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Wimbledon 2013: My Golden Ticket to Centre Court

Posted in London, Photography, Travel, Travels, United Kingdom, tagged Andy Murray, Fernando Verdasco, London, Photography, Tennis, Travel, UK, Wimbledon 2013 on Friday, 5 July, 2013| 14 Comments »

I can get you tickets to any tournament in the world EXCEPT Wimbledon” Nick Bollettieri, Tennis Coach

The above quote was made during a conversation I had with Nick Bollettieri in the early 1990s. It made an impression on me because Wimbledon has been on my list of things to do for years but his comment made it more of a challenge and I knew if I ever had the opportunity, I would have to jump at it.

Everyone in my family liked to play tennis so I started when I was young. I think my Dad had visions of the next Chris Evert but that wasn’t meant to be. I’m thankful he got me out on the court though because to this day it’s my favorite form of exercise. Just need to play more often.

As a child, I remember watching the big tournaments on TV with my mom and dad so actually going to Wimbledon has been on my “must do” list for years. One of the first things I did when I moved to London was enter the lottery for tickets to Wimbledon. Sadly, no response from them. BUT we were lucky enough to get tickets through a friend for the Men’s Quarter finals on Centre Court! And, yes I’m bruised from pinching myself to make sure it’s real!

My Golden Ticket. I know how Charlie felt going into the Chocolate Factory! Instead of Candy ~ I got to see fabulous tennis.

View from our seats ~ my big fear was getting caught on camera blowing my nose or something like that.

Literally, less than four minutes into the 1st match Del Potro was down with a knee problem. He rallied to come back and win. I was cheering for Ferrer,the Spanish player.

The second match of the day was Fernando Verdasco against Andy Murray. Verdasco is an incredible tennis player (One of his serves was calculated at 139 mph) and he gave Andy a run for it by winning the first two sets. Andy Murray is lucky the crowd was so encouraging and cheering for him because I don’t think he would have won otherwise ~ he seemed to feed off of the crowd. Hopefully he’ll go on to win his first Wimbledon trophy this weekend and be the first Brit to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936. It’s going to be party-time in the UK come Sunday if he wins!

I only took photos during the warm up session. Someone took a photo at eye level right when Andy Murray was serving a crucial point and the flash went off. Oh, my ~ if looks could kill.

Of course there was media everywhere!

The grounds at Wimbledon are beautiful:

Wimbledon is definitely going down as a top highlight of our time here in London! Now on to the rest of our must do list…only a few weeks to go before we move back to the states.

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India: Women’s Interlink Foundation

Posted in India, Travels, tagged Calcutta, Charity, Fabrics, India, Kolkata, Travel, Travels, Women's Interlink Foundation on Tuesday, 11 June, 2013| 6 Comments »

Guest Blogger: John

India’s poverty is staggering. There are more people living below the poverty level in India (which is calculated at below $1.25 a day) than there are people below the poverty level in all of Africa. There doesn’t seem to be a state structure to take care of the problem. Women and children are particularly vulnerable so it was heartwarming to visit a private charities such as Women’s Interlink Foundation.

Women’s Interlink Foundation was established in 1990 in Kolkata (Calcutta). Their vision is to create a world where disadvantaged women and children have access to basic care and are empowered to improve their quality of life. They have integrated programs such as literacy, health care, nutrition, skill development, income generation, shelter & drinking water, sanitation, prevention of violence/trafficking, domestic violence, etc.

The dancing is taught to improve self-esteem in the women. They performed a traditional Indian dance for our group.

The women are taught various skills in order to become self-sufficient. We were shown wood block stamping area.

They also make small wallets/purses.

A sample of a “final product” ~ a beautiful tablecloth.

In the city where Mother Teresa did her good works, it’s encouraging to see organizations such as Women’s Interlink Foundation continue women and children in need.

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India: Handcrafted items from Agra and New Dehli

Posted in India, Photography, Travels, tagged Agra, Dilli Haat Market, India, Indian Artisans, Marble, New Dehli, Pashmina, Photography, Semi Precious Stones, Taj Mahal, Travel, Travels on Thursday, 6 June, 2013| 5 Comments »

Guest Blogger continued…

Upon closer inspection of the Taj Mahal, the workmanship of the building is amazing. All the designs and writings are done with inlay technique using precious and semi-precious stones.

