As I have traveled around Spain, each move led me to a larger city. As it is the capital, it is the largest. I am pretty cautious with my knee especially with the varying types of cobblestones in the city. Also, standing for long periods is really tiring on the knee. As a result, I decided to avoid museums, cathedrals, and other places where waiting in line and crowds within ar a problem.
Instead, I thoroughly enjoyed people watching, visiting parks and the botanical garden. There is always something going on in this city.
I found the church dedicated d to Saint Santiago and the start of one of the Camino. Routes.
Plazas always have something going on. The Plaza del Sol had a demonstration against bullfighting.
Other plazas were used for children’s activities with police, taxi drivers, and others creating a obstacle courses for little ones to bike and scooter through. Everyone was having a good time and they even had vintage taxi to look at.
The botanic garden was great, especially the bonsai exhibit. Most of them ar 60-90 years old and made out of trees like elm, fig, pine, and olive trees.
Puertas which are city gates were built in the 16th to 18th century as entry to the city as it was a walled city.
Fountains and other images
Last, but not least, the food here is similar to many large cities. All is possible. The specialty here is sandwiches with lightly fried calamari rings in it (with garlic mayo). It was good but the fried calamari and shrimp that I had the next day was better.
