Central Spain

A vast fomer private royal hunting park to the north east of the city. Btw, in the foreground to the right is not another entangled thicket, it's my ...

Sierra de La Cabrera, holm oak and monastery (In that order!).

Taken from near the front of my flat, last year. The building with the rounded frontage is a famous Madrid music school. Even though my flat is some way behind the front entrance of the block (which contains 288 flats), agreeable wafts of music can often be heard! Look at the date (30/08). In the UK it would be typical weather for the Late Summer Bank Holiday! I can't say I felt homesick because of it!

Slow progress but the new roof supports are nearly up and work stopped due to recent high winds (Alex).

I used my trusty English language guidebook to these mountains. It was over 20 years old at the time and the path I was on (which was supposed lead straight back to the palace) was suddenly blocked off at this point. I had no alternative (I had a bus to catch) but to plough on through thorny thickets as tall as houses. I emerged (and caught the bus, just) but with my clothes torn to shreds. The folk on the bus avoided the blooded spectacle completely!

Photography exhibition inside the (empty!) water tower. The metal stairway winds all the way up to the top with exhibits on 5 floors.

Now an exhibition centre. There was a photography exhibition as per next upload.

Jardín de Nuevos Ministerios. I think it represents watercraft but the notes were impossible to read at that angle and in the etremely bright light. Nuevos Ministerios, Designed by renowned architect Secundino Zuarzo in the 1920s but building work was delayed by the civil war And in the 1940s, Franco wanted changes along more traditional lines so what you see is a mix of art deco and late 19th century norms, It actually seems to work!

It amazes me that I haven't walked in this range since May 2019! Yes. I miss it. Best on large. My walk often went down here and up along the ridge ahead. Good exercise!

Occasionally, temporary displays of modern art are displayed in this garden, I read the notes seen on the wood here, understood not much, even in the English translation, took a photo of the notes in case anyone was interested but the photo didn't come out. But I quite like it! In the distance (mid-pic) can just be seen the cranes at Real Madrid's stadium.

Designed as the main Madrid thoroughfare in the1890s, it wan't constructed until the 1920s and 30s.

A very attractive village in the Sierra de Francia. You can see some of the 600 or so portraits on the walls. These were the residents in 1967 who were photogrphed for an album and who later agreed to have their images placed on the houses / flats where they lived at that time. Some say 'spooky!', others say 'what a great idea!' I am in two minds, but it IS different!

La Sierra de La Pedriza in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Granite country.

The water company, Canal de Isabel II, had to keep up with Madrid's expanding population and water needs and constructed reservoirs (in the Mountains of Madrid), canals and aqueducts throught the 19th century. The first main deposit was amost in the centre of the city and opened in 1858. This is the second and the third was opened in 1905 (I have posted shots of its water tower). Since the 1950s, the water system has expanded exponentially. Deposits I, II and III have long been defunct. This is being transformed into a park and could open soon, Covid-19 permitting.

I was intrigued by the white hemispheres, most of which seem to be incubating in their little yellow protective boxes (quite cute, really!). But what will they be upon hatching, I wonder?

Towards the Lozoya Valley. Late spring.

Azca Business Centre, Madrid. on z/large and/or, full screen, please,

A hazy day day (well, that is my excuse!). The palace is about 1/3 in from the left and about 1/3 down.