After our visit to the Taj Mahal, we went to Marble Krafts to see a demonstration of the artisans making the marble inlays using the same technique as found on the walls of the Taj Mahal. The family artisans create their own designs but will do special orders as well. We were told during the demonstration that the artisans are descendents of the original craftsmen who worked at the Taj Mahal. But the tour guide also told us about the legend of the Black Taj Mahal which has been refuted. Hard to know what to believe…

The semi precious stones such as Lapis lazuli, Onyx, Jasper, Cornelian, etc are combined with various marble colors to create items such as small boxes, bathroom tiles, chess boards & table tops. The decorative art is known as pietra dura inlay which has floral and geometric patterns ~ creating a beautiful result.

I’ve had an opportunity to travel extensively but can’t always take my family. During my travels, I like to bring a little something home and I started bringing small locally crafted boxes for my daughter. This box seemed perfect to add to her collection.

Speaking of shopping, upon returning to New Dehli, a few of us decided to go to the Dilli Haat Market. What a great place ~ it is organized with stalls from all the different regions in India. Also, there’s a nominal entrance fee (about 20 rupees) which means there weren’t any pickpockets or beggars to distract while we walked around the stalls. The central food area looked interesting but since I had just recently arrived in India, I was still not ready to tackle street food.

Hand stitched pashmina.

Before I went to the Dilli Haat market, I had never heard of a pashmina but after speaking with the vendor from Kashmir, I was convinced I had to get one for my wife. He said the material came from the neck ~the softest part. Later I learned there’s a trick to telling a good pashmina. Pull it through a ring and if it goes through smoothly, it’s good quality.

For more information on:

Marble Krafts, click here.

Dilli haat Market, click here.

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Day Trip from London: Stonehenge and Sturminster Newton

Posted in Day Trip from London, Travels, United Kingdom, tagged Country, Day Trip from London, English Countryside, London, Photography, Sheep, Stonehenge, Sturminster Newton, Travel, Travels, UK on Thursday, 30 May, 2013| 8 Comments »

I FINALLY made it to Stonehenge ~ it’s been on my “travel must-do” list for many, many years. There are more questions than answers regarding the reason Stonehenge was built. Lots of speculation but no definitive answers. The explanations for it being built range from “temple for human sacrifice” to “astronomy.” Due to the alignment of the stones, worship to lunar and solar beings is most likely (a Druid Temple). The circle is aligned with the midsummer sunrise, the midwinter sunset, and the most southerly rising and northerly setting of the moon.

More is known about the construction of Stonehenge. The original Stonehenge was a large earthwork or Henge which began about 3,100 BC. It consists of a ditch, bank, and the Aubrey holes. Aubrey holes refers to a ring of 56 mysterious circular cavities at Stonehenge and named after John Aubrey who discovered and recorded them in 1666.

The second stage of Stonehenge is thought to have occurred in 2150 BC. According to the Stonehenge website,82 bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in SW Wales were dragged to Milford Haven and then loaded onto rafts. These 4 ton stones were taken by water down the coast and then up the rivers Avon and Frome. They were then dragged overland again to outside Warminster in Wiltshire. Then, the final journey was mainly by water, down the river Wylye to Salisbury, then from Salisbury Avon river to west Amesbury. In all, it was about 240 miles.

The third stage: The outer circle was built around 2100 BC using Sarsen stones, which were from the Avebury area located about 25 miles north of Stonehenge. Some of these stones weigh 50 tons but the average weight is 25 tons. These stones couldn’t be transported by water so they had to use sleds. It is thought that it would have taken 500 men using leather ropes to pull one stone.

The final changes took place around 1500 BC when the bluestones were rearranged in a horseshoe and circle that is what we see today. Originally, there were around 60 stones in the bluestone circle but these were removed or broken up long ago. A few stumps are below ground level.

Experts estimate it took over 30 million working hours to built Stonehenge. Whew ~ I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Years ago visitors were allowed to walk amongst the stones but, due to the ever-increasing number of tourists, it was fenced off in 1978. Currently, there’s a walkway around the stone structure which still allows a very close up view. There is a parking area within easy walking distance to the stones but a new visitor’s center is being built and, once that is completed, visitors will have to take a shuttle to the site. English Heritage manages the area and hopefully they will continue to protect and preserve it. There is a charge to enter the area (or you can peek in for free through the fence). If you plan to go, click here for all the latest rates and information.

Surrounding Stonehenge is the beautiful English countryside with the yellow fields in bloom and, of course, sheep.

After Stonehenge, we visited a lovely English town called Sturminster Newton (Dorset County). To me, the town was quintessentially English with its thatched roof homes, narrow roads, old graveyards, stone fences, cute shops/pubs, etc.

