Sadly, it's all too quickly coming to an end. We finally got orders, have tentative pack up dates and tentative date to fly to VA, to start making our way to Minot. <6>
El Escorial is an old monastery/palace built by Felipe II. It's an incredible building. I forgot to ask if they brewed beer like the German monks did :D I'll have photos up on webshots later this weekend from the trip.
Valle de los Caidos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_los_Caidos was another site we saw. It's a memorial site to those who fell during the Spanish Civil War. You can see this cross for MILES across the plains heading toward it. It sits high in the midst of a hill and is massive. Another site with pictures: http://www.feelmadrid.com/valleyofthefallen.html The basilica built under the cross is amazing. It's like 270 metres long and was dug into the hillside. There is a small chapel to mark each of the services along the wall on the way up to the altar site.
Now if I could figure out why Toledo, Ohio, has its name! LOL It's nothing like the one in Spain, and it's a shame. Maybe Michigan will take it back? :)
I sum up our trip as super! It was great time away from the worries here for a few days. And a great way to celebrate my birthday this year. (I've been terribly blessed with goodness by David this year!)
The last few days we spent walking thru the lovely city of Madrid Spain. Beautiful! Magnificent! A city that struck me enough to say I want to return. I mean I've enjoyed all the cities we've been to while here the last 2+ years, but Madrid just felt wonderful. Maybe it was the hotel location. We literally were a stone's throw from the Plaza Mayor and all its little outdoor cafes and tapa bars. Life was just grand! We did a tour of Toledo (HIGHLY recommend!), Valle de los Caidos and El Escorial. Today's picture is of Matthew and I outside the Prado museum where I got to see Goya, Valezquez, Murillo, Ruebens and El Greco to name a few of the painters. Talk about WOW! AWESOME! Something I'd been wanting to do for years, and I got to do it!
El Escorial is an old monastery/palace built by Felipe II. It's an incredible building. I forgot to ask if they brewed beer like the German monks did :D I'll have photos up on webshots later this weekend from the trip.
Toledo was neat. Had a nice lunch there. Saw an El Greco painting there in the San Tome church. It's one thing to see pictures of paintings; it's another far better thing to see them up close! In the Prado, I was amazed at how big a picture Las Meninas by Valesquez was. A link to Greco's painting in Toledo is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burial_of_the_Count_of_Orgaz
Valle de los Caidos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_los_Caidos was another site we saw. It's a memorial site to those who fell during the Spanish Civil War. You can see this cross for MILES across the plains heading toward it. It sits high in the midst of a hill and is massive. Another site with pictures: http://www.feelmadrid.com/valleyofthefallen.html The basilica built under the cross is amazing. It's like 270 metres long and was dug into the hillside. There is a small chapel to mark each of the services along the wall on the way up to the altar site.
Now if I could figure out why Toledo, Ohio, has its name! LOL It's nothing like the one in Spain, and it's a shame. Maybe Michigan will take it back? :)
I sum up our trip as super! It was great time away from the worries here for a few days. And a great way to celebrate my birthday this year. (I've been terribly blessed with goodness by David this year!)
More as we get moving along our final plans here in Germany!
