Exploring Madrid on Monday Afternoon

An afternoon in Madrid
We got into our room….very tiny with two bunk beds but we are both on the bottom bunk which will be easier getting in and out of. So far we have one female roommate. We’re on the third floor but there is a tiny elevator for luggage.
Walked all the way to the Palace; did the tour reading the Rick Steves’ book. Sad part was that only one of the five Stradivarius instruments that are 350 years old was on view. This is the only surviving matched set of four for a quartet: two violins, a viola, and a cello. There are only about 300 instruments made by Antonius Stradivarius in the world today. Princess Sophia loves classical music and these are used to perform for her and her guests.
After that we toured the Cathedral next door which is very large and beautiful I guess the word would be Grand of course the royals use it when they are in town. We were lucky to tour the Palace as it closes whenever the royal family comes to stay. It is compared to Versailles in France, it is one of the three larges in Europe.
Then we walked to the Plaza Mayor where people were performing for tourist, sitting on the stones on the plaza, eating at the restaurants, etc. Then on to the Puerta del Sol…the center of Spain. There is a metal plate in front of the Government building that states it is Kilo. Zero. All distances in Spain are measured from that spot. Just past the Plaza Mayor we found our favorite restaurant and as it was 3 pm we had a lunch & dinner combo,which will keep till the Hostel Croissant, coffee and Juice Breakfast that they provide for everyone.
Arrived back at the Hostel about 5 pm and used our skype to talk to the states before going upstairs for showers and early to bed. We did get another female room mate, both girls were quiet when they came in and we all slept in until after 8 AM. Except for climbing the ladder top bunk would be better as you can not sit up on your bed in the lower bunks. Would hate to be a large guy trying to use these tiny beds. But we slept well. And are rested for our adventures today. Tuesday, February 24, 2009 Madrid Spain