Curiosity Shop, Madrid

The Curiosity Shop fronts a pedestrian throughway only a few blocks south of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain. I was walking by here in search of postcards when I came upon it. The sign is an old-time painted one that is hard to miss:

And the door bears plenty of logos and stickers that also catch the eye:

There’s plenty to gaze upon right there. However, the items in the window and beyond are the real treat. You’ll find all manner of old toys and novelties on display. Peer through the glare on the window to see for yourself. When was the last time you saw things like that?

I imagine if you’re a toy collector or someone who appreciates such things, this place would be a must visit while in Madrid. Be sure to bring your Euros. Those old toys sell for tall prices. By the way, just a few doors down, you’ll find some nice postcards and ice-cold Coca-Cola, too.

Published in: on May 19, 2010 at 7:46 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Escorial Lunch, Spain

Typically, I don’t like to eat outside. However, there’s nothing like lunch with a view. We happened to be only a few blocks from El Escorial in Spain and there was a series of restaurants with outdoor seating that looked out over the palace. Therefore, I broke the rules, took a table, and settled in for a nice lunch. The menu of the day featured some interesting choices, none of which I can explain in Spanish. The first plate was a shrimp in cream sauce over a puff pastry as you can see here:

Tasty and light, despite the cream sauce. The other first plate was a mushroom concoction with the same cream base as you can see below:

You can see one of the Escorial towers in the background there and get a sense of the view from this table. Quite nice, eh? Well, there was a main course, it was a sort of lamb rolitini type of thing as shown in the next photo.

The meal was tasty as was the wine. Sadly, El Escorial was closed for a holiday. My sightseeing was limited to the outside areas, which are nothing more than stone plazas. Always good to call ahead or check the internet to see what attractions will or will not be open. Lesson learned.)

Published in: on May 18, 2010 at 8:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Bones of Monks, Spain

While in Sigüenza, Spain, I came across the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Huertos. It is a Franciscan monastery built in the 16th Century as you can see from this plaque on the wall.

An here’s a look at the building itself.

A fairly imposing structure, I decided to go in for a closer look, when I came across this sign, explaining how some of the monks were buried in the space adjacent to the church.

Much to my surprise, the grave pictured in the diagram above can be seen under a sheet of glass on a few steps to the left. Here it is:

Wow! I wasn’t expecting to actually look down into the grave. But, there they are, the bones for all to see. Seems a bit macabre, or even somewhat disrespectful. Then again, the faithful may be attracted by such relics. It’s hard to tell. Either way, it brings history into sharp focus. There were real people living and dying here. The evidence is everywhere to be seen.

Published in: on May 17, 2010 at 2:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Jardin de la Muralla, Ronda

Jardin de la Muralla in Ronda, Spain, was among my favorite places for an overnight stay during my most recent trip. This hospederia is located adjacent to the old city wall and the Iglesia Espiritu Santo, which I featured in a blog post some days ago. This is a cozy place that offers standard rooms, doubles, and a suite. We stayed in a standard room, which was quite spacious and the bathroom was very large indeed. The following video provides an overview of the premises.

Our amiable host prepared breakfast and gave us a few tips about exploring the city of Ronda. From Jardin de la Muralla, it is only a short walk to the “new bridge” as the one that crosses the gorge is known. On the way there, you’ll pass by some historic churches, shops, and plenty of restaurants. Furthermore, there are a number of smart shopping streets beyond if retail therapy is a requirement.

Once again, places like Jardin de la Muralla are my favorite type of accommodation in that they provide personal service without pretension. I highly recommend this one in particular.

Published in: on May 16, 2010 at 12:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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