Nothing beats family

An accident in the morning caused a slow start. Marjan had a slip in the bathroom and a couple of bruises meant she was not for the morning ramble. Still after a bit of a family rally round she was settled on the couch with a tea, a book and some appropriate drugs and ready for a morning of recuperation. 

Anna and I set off .....sans map.....heading for El Parque Del Buen Retiro. On the way we got some first hand views of the current economic climate in Spain. Without a map we went through areas you may not normally see and happened to run into a queue of folk at a 'soup kitchen' for their morning meal. I think it opened Anna's eyes a little. It is not just that there are beggars, but that for many there are no other options. So often we have heard that many of the best and brightest are leaving for moresecure  futures elsewhere. Excuse the social commentary, but we see what we see.

On our rambles we ended up near the Bellas Artes and decided to check out their rooftop bar. Apart from a couple of staff setting up we had the place to ourselves. Wonderful views of Madrid, but chilly on this autumn morning. Still Anna enjoyed the hot chocolate and the sights.

and of course I love the little details in the skyline.

We made it to the park, the biggest in Madrid, coz people don't include the Casa Campo. 

It was still early and the hawkers were only setting up, but we had a nice stroll in the open air, and enjoyed some of the monuments and statuary. I liked that there was a Sancho the Brave to go with the Sancho the Fat Marjan and I saw the other day. It is good to see that not all of my forebears were just cured meat fanatics. 

It was them time to go back and check on the patient. A morning of rest meant she was feeling a bit better, though still a little sore.

We heading off for the cercanias train( suburban and nearby towns) which they have extended into Sol .....there must be nothing left to tunnel in this place. Lunch with family. I have not seen them for ten years they have not seen Anna since she was four, but we were at home. A home cooked lunch of cocido and family reminiscences and laughter stretched to about eight pm. A brief walk to help the neighbourhood practice their English meant Anna's jetlag kicked in and we needed to head back, Anna to sleep, Marjan to some more anti inflammatories, and I to this abbreviated entry.

All being well we will try for Toledo tomorrow. I believe they have the faster speed trains going there now...not the full fast speed but a new intermediate speed between the normal and the fast. At any rate it is 30 minutes from Madrid.