We’re staying in this great, sprawling heritage apartment in downtown Madrid. Happily, the guy downstairs (who goes by the nickname ‘Tete’–sounds like ‘tetay’) has a unsecured wifi network. So, I’ve been able to check email, upload photos, etc.
We’ve had a relaxing couple of days here in Madrid. We’re veterans at dealing with jetlag, so we’ve managed that with a couple of long siestas. The rest of the time has been spent wandering around the city. Given the choice of visiting galleries and museums or just walking around, I’d always choose the latter. You learn more about a place and a people by watching them live than watching their art. Of course, we’re doing both. Tomorrow it’s the Prado and Monday it’s the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Madrid isn’t the prettiest city I’ve ever seen. It’s got some fetching architecture, but lacks an associated body of water. It suffers from overly-broad main streets, and too few pedestrian-only avenues. It’s a busy, working city. The immediate metaphor is that it’s to Barcelona as Toronto is to Vancouver. It also reminded me, rather obviously, of Havana. It’s what Havana would look like, had it not been treated to 50 years of irresponsible government.
As per usual, I’ve taken a lot of photos. You can check them out.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
I think I had lunch at that very cafe in the Plaza Mayor when I was in Madrid nearly three years ago. I recognize the pigeons. That’s where I first learned of the wonders of pork in Spain – even the SALAD had pork on it. And lomo… ohhhh I miss lomo.