Day 32 Adios Madrid

Our very last day in Europe.  The sun is shining, the sky is blue and it's a crisp four degrees as we head out for coffee, croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice for the last time before doing a final brisk walk around Madrid.   Spain has been wonderful and already I can't wait to return.   Emirates have very kindly sent a car for us and we are soon on our way.  The airport in Madrid is amazingly efficient, huge but very user-friendly.  They have dedicated walkways, lifts etc for business class passengers so very easy to find your way and virtually no queues not to mention a very efficient train service to transport us to the correct terminal.  Our first leg to Dubai is on an A380 and you cannot fault the aircraft seating, service or food and the fact that we can stand at the bar at 35,000 feet having the odd glass of Veuve or three is an added bonus! 
Upon arrival in Dubai, again the transfers are seemless even though the airport is enormous and we have to take another train to the correct terminal.  We make our way to the lounge ...OMG!  I haven't seen a lounge as big as this anywhere and we are now drinking Moet and, as much as I'd like to sample some of the delicious food on offer, I couldn't fit another thing in!  Our final leg is to Adelaide and this time we are on a 777.  All beautiful planes but I think in this case I prefer the seating configuration of the A380.  Binge movie watching over and I did manage about three hours continuous sleep we finally touch down, clear customs in a blink and make our way to the Playford Hotel for the night.   It's 3.30am so sleeping is a bit of an issue but I will save my final post and deconstruct for tomorrow ... goodnight .... I hope!

Goodbye Hotel Gran Melia

The Palace

Hopeless at selfies!

We close our Velasquez door for the last time

Sniff......

Only one thing left to do ...
drink my way through a bucket full of Veuve!

In Dubai airport

Last leg ... DXB - ADE on a 777

On Aussie soil at the Playford, Adelaide for the night

Day 31 - Madrid

What a HUGE ... and very cultural day.   We started our day rubbing the tail of the iconic bear and the strawberry tree in Puerto del Sol.   We then started our tour of the three major museums of Madrid in one day - Thyssen, Prado and Reina Sofia .... all magnificent and totally overwhelming!  Loved the Thyssen-Bornemisza which had a fabulous special exhibition featuring Picasso and Lautrec.   It was amazing and an exciting comparison between both artists, even though they had never met each other.  We visited the Prado Museum which is an overload of the masters and so many other artists through the ages.  When I consider the number of sensational art galleries I have visited throughout the world .... London, Paris, Rome, Dresden, Madrid, Florence ... the list goes on ... it is inconceivable how prolific these artists were.   We eventually finish at the Reina Sofia - a modern art museum focussing on art from the modernist and post-modernist periods.  Forget the art work ... the buildings alone that these art works are housed in are remarkable! 
Our last night is Spain and we decide to 'eat in'.   There are some fabulous local restaurants and tabernas around Madrid (as there are in all the cities we have visited) but it is nice to be able to 'dress for the hotel' and not have to don coat, gloves, scarf! 

'Must do' photo :)

Just another fab building on our travels

Another view

Congress of deputies

Self-explanatory

Pollock anyone?

The Prado

Inside the Prado

Outside the Prado

Reina Sofia - if you hadn't guessed

Statue in courtyard - Reina Sofia 

Through the glass lift

  

Ready for dinner - last night in Spain

Day 30 - Madrid

Not much to report today.  We are heading out to Las Rozas Village - same as Woodbury Common - all discounted goods.   The bus doesn't leave until 1.00pm so we are just heading out to take in the sights to fill in time.  We stumble upon a market in one of the many squares dotted throughout Madrid and a woman selling the most beautiful prints - she is part of a group of artists who work together - we purchase two.   After depositing our artwork back at the hotel we head back to the square - the bus leaves from two flights down and it doesn't take too long to find out where to go.  It's about a half hour bus trip out to the shopping area and I am on a mission to seek out the best bargains!  Ho hum .... I end up with tracky daks from CK, a handbag from T Baker and a top from H Boss.  Not exactly a huge haul .... of course GC has to buy new trousers then tells me it's time to leave!  The bus is scheduled to leave at 5pm and is full of happy customers ... before we know it, we're home again.
Another compulsory rest period and then it's off again to explore.  After walking forever, around in circles, we finally settle on a restaurant we recognise.  When you eat in a Spanish restaurant they bring ham, cheese, soup ... all sorts of goodies prior to your actual meal.  At the end of the meal they also brought over lemon sorbet, and shots of limoncello and an aniseed liquor .     Another fabulous meal - we even had our own personal violinist - wonderful!

Las Rozas Village

Beautiful buildings everywhere

A walk through the park

The palace looming behind a fountain

Street performers

The theatre at the edge of the park

Day 29 - Madrid

We are off to the palace today.  The largest palace in Europe it is incredible!  Some of the rooms have to be seen to be believed - I actually managed a couple of photos before realising I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures .... it is amazing.  We were also able to visit the kitchen which was extraordinary.  Appropriately we then headed to Botin - the world's oldest restaurant founded in 1725 - not necessarily fine dining but very tasty.   After lunch we headed to the crypt and the cathedral - another amazing feat of architecture.  After a little siesta back at the hotel we head out along Gran Via, the main shopping mall.  There are no regulations re trading hours so most shops are open until 9pm.  I stand in line .... forever .... at Zara, just to buy some new pants and top to save me washing anything!  We then choose one of the many little bar/restaurants around for a drink and something to eat - there are so many and all so reasonable.

The Palace

These structures are all so incredibe

The main entrance

Even the ceilings are extraordinary

Beautiful staircase

.... and the chandeliers!

The king made to look like Ceasar

In the kitchen

I even love the light posts

A view around Madrid

Oldest restaurant in the world

Mayor Plaza

In the crypt

Many family burial chambers

Add caption

In the cathedral

In the hotel

The hotel

Walking to the shopping mall