Madrid

Madrid; Rio Manzanares, Teleférico and cathedral.

From my flat at that time. Hortaleza, Madrid. For Pam. On reflection, I've posted a few sunrise (and fewer sunset) shots over the years but I think this has to be my favourite!

From half-way up Torre Picasso, Azca. Madrid

Well, I think they are the upper parts of ventilation shafts with grilles to stop birds getting in. There is reflection back from the building where I am taking the shot. I don't know what the material is to allow the reflection as I can't imagine glass would be used. One or two of you got very close - well done!! ~~~And Nora, you were easily the closest; Very well done indeed!!!!!~~~ Sorry no prizes. Just for fun!

I got back just before the heavens opened!

Idiot at large!

Taken from a balcony of a previous flat. I will post another shot soon which might, but only might, shed some light on what this is! And even though I have included it in HFF, don't let that fool you!

A gift from President Nasser of Egypt to Spain for its help in conserving ancient buildings before the construction of the Aswan Dam

I hadn't thought I was in danger because I never see cyclists here but as I was lining up this shot, this chap whizzed past me using some choice Madrileño invective - and justfiably so! I should have known it was a cycle route. Served me right! This pedestrian and cycle pathway lies above the M40 motorway ring road.

This motorway slices the univerity in Madrid completely in two with just this footbridge linking the two sections of a vast campus area. The unused cenral lane is almost certainly a dedicated cycle lane.

For Pam.

Azca Business Centre, Madrid, seen from an office in the Torre Picasso just after dawn. (Classes start early in my profession!)

Sierra de Guadarrama, snow-capped. A view from the offices of the most important man at a major Spanish bank that i shall refrain from naming. This august personage, and a good student, kindly allowed me to take this photo, strictly against the rules of the building! Shot taken through thick glass. The tall buildings seen here are the first two of the Quatro Torres. They hide the other two.This near one is a Norman Foster design and is still the tallest building in Spain.

I used to get some good sunrises from one flat and good sunsets from my next flat. Now I get nothing at all (but a far nicer flat!). Sight and sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQhGVnfU1XU (a re-mastered version and an improvement on the original, I think. Not the greatest of their songs but it goes well with Peter Castell´s comment!)

Principe Pio metro and mainline station, Madrid. 2 metro trains are below. I waited for as long as I could but I couldn't get main line and metro trains to co-incide! Sight and Sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoESxVt81h0 Love in Vain lyrics (Robert Johnson, as re-arranged by Jagger and Richards), Well I followed her to the station With a suitcase in my hand Yeah, I followed her to the station With a suitcase in my hand Whoa, it's hard to tell, it's hard to tell When all your love's in vain When the train come in the station I looked her in the eye Well the train come in the station And I looked her in the eye Whoa, I felt so sad so lonesome That I could not help but cry When the train left the station It had two lights on behind Yeah, when the train left the station It had two lights on behind Whoa, the blue light was my baby And the red light was my mind All my love was in vain All my love's in vain

This walk and cycle way is over one half of the M30 Madrid motorway ring road. A dull and rainy day

The rose garden in the Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

'Open-plan'. Metro and mainline, trains, tracks and passengers (not to mention shopping mall, food hall, cinema complex - the usual suspects) all sharing the same 90s designed space. It actually works very well imho. All built within the old mainline terminus of the Estaciòn del Norte (you can see the impressive ironmongery of the old terminus at the top). Sight and sound. Just like it and always have ever since I first heard it every morning stuck in a traffic jam on the M40 into London. Silly video but great pop song! www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvAnQqVJ3XQ