This was an interesting wall ~ didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the town but interesting nonetheless.

At the local church, the minister happened to be outside greeting people as they came up for an event. I enjoyed walking around this quaint town and it reminded me that, as much as I love living in Central London, it’s so nice to get out to the countryside for a reprieve from the hustle and bustle.

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Day Trip: Palace of Versailles

Posted in Day Trip from London, France, Paris, Photography, Travels, tagged Day Trip from London, France, Gardens, Hall of Mirros, Lafayette, Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Palace, Palace of Versailles, Paris, Photography, Travel, Travels on Monday, 27 May, 2013| 9 Comments »

Gold Entrance Gate, Palace of Versailles, France

My first recollection of the Palace of Versailles was in Junior High history class when we studied World War One. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended WWI, took place at the palace on 28th June 1919. Since then, I’ve read about and seen numerous documentaries about the French Revolution and, of course, the famous (or is it infamous) Marie Antoinette.

Versailles was the focal point of France’s Royal court from 1682 until 1789. It’s easy to envision it as a Royal Playground ~ Opulence is how most people describe it. It’s that and then some. It was built by Louis XIV because he wanted to remove himself and his courtiers from the intrigues of politics in Paris. It housed over 6,000 courtiers and, from what I’ve read, the gossip, jealousies and back stabbing would make a viper pit more enjoyable. By removing the nobles from Paris, it made Versailles very insular. That’s why I’m fascinated by General Lafayette who plays a part in the history of the palace of Versailles.

Marquis de Lafayette (Gilbert du Motier) went to Versailles at the age of 17. Even though he had a huge fortune and ties by his marriage to a powerful family close to Louis XVI, his independent spirit led him to a military career rather than a highly sought after court position. He was impassioned with the American Revolution and secretly organized a voyage to the New World against the king’s wishes. Quite a bold move for such a young man. By the age of 20, Lafayette was a Major-General in the American army and a close friend of George Washington’s. I’ve read that George Washington treated him like a son. Lafayette helped the Colonial Army win several battles, including the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 ~ losing this battle led England to grant independence to the Americans. After his experience in the Americas, Lafayette returned to Versailles and was welcomed by the King and Queen. But the ideas of liberty he learned while in the US were not forgotten and in June 1789, he drafted the first Declaration of the Rights of Man, a document closely based on the Declaration of Independence. On 14 July, 1789, the storming of the Bastille occurred and he was appointed (again against the Kings wishes) as Commander of the French National Guard. He was responsible for keeping order in Paris and so he played a large role in the French Revolution’s early days. Although he was part of the revolution, he did save Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette when people of Paris overran the château and killed the bodyguards defending the queen’s apartment. Although he saved them that day, he couldn’t keep them from being executed by guillotine in 1793. He was viewed as straddling the fence by both sides and fled France. In 2002, Lafayette was posthumously made an honorary citizen of the United States.

But let’s get back to the gorgeous Palace:

The Hall of Mirrors is a 235-foot ballroom lined with 17 floor to ceiling mirrors. The cost of these mirrors were staggering and, like the building of the rest of the Palace, the expenses drained the Royal coffers and sadly that meant not much left for the running of the country. It’s a very impressive room with chandeliers, statues, ceiling frescos and windows which open up to the gardens.

Chapel at Palace of Versailles, France

Louis XVI (age 16) and Marie Antoinette (age 15) were married in the beautiful White and Gold Royal Chapel in 1770. We weren’t allowed into the chapel which was OK by me since there were so many people visiting the Palace. It was nice to see the Chapel without anyone in it.

There were large paintings throughout such as this one :

Coronation Painting at the Palace of Versailles

One of the ceiling paintings at Palace of Versailles

I was especially enthralled with the frescos on the ceiling ~ so much so I got a neck ache from looking up for so long. They are stunning!

The Battle Gallery was interesting but, as I looked at the names on the marble busts, it was obvious I need to study a little more about French history because a lot of the names were unfamiliar to me.

Large Fireplace at Palace of Versailles

The Queen’s Bedchamber ~ not very cozy!

Statue of Artemis (Diana), Palace of Versailles

Looking out to the Gardens ~ so beautiful.

Gardens at the Palace of Versailles

Statue in the Gardens of Versailles

Loved these plant urns ~ unfortunately, they weren’t for sale in the gift shop.

