Clouds

Sierra de La Cabrera on a foggy day in December, 2011. Today would have been the same, blanket fog throughout central Spain with only the mountain peaks peeping through. I was tempted when I heard the forecast last night but I just had too much to do today, even though it was a public holiday!

I got a lot of these dawns when I lived here for 9 months in 2012/13.

Calle de Santa Engracia at its northern, Cuatro Caminos end.

Sierra de La Cabrera, Looking east to Pico de La Miel from the half way point along the ridge. I tried to find out who built this, but when I asked in the village, they all said it was built against Napoleon. I have learnt to back off when I hear this. The Civil War is still too raw, or still too taboo, to get a frank discussion in these villages. Concrete wasn't around in Napoleon's day!

One of the very best days in these mountains. Peñalara, the highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama can be seen, snow covered, to the right on the horizon.

Dawn over Hortaleza, Madrid. For the 9 months I lived in this high-rise flat in 2012/13, I was blessed with a succession of great sunrises! Sight and sound. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TInLOJuUM

Algete, Madrid Province with La Sierra de La Cabrera on the horizon.! Sight and sound, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMGzymLICl0 The Rolling Stones at their very early best.

Algete, from my sister's home. Madrid Province. Strangely enough no thunder and lightning!

Hospital de Maudes, Madrid. In fact the storm had swirled about and come and gone a couple of times that day but this third revisit turned out to be the big one. I got home just in time!

Sierra de La Cabrera looking east from the central point on the ridge. Full screen please!

Obscured by clouds. I saw a film of this aged 14 in a provincial cinema in France and I was blown away. Sight and Sound - www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk6LmjA-kyY

From my sister's in Algete.

Hospital de Maudes.

I knew I was lucky and I knew it wouldn't last. This was in 2012. I think I've seen maybe 2 spectacular sunrises or sunsets since then!

The same stormy day as her previous shot posted by me. We had another storm today with more promised for tonight and tomorrow! On the horizon near the left is my favourite Sierra de La Cabrera.

Taken by my sister. Well done Sis! Is that a lightning strike? I think it might well be! I have another to post in the next day or two. That incredibly stormy day for much of Spain, August 26, Valderrey, Algete, Madrid Province.

Cuatro Caminos, Madrid. This is in the north of the city centre. Those to the south really copped it! There was plenty of thunder and lightning but I have never managed to capture lightning with a camera. There must be a knack to it! I have just seen one half of an idiot on a motorised scooter on the roundabout (a dangerous one at that) in these conditions. I know they've been banned in London but they are everywhere here and a menace to pedestrians and to other road users alike. It is astonishing to me just how many are left after use in the middle of a pavement for a blind person or a pensioner to fall over. I have been known to place such offending scooters in the nearest skip!

Another dawn shot from my old 11th floor flat in Hortaleza, Madrid. I was only there for 9 months but I saw a lifetime's worth of spectacular sunrises.