Bright and early we are up and out on our first trip from London that involves flying! From St. Pancras train station to Gatwick airport to aeropuerto Barajas-Madrid, we made it to Madrid in style, just in time for the mid-day heat! Upon arrival, we checked into Hostel Juarez which has a strikingly similar name to Hotel Jerry, our home in Paris the previous week. We were confused at first as to why the "hostel" was so nice until Ray informed us that hotel in Spanish is hostel. After dropping off our bags we were off to a delicious Spanish buffet. Throughout the trip, we have eaten at some buffets in the past since it's convenient for feeding a large group, but this one takes the cake- literally. It was so tasty and everyone was able to find something they enjoyed. After refueling from our early morning travels, we toured the central areas of Madrid which were conveniently located in relation to our hotel. So the list goes- La Puerta del Sol, La Plaza Mayor, Los Jardines de Sabatini, y El Palacio Real de Madrid. El Palacio Real (The Royal Palace) is the largest active palace in the entire world and was absolutely gorgeous. I really enjoyed the gardens surrounding the palace and the beautiful views of Madrid from the palace stairs!
The girls with the symbol of Madrid in La Puerta del Sol
Laura, me, Mary Frances, and Jenny in front of El Palacio Real de Madrid
A very special statue I snapped a picture with was Queen Isabel II of Spain, which I've posted below. She was the only regnant Queen of Spain in modern times and her rein was so controversial because the Carlists refused to recognize a woman as the ruler. In 1868, she was exiled, as a result of the Glorious Revolution in Spain that ushered the First Spanish Republic into power. Her exile helped cause the Franco-Prussian War as Napoleon III could not accept the possibility that a German prince may replace Isabel in the dynasty of Spanish Bourbons. Two years later, Isabel stepped down from the throne in favor of her son taking the throne. Making a long history lesson short, Queen Isabel II was an admirable female ruler who put her country before herself and is a role model to me and all women striving to succeed in a male dominated society, culture, or occupation. Change has to start somewhere, so why not with you? Girl power.
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