It truly was sensory overload for me. I got to see a lot of the Palace and a little of the gardens but I feel I only touched the surface. We were limited on time and both of us didn’t want to miss the gardens so I felt a bit rushed the whole time I was at the Palace. I’m calling this visit a preview and will leave it on the “return visit” list. I would love to go back sometime when I can spend a day or two exploring the Palace.

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France: Day Trip ~ Paris and Palace of Versailles

Posted in Day Trip from London, France, Paris, Photography, Travel, Travels, tagged Day Trip, Eiffel Tower, Eurostar, France, London, Paris, Photography, Tour Groups, Train, Travel, Vacation on Friday, 24 May, 2013| 14 Comments »

With both John and Logan on their own travel adventures, a friend and I decided to catch the Eurostar train to Paris and Versailles for a day trip. Paris is a little over two hours from London so it makes for an easy to get there day trip. I visited Paris once before in 2004 and enjoyed seeing the familiar sights again. We decided to go with a fully escorted tour thinking it would save us the trouble of having to deal with purchasing tickets for Eiffel Tower and Versailles nor deal with transportation. In hindsight, I’m not sure it was worth it since we got stuck in severe traffic jams several times throughout the day (train and metro would have been so much quicker) which cut-in to the time we had to enjoy Paris. Ah, well…live and learn.

The Eurostar left London at 7:00am and we were in Paris at 10:15am. France is one hour ahead. It was my first time on the Eurostar and I was impressed. It was clean, on time and there was a decent selection of food/drinks.

Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower:

Looking up the Eiffel Tower, Paris

Inside the Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower was built by French engineer Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle ). It was built to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution as well as demonstrate France’s technological advances in the Industrial Age. The construction took 2 years, 2 months and 5 days and the result is a very impressive technical and architectural achievement. Although the panoramic views from the 2nd floor are wonderful, I also love looking up into the inside of the tower from the ground level. Originally the Tower was built to last only 20 years but when the first radio transmissions were sent from the top of the tower, it became a permanent structure. Even for the people who opposed keeping it (many considered it an eyesore), the practical uses of the Tower outweighed the insult to the Frenchmen’s sense of aesthetics. Good thing for Paris since each year, almost seven million visitors make the trek to the Eiffel Tower.

View of the Seine River, Paris, France

View from 2nd Floor of the Eiffel Tower

View of the gardens from the Eiffel Tower

Another view from the second floor of the Eiffel tower

Statue dedicated to Gustave Eiffel, Paris

On my last visit to Paris, I was able to see the tower lit up at night but it stays light too late into the evening for us to see it this time.

A few sights from around Paris:

Statue in Paris

Paris, France

Balcony Smoke Break, Paris France

3,300 year old Obelisk of Luxor, Place du Concorde

Music Academy in Paris

Arc de Triomphe

Champs Elysee, Paris, France

After touring the Eiffel Tower and a quick bite to eat, it was time to journey to the Palace of Versailles but more about that in the next post…

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London: Gorilla Circus “Flying Trapeze School”

Posted in London, Photography, Travel, United Kingdom, tagged Adventure, Flying Trapeze, Gorilla Circus, London, Photography, Regents Park, Travel, UK on Saturday, 18 May, 2013| 3 Comments »

Guest Blogger: Logan, 15 years old

We are frequent visitors to Regent’s Park, many times as a short cut to a friend’s flat in St Johns Woods. A couple of weeks ago, we came across Gorilla Circus ~ Flying Trapeze School. They are located at the corner of Outer Circle Rd and Avenue Rd on the north side of the Regents Park. The closest tube station is St Johns Wood (Jubilee Line).

We stopped to watch the school for a moment but ended up staying longer since we were all mesmerized by the wanna-be acrobats swinging through the air. I could tell John and Logan were tempted. Me, not so much ~ I have limited upper body strength. Logan made arrangements for a class which took place yesterday. She agreed to be a guest blogger and here’s her story:

After seeing the Flying Trapeze School, I was interested in going but hadn’t looked into it any further. Coincidentally, my friend said she went to the school and loved it. She asked if I wanted to go with her and she made the arrangements for a class which was yesterday. The maximum number of students is 10 and we had 9 in our class. They told us we would have a warm-up, practice on the lower bar and then we would go on the flying trapeze.

First, we did basic warm up which included jumping jacks, stretching side to side, running in place and a few balance exercises. Then everyone went over to the lower bar, they explained we would hold the bar, bring our legs up, hook our legs onto the bar and reach back. There were two people helping everyone up on the lower bar so don’t be intimidated if you feel you wouldn’t be able to lift yourself onto the bar.

