Interesting weekend.
It was a holiday here on Tuesday - don't ask because I am not certain the Spaniards know there are so many. Most of everything is closed on Monday as well making it I nice 4 day celebration.
On Sunday 5 of us went by train to San Lorenzo de El Escorial to see Real Monestario de El Escorial. A palace / Monistery build between 1564 and 1584 by King Filipe II, Grandson to Isabella. We had to wait in line for about 2.5 hours to enter and of course had to hurry because we were there up to closing time. But the beers we enjoyed while waiting helped.
There are beautiful tapestries from as far back as 1500; tiles and painted ceilings; did not see much in furnishings. In the lower level there were tools used to construct El Escorial, which were interesting. There is an area with 11+ chambers housing sarcophicoses of the royal family going back many generations. They also have the bed-chamber of Filipe on display with the bed in which he died in 1598.
The Pictures on on Facebook.
On Monday I rested and pretended to work.
Tuesday Erica, David and I went to Cercedilla to hike in the woods. It too is an hour train ride from Madrid to a small town in the mountains.
The trails a well kept and we traveled an easy one of 8 KM (5Miles) which took just under 3 hours. The pictures are also on FB.
Started with a new client today - he seems very nice. The pilot cancelled last minute, damn should have gotten him to pay in advance.
Began Spanish lessons yesterday and today got bumped up a knotch, which I will start on Monday (maybe working). It is free for me and the school has made other offers as well, including classroom teaching as soon as they have something.
Tom is suppose to visit on Saturday for a few days - hope he gets on the flight!
Gotta go to bed, fighting another cold
later
Beto
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