It was unseasonably cold today and it rained off and on. Miserable weather, but the sights on today's optional tour were well worth the unpleasant weather. Thank goodness I had packed my long raincoat to wear over my down jacket and I even had a pair of gloves in the pockets that I was very happy to discover.
We spent the morning touring El Escorial, a 16th century edifice built in only 22 years at the direction of King Philip II. It was his residence and a monastery and is now the resting place of 500 years of Spanish kings, queens, and royal children. The outside of the building is simple and even sparse, it the inside is spectacular and complex and houses priceless art work created by artists who names we have all head of.
Our guide was excellent. He asked good questions and engaged us all with his ability to relate what we were seeing with our lives today. His sense of humor was dry, but clever. It's a pleasure to spend time learning from such a skillful communicator.
Our guide arranged a private room for us in a local cafeteria and the selection of hot entries perfect on a cold, wet day.
On our way back to Madrid we stopped at the Valley of the Fallen, a tribute to those who died during the Spanish Civil War and the very controversial final resting place of Franco. Our guide promised to discuss the civil war in more detail during an upcoming bus ride and to share her family's experiences.
We leave Madrid early tomorrow morning, stopping in Toledo (yes, "holy Toledo") on our way to Granada.
Sorry, no photos again.