The instructors worked with you on your level of expertise so if you are more experienced, they offer more difficult “tricks.” Having never been on a trapeze, I was at the beginner level with the majority of the class. After my turn on the lower bar, they hooked a safety belt around my waist and we walked towards the ladder. It was very fast paced and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it but most of the people were worried too so it was reassuring. A few people wore jeans which I think made it more difficult. It’s better to wear tights/leggings.

We were briefed as to what would happen on the flying trapeze along with commands that would be called out. A person from the class was chosen to be an example and the instructors called out the commands which were:

Ready: bend your knees
HUP!: Gently jump from the platform with your arms extended straight out (locked arms)
Tuck: put your legs onto the bar
Release: drop your hands and reach out

After the lower bar practice, we waited for our turn. I was nervous but concentrating on watching the other people so I could learn from them. Climbing the ladder turned out to be the scariest part of the whole thing but you’re hooked to a rope just in case. Once at the top, there’s a platform assistant who hooks you into the safety ropes and he holds onto the back of your belt so you don’t fall off the platform while reaching for the bar. The bar is heavy so reaching out to grab it is difficult because it felt like it was going to pull me right off the platform. Thankfully, the platform assistant was strong enough to hold me back. I followed the commands and “hupped” ~ I’m very happy they don’t say jump because that sounds more terrifying to me. “Hup!” seemed much less scary.

Grabbing onto the bar

Ready To Fly

HUP!

Time to get those knees hooked!

Hands Off, Arms locked and reaching

Success….

Flying Trapeze

It was thrilling and I’m happy I did it. I want to go again. It’s an interesting work-out but the instructors are all very nice and supportive. There were all different age levels in our group. The minimum age is 8 years old but no maximum age. If you don’t “get it” on your first try, there’s usually time for another attempt. I think my parents would enjoy it so I’m hoping to go again with them.

I have to admit, watching my 15-year-old be brave enough to do the Flying Trapeze has at least peaked my interest in wanting to try it. Since it seems very safe and the instructors didn’t “shame” anyone who missed the “hand off”, I might go just for the fun of flying on the bar. If you’re interested, click here for all the pertinent details and let me know how you like it.

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Madrid Wrap-Up

Posted in Madrid, Photography, Spain, Travel, tagged Madrid, Photography, Spain, Travel on Saturday, 4 May, 2013| 7 Comments »

Nobody goes to bed in Madrid till they have killed the night!” – Ernest Hemingway

We didn’t “kill the night” but did our best to see as much as we could during our way too short visit to the wonderful city of Madrid!

Traveling has always been an obsession with me. The first “vacation” I planned on my own was at the age of 13 when I saved every babysitting dollar I made to pay for a flight to Disney World to visit family friends on my own. It took me a little over a year to save enough money for the trip and I had to wear the embarrassing “unaccompanied minor” sticker on my shirt but I made it. Fast forward many years and there’s always plans for a trip simmering away and Madrid has been on the travel list for a long time. So grateful I finally got a chance to experience it for myself.

After all those years of waiting to visit Spain’s capital, my top five favorites (in no particular order) are:

1) Madrid Marathon: well-organized and great atmosphere for both the runners and the spectators. A few degrees warmer would have been nice…

2) Chance to Practice my remedial Spanish: I love being able to practice my Spanish with locals ~ especially those patient enough to endure the butchering of their language. The look in my daughter’s eyes when she sees me speaking Spanish is one of such respect ~ I can tell it gives her confidence to converse too. We both want to get much better at speaking Spanish so we’re looking into another trip to Spain so we can take Spanish immersion classes.

3) El Parque del Buen Retiro: my previous post said it all. This is a fabulous place to take a picnic, in-line skates and spend the day!

4) Museo del Prado: The Prado which is listed as one of the oldest and best art museum in the world. I have to agree. Even though we were limited on time, we carved out a few hours to enjoy a stroll though some of the galleries to view beautiful and thought-provoking paintings. I used a Spanish audio guide so my understanding of some of the paintings might be suspect. Photography is not allowed. Backpacks must go through a security screening and left at the cloakroom. For more information, click here.

5) All the beautiful Plazas in Central Madrid: Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Santa Ana are my particular favorites. Would have loved to sit out at a café but the chilly weather prohibited any outdoor seating.

