Central Spain

These formed part of the defences of Madrid against the Nationalists led by Franco. They held out for three years, Franco deciding in the end to abandon the siege and concentrate on winning the north of Spain, which won him the war eventually.

Taken at Christmas 2019. I should have saved it for an HFF shot, but never mind!

My local park again.

La Sierra de La Cabrera - typical granite scenery in these mountains. Possibly better on full screen.

A popular meeting place, with many bars and restaurants. I held many private classes here until online classes became de rigeur four months ago! Typical central Madrid architecture seen here too. Once the site of an ocatagonal steel indoor market - much vaunted when constructed in 1927 as a triumphant avant-guard masterwork, It was demolished in 1974 and this public space was created here instead.

Still very frustrating in that they have opened only one gate - and, Sod's Law - it's the one furthest away from where I live (20 minutes walk away).

A bit too far for as clear a shot as I would have liked, especially without lenses, tripod etc, but the magnificent palace / monastery is visible for many miles around, especially from the surrounding mountains of La Sierra de La Guadarrama.

I don't know what this is. All I know is that it is in the grounds of the Isabel II water company.

In the public gardens of Nuevos Ministerios. Near the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. There must be a clue in that! After several comments ... Now I see it! It must have been used to break up old road surfaces prior to the laying of new roads. So anywhere between about 1920 and perhaps 1960. Hard to tell!

Cerro de La Cabeza, Sierra de La Cabrera. Granite country. GR10 Trans-Iberia long-distance path. How on earth did they get planning permission to build this isolated house here? Friends in high places, no doubt. This is Spain after all.

An old fortified town, 40 miles north of Madrid. The walls are of Moorish origin (11th century), restored in the 15th. The town lies on a peninsula surrounded by the Lozoya river (Wikipedia).

Another one of this arresting edifice. I do rather like it and it is only a couple of minutes walk from my front door, so it appears quite often here! Now government offices.

It's been well over a year since I last walked here and I do miss it.

I was a little bit puzzled ... until I noticed an official looking notice (no notes or info about this cute looking little thing though) high on a wall. Then I understood. These artefacts are all placed in front of the Ministry of SIlly Walks! (I'm kidding; its the Ministry of Transport and Public Works!)

In the Jardin de Nuevos Ministerios. I don't know why it's there

I know the white tower (Torre Picasso) well, having given 100s of classes there over the years, but I know nothing about the building in the foreground except that I like it! CORRECTION! I looked in Wikipedia and found out that it is called Castellana 77, and was a novelty in its day. Built between 1973 and 1977 by architect Manuel Aymerich Amadiós, its facade is 100% glass and it incorporated these curving solar panels making it the first building fully self-sufficient in energy in Madrid. It was considered 'ultra-modern' at its inception. I think it still looks very modern!

In the Nuevos Ministerios gardens, Paseo de La Castellana, Madrid (open to the public but, as usual, no-one there!)

Green door and window shutter, Maderuelo, Segovia Province. Night shot.