train station. All the tv's were tuned to the football game and beer flowed freely. It was a lot of fun. And there was so much energy in the crowds. We only wished we had realized at the time that it was a football match. We would have hopped off with the crowds and tried to get tickets.
Oh well..........it was still a fun day!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Beautiful Madrid
***UPDATED***
Now with MORE pictures!
Where can 22,000 steps take you?
Hotel to Metro Station
Plaza de Espana
Palacio Real
Plaza de Oriente
Catedreal de la Almudena
Plaza de San Miguel
Plaza Mayor
Plaza de la Puerta Del Sol
Metro to Hotel
The weather has been perfect. The food is wonderful. The people are amazing. Spanish men and women are very beautiful. They seem to embrace life with happiness and pleasure.
It has been easy to get around the city. The metro is clean, efficient, and very easy to learn to navigate. Knock on wood, we haven't gotten lost yet.
All in all the only way I can describe our two days of wandering tourist is perfecto!
Now with MORE pictures!
Where can 22,000 steps take you?
Hotel to Metro Station
Plaza de Espana
Palacio Real
Plaza de Oriente
Catedreal de la Almudena
Plaza de San Miguel
Plaza Mayor
Plaza de la Puerta Del Sol
Metro to Hotel
The weather has been perfect. The food is wonderful. The people are amazing. Spanish men and women are very beautiful. They seem to embrace life with happiness and pleasure.
It has been easy to get around the city. The metro is clean, efficient, and very easy to learn to navigate. Knock on wood, we haven't gotten lost yet.
All in all the only way I can describe our two days of wandering tourist is perfecto!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Living La Vida Insomne
Living the Sleepless Life in Madrid has its advantages. Dinner is a very late affair in this wonderful country. We have been sitting down to eat around 9:30 each night. By the time we get back to the hotel is is usually after 11. By the time I snuggle down with a book it is around 12:30 or 1. Sleep doesn't come till after 2.
But so far I don't mind. I get in a full work day and then go out with co-workers exploring.
We spent almost two hours in a super mercado last night. The store was a Target, a grocery store, a Best Buy, and a Macy's all rolled into one. We had a blast. I was able to get a carton of Kinder Surprise eggs.
We had dinner in Plaza Norte (HUGE mall) at a wonderful Italian place. I had their Tres Pastas Especial with Blanco Parmegano sauce. My co-workers had pizzas which they really enjoyed.
Here are a few more pictures:
But so far I don't mind. I get in a full work day and then go out with co-workers exploring.
We spent almost two hours in a super mercado last night. The store was a Target, a grocery store, a Best Buy, and a Macy's all rolled into one. We had a blast. I was able to get a carton of Kinder Surprise eggs.
We had dinner in Plaza Norte (HUGE mall) at a wonderful Italian place. I had their Tres Pastas Especial with Blanco Parmegano sauce. My co-workers had pizzas which they really enjoyed.
Here are a few more pictures:
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Around the office
The office is located in a part of Madrid called Alcobendas. We took a walk today to go to a convenience store to stock up on water and snacks. Our mini bar water is 4.50 Euros while it is only 1.24 Euros in the store. We are also in search of something else in our mini-bar, chocolate covered corn. We hope to find it cheaper somewhere else but if we don't we will probably break down and open one of the cans and try it.
Here are some of the pictures of the area around the office. There are lots of round abouts on the streets of Madrid.
Here are some of the pictures of the area around the office. There are lots of round abouts on the streets of Madrid.
In the beginning...........
October 12th I woke to a great deal of snow.
Checking my flight information showed the flight still on time so off I went to the airport.
The taxi driver got me to the airport in plenty of time. He complimented me on how little luggage I had for such a long trip. Please take note of that as I bet a lot of people thought I would need a suitcase just for my shoes :-)
Anyway, I was there in plenty of time because the flight was delayed by an hour due to weather both in Minnesota and in Atlanta my first destination city.
As it turned out we left the runway over two hours late. We only had a 3 hour total window before our flight to Madrid. We were a little panicked to say the least. I was traveling with a co-worker who thankfully had been to the Madrid office before. He was kind enough to schedule his trip to match mine so I didn't have to try to figure it out all for myself.
Arriving in Atlanta we had a long way to go to get to our Madrid gate. We landed in concourse A and had to get ourselves to one of the last gates in E. (Of course)
About 4 gates from where we needed to be the announcement came that they were doing a last and final boarding call for Madrid. According to our watch the flight wasn't supposed to leave for another 25 minutes. Let the running begin.................................
