NYR #1: See the gardens at Atocha

So, when I first read the list, I didn't really know what this one was. I knew what Atocha was (It's Madrid's main train station, set in this lovely old building), but I had NO IDEA where to find the gardens. I figured that they would be outside, but Atocha is set between several main thoroughfares, and it really didn't seem like the place for a garden.

So when friend Aubrey and I headed to Toledo on Thursday, we left from Atocha. I had made the mistake of not getting the tickets beforehand, so we missed the train we were aiming for and had to chill in the station for a bit.

We used that time to check a couple of things off the list, including finding these mysterious gardens.

First, we went outside to see if there were maybe some gardens out there, but all we found were these giant baby heads.

Then, when we decided that they weren't outside, we headed back in to check out the memorial to 11 March, chill in a cafe for a bit, and buy some postcards.

While we were buying postcards, Aubs found a really pretty one that showed a bunch of palm trees in the middle of a building. She asked me what it was. I took one look at it and recognized the building.

"Those are the gardens of Atocha!"

Now that I had seen a picture, I knew exactly where they were, and we went off in search of them.

Aren't they pretty?

Weekend Update

The weekend of March 11-13 was a study trip to San Sebastian and Bilbao. This one was WAY more relaxing than the one to Sevilla and Córdoba in the fall...probably because I don't have as many classes, and therefore don't have as much homework, but also because there is just a little bit less to do and see than down south.

That isn't to say that there is nothing to do in SanSe and Bilbao, but rather, that we sat through an hour-long lecture the week before regarding the history of the País Vasco, and thus, we didn't have to stand through it all on our walking tours.

There's lots of cool things to do, but this one was my favorite.

That's the Guggenheim, Bilbao. Say what you will about architect Frank Gehry...when he designed this building, he made an absolutely beautiful creation.

It's like some crazy boat/Dr. Seuss creation, nestled in the middle of the mountains.

I just think it's absolutely gorgeous.

And the exhibits are pretty cool, too. But I couldn't take any pictures of those.

NYR #2: See the memorial to March 11

March 11, 2004:

"Ten bombs ripped through four commuter trains in Madrid during the morning rush hour on Thursday, killing at least 192 people and wounding more than 1,400 in the deadliest terrorist attack on a European target since World War II." --The New York Times


Exactly 3.5 years to the day after September 11, Spaniards suffered their own version of an Islamic terror attack, and it completely rocked Madrid. For several days, officials were convinced that the attacks were caused by ETA, Spain's own, home-grown terrorist organization that 'fights' for the independence of the País Vasco. Some people are still convinced that somehow, ETA was involved, even though this would mark a complete shift in their MO. 


In the end, the police captured the perpetrators and determined that they were indeed Islamic radicals connected to Al-Qaeda, and the Spanish government built this memorial in the Atocha train station as a commemoration.


From the outside, it's kind of underwhelming. Just a big glass circle, sticking up from a round-about. But from the inside, it's really quite impressive: a large blue room, with a circle of light piercing the center. And within this circle of light, lots of words in lots of languages. 

The list and NYR #7: Take a photo at the statue of el oso y el madroño

Friend Aubrey was here this past week on her spring break, and we had sooo much fun wandering all over Madrid and even taking a day trip to Toledo. We saw lots of wonderful sites and got to check a whole bunch of stuff off the list. I have now done 59 things on the list (maybe more if you include the things that I want to sub out), but the more impressive feat is the fact that in the span of a week, friend Aubrey marked off a grand total of 40 items from that list.

40!!!!!!!!

I'm very impressed. But we both felt like our feet were going to fall off afterward.

But we had an absolutely wonderful week, and here's a picture of us at the Oso y el Madroño.

NYR #9: See the fountain at Cibeles

This one is kind of difficult NOT to do. The Plaza at Cibeles is smack-dab in the center of Madrid, and whenever I want to go to the Prado, for instance, I have to walk through it.

The thing is, I haven't really taken a photo of it, at least not since I was here in 2007.

So, on my way to the Prado the other day to meet up with a friend, I stopped to take a pic.

Cibeles is Spanish for the goddess Ceres (I think). There's actually three fountains along the Paseo del Prado (Cibeles, Apollo, and Neptuno) all designed by the same architect: Ventura Rodríguez. Cibeles is the fountain where all of the Real Madrid fans celebrate their wins. Neptuno is where all of the Barça (Barcelona) fans celebrate their wins. And pretty much everyone forgets that Apollo exists, because he's kind of hidden along the Paseo.