Typical apartment block with balconies and glass enclosures

Central square viewed from the arcade, I think the Arcos de Confreros

Viewed from Calle de Bordadeors, notice the brick, seems to be the principle material in Madrid buildings and foundations, often hidden under stucco.

Another church not far from the Palace. The memorial to Ana de Mendoza is across the streeet.

This is a mid street shot from the Carrera de San Francisco. I paused in the cross walk to grab the shot.

A closeup shot of a public fountain for drinking water and tidying up....plaza de la Cebada and I think its considered a sculpture

No idea, there is guerilla street art all over, sometimes its tagging, mainly it graffiti, often official looking muralists and sometimes, neat little things like this. Like the rest of the world these days, seems to be an instagram thing.

Each of the principal dancers

Not the best photgraph techincally, I like the teasing dancer and genunine smiles of the artists

A sunset viewed down an old madrid street

A cold April, not much was in bloom in the garden beyond tulips, irises and a few early peonies.

Smiling because she is doing a favorite activity, looking at plants and flowers at the Madrid Botanical Garden.

I like this photo, most people I have shown it to think its boring.

People like this for the composition but it leaves me kind of flat

Dominique thinking of all the wonderful sausages coming....

This is from the 15th century, broke the fake painted frame so convincgly you thought you could put your fingures around. And the mirrored background is part of the painting. Astounding, there was more advanced technique from 20th century photo tracers but nothing approached the power and emotion of Jan Van Eyck.

We walked up from the lower city, which presented a much better view of the cathedral, The old stone wall just at the bottom is the remains of an older mosque....

The cathedral framed by pink blooms....

I followed the shadow outline on the pavement to find where to stand an aim my camera for a sunburst.

An ancient Egyptian temple, donated to Spain, this temple was going to be flooded by the Aswan Dam.

A postcard perfect pic, angle, light. The Royal Palace and the Catedral.

Tile, wonderful tile, everywhere. This neo-moorish roof of a cupola of Iglesia de Santa Teresa y San José (Padres Carmelitas). Wow.

I love this picture. Taken from across the street, I really tried to get the focus INSIDE and not on the glass. I think I did really well and everyting is super vibrant and crisp and I didnt even notice the greenery from the park mirrored in the display until I got the picture off the camera.

We took a walk along the reclaimed river that is the source of Madrid's origins- it means "source/water" ("madrice") which became the moorish "magrite" in the 8th century. Madrid was the intermediate term between the Christians who took over and the Moors. I do not think the bird gives a shit.

Lavapies, literally "wash feet", an older poorer neighborhood down the hill from the posher quarters.In the rain, the waste water from on high, would flow down hill through the tight streets to the Lavapies quarter.

A reflection on art in a camera. Nice meta viewing. Is a digital facsimile of a mirrored reflection of a painting worth looking at? Oh wait, whose that? Ahhhh.......

So, for those still awake, I did NOTHING to this photo. Maybe a petit crop, oui? This is M. Sorolla's paint box. I can smell it just looking at this picture. I am pleased.

Ya, I get it. Crowd surveys liked this one better than that cigar...paint...box...psssh.

This painting is a water color from 1890. The subtelty and detail. "The firstborn".

Late 19th century "neo-mujedar" brick facade. With some 20th century garbage removed....photo nerds will know.

This was in a doorway, I don't know what it was for, if it was a shutoff or an old outlet....

Wonderful modernist facade....the moden head from another photo is on this building.

The keystone looks to be a 1930s style modernist replacement.....

When the sun did finally appear after days of grey and rain...it was glorious and rich, thick and buttery..

Composited from three shots, we went to a Flamenco show. I decided to shoot and see what I got.