I have never been more thankful for a family complete with Grandmother, HUGE baby stroller and lots of bags blocking the gate entrance. Baby's passport was not to be found so they were holding up the doors being closed to the plane.
Deep sigh of relief we were on our plane!
And we were off. It was a fantastic flight. No turbulence (yay!) Excellent chicken dish served for dinner. Really, honestly, the dinner they served to us was yummy.
I didn't sleep on the plane but I did enjoy watching Star Trek (the newest movie) and a little of Transformers 2. I also scored a three seater all to myself so I was able to at least lay down and close my eyes for a while.
Morning came too quickly and we made a smooth landing in Madrid.
My first impression of the country was that I had actually stepped off in Southern California. Industry, big freeways, lots of cement, and graffiti. Brown hills, cactus, and flowering plants exactly like in California had me a little confused. But all we saw was the area between the airport and a north eastern suburb that is heavily industrial. We have not gotten anywhere near the beautiful heart of Madrid. That will happen this weekend.
The hotel we are at is just beautiful. And the office we are working in is equally as beautiful. The people are wonderfully kind and accommodating. And the coffee is to die for.
Two other co-workers arrived Monday so there are four of us here.
For our first night out we headed to a beautiful shopping center about a mile from our hotel. We enjoyed a nice dinner, a dessert to rival the food of the gods, and then the requisite window drooling at the shoes.
After a lovely walk back I headed up to my room. I had been awake a full 35+ hours and I was looking forward to curling up with a good book and falling asleep as soon as possible. Eventually sleep did come and it was a wonderful restful and deep sleep.
Morning light comes very late in Madrid. We all met for breakfast at 7:30 and headed for the office at 8. We walked in the dark.
Here are a few pictures of my hotel room. I have not yet taken photographs of the area around the office and hotel. Those are coming soon:
 |
| From October Morning |
Checking my flight information showed the flight still on time so off I went to the airport.
The taxi driver got me to the airport in plenty of time. He complimented me on how little luggage I had for such a long trip. Please take note of that as I bet a lot of people thought I would need a suitcase just for my shoes :-)
Anyway, I was there in plenty of time because the flight was delayed by an hour due to weather both in Minnesota and in Atlanta my first destination city.
As it turned out we left the runway over two hours late. We only had a 3 hour total window before our flight to Madrid. We were a little panicked to say the least. I was traveling with a co-worker who thankfully had been to the Madrid office before. He was kind enough to schedule his trip to match mine so I didn't have to try to figure it out all for myself.
Arriving in Atlanta we had a long way to go to get to our Madrid gate. We landed in concourse A and had to get ourselves to one of the last gates in E. (Of course)
About 4 gates from where we needed to be the announcement came that they were doing a last and final boarding call for Madrid. According to our watch the flight wasn't supposed to leave for another 25 minutes. Let the running begin.................................
I have never been more thankful for a family complete with Grandmother, HUGE baby stroller and lots of bags blocking the gate entrance. Baby's passport was not to be found so they were holding up the doors being closed to the plane.
Deep sigh of relief we were on our plane!
And we were off. It was a fantastic flight. No turbulence (yay!) Excellent chicken dish served for dinner. Really, honestly, the dinner they served to us was yummy.
I didn't sleep on the plane but I did enjoy watching Star Trek (the newest movie) and a little of Transformers 2. I also scored a three seater all to myself so I was able to at least lay down and close my eyes for a while.
Morning came too quickly and we made a smooth landing in Madrid.
My first impression of the country was that I had actually stepped off in Southern California. Industry, big freeways, lots of cement, and graffiti. Brown hills, cactus, and flowering plants exactly like in California had me a little confused. But all we saw was the area between the airport and a north eastern suburb that is heavily industrial. We have not gotten anywhere near the beautiful heart of Madrid. That will happen this weekend.
The hotel we are at is just beautiful. And the office we are working in is equally as beautiful. The people are wonderfully kind and accommodating. And the coffee is to die for.
Two other co-workers arrived Monday so there are four of us here.
For our first night out we headed to a beautiful shopping center about a mile from our hotel. We enjoyed a nice dinner, a dessert to rival the food of the gods, and then the requisite window drooling at the shoes.
After a lovely walk back I headed up to my room. I had been awake a full 35+ hours and I was looking forward to curling up with a good book and falling asleep as soon as possible. Eventually sleep did come and it was a wonderful restful and deep sleep.
Morning light comes very late in Madrid. We all met for breakfast at 7:30 and headed for the office at 8. We walked in the dark.
Here are a few pictures of my hotel room. I have not yet taken photographs of the area around the office and hotel. Those are coming soon:
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