Fred's Blog

Day 2: December 26 ... last rays of sun

After my long stroll, I stopped by a park across the street from my apartment to catch the last rays of sun.

And it is here where I saw people sitting on park benches and peddaling.

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Day 2: December 26 ... soul is all you need

During my long walk, I discovered these words of wisdom scribbled on a wall ... maybe it's what I needed to see?

Day 2: December 26 ... anybody looking for a high-end bag?

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Day 2: December 26 ... the majestic avenues and architecture of Madrid

I snapped these photos along the Calle de Alcalá and the Gran Via. These photos say more than any words I could find.

Calle de Alcalá is the longest street in Madrid. It starts at the Puerta del Sol and goes on for 10.5 km, to the northeastern outskirts of the city. Henry David Inglis, a Scottish travel writer and journalist, described it in 1837 as "long, of superb width, and flanked by a splendid range of unequal buildings".

Gran Vía (literally "Great Way") is an ornate and upscale shopping street located in central Madrid. Now, commonly known as the Spanish Broadway, it is one of the streets with the most nightlife in Europe. It leads from Calle de Alcalá, close to Plaza de Cibeles, to Plaza de España.

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(photo below, building to right) The Banco de España (Bank of Spain) is the national central bank of Spain.

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(photo below) The Plaza de Cibeles is a square with a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures with fountains that has become an iconic symbol for the city of Madrid.

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The Edificio Metrópolis (Metropolis Building) is an office building located at the corner of the Calle de Alcalá and Gran Vía. Inaugurated in 1911, it was designed by Jules and Raymond Février for the insurance company La Unión y el Fénix.