Recap in photos:

Iglesia de San Jerónimo , across from The Prado, Madrid

Wedding in the beautiful Iglesia de San Jerónimo

Palacio de Comunicaciones (Currently City Hall Offices) at Plaza de Cibeles

Fernando Arch Fernando VII, Madrid

Dark clouds over Madrid

Fernando Arch Fernando VII, Madrid

Cherub Fountain in Madrid

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Another Beautiful statue in Madrid

Cellar seating at Botin Restaurant, Madrid ~ considered the oldest restaurant in the world

No Dogs Allowed ~ except this fuzz-ball (on left)

Murals in Madrid

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Madrid: Saturday in Parque del Buen Retiro

Posted in Madrid, Photography, Spain, Travel, Travels, tagged exercise in the park, In-line skating, Madrid, Marble Statues, Park in Madrid, Parque del Buen Retiro, Photography, Spain, The Fallen Angel, Travel, Vacation on Tuesday, 30 April, 2013| 3 Comments »

It was a short walk from our hotel (Vincci Soma) to Parque del Buen Retiro, and as soon as I walked in, I realized I was going to want more then a mere weekend in Madrid. I could have stayed in the park for the entire day ~ it’s big, beautiful with lovely gardens, marble statues/monuments, acres of greenery, manmade lakes and an abundance of locals doing various exercises.

The Park was originally laid out by Felipe IV in the 1600s for the use of the Royals and close family/friends but the park was opened to the public in 1868. Throughout the following years, statues and buildings have been added with the most recent being the “Bosque de Recuerdo” (memorial forest) which is a memorial for the 191 victims of the 11 March 2004 train bombings.

Exercise for your legs, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Whole lot of exercising going on in this part of the park, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

In-line Skaters of all ages were everywhere in the Park ~ lots of lessons, too.

True Love: a girl and her Iphone

Big Bubble, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Spanish Guitar music in Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

It’s a great place for the Madrileños to enjoy a pleasant walk, a vigorous workout or just to sit and watch the world go by.

El Ángel Caído (Fallen Angel), Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

At the base of El Ángel Caído

El Ángel Caído (Fallen Angel), Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

The park has many beautiful marble statues including El Ángel Caído (The Fallen Angel ~ Satan) by Ricardo Bellver. He is said to have been inspired by a passage from Paradise Lost (John Milton). The gargoyles around the base of the statues creeped me out more than the statue itself. From my research, it looks to be the only public statue of Lucifer and supposedly it sits at 666m above sea level.

Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Columns near the Alfonzo XXII statue, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Dolphins, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Statue in Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Statue, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Fountain in Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Alfonzo XXII Statue, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Cuba Monument, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Besides the lovely statues, there are several beautiful buildings including Palacio de Cristal which was built in 1887 as a winter garden but is now being used for temporary exhibitions of modern artwork. If you look closely at the photo below, those color discs are the artwork currently on display.

Palacio de Cristal ~ the color discs hanging from the ceiling are part of the Modern Art Exhibit

Inside the Palacio de Cristal ~ dics on the floor are part of the modern art exhibition

Logan in the Palacio de Cristal, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Park Vendor outside Palacio de Cristal, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid

Our time in Parque del Buen Retiro was wonderful and I definitely would have stayed longer but after a few hours it was time to head over to Museo del Prado to see the Goyas. The Museum is a short walk just outside of the park…

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Madrid Marathon 2013

Posted in Madrid, Photography, Spain, Travels, tagged Madrid, Madrid Marathon, Photography, Rock and Roll Marathon, Running, Spain, Travel, Vacation on Sunday, 28 April, 2013| 9 Comments »

Couldn’t believe it was 34°F when John left for the start of the marathon. Burrr…

JP getting ready to head out for the Madrid Marathon

We next saw John at Plaza del Sol which was the 18km mark and where a great Rock and Roll band was playing:

JP found us!

Logan and I attempted to catch John again at the finish line but he ran too fast and we miscalculated. He ended up finishing the marathon with a 4:05:05. Yeah to John!

John’s observations of the Madrid Marathon are:

Mostly the runners are from Spain with not a lot of foreign runners. More of a local marathon than a destination marathon
Fewer women than other marathons he’s run
Not as many people were “dressed up” ~ although we did see Nacho Libre and Minnie Mouse outfits
They had in-line medical volunteers amongst the runners spraying “icy hot” on runner’s joints and vaseline for chafing. John only saw one “wipe-out”
All runners including marathon (elite as well), 1/2 marathon and 10k started in the same corrals at the same time then diverted at different stages of the race. Usually runners start at different times.
Course was a bit hilly
Only food handed out along the course was power gel at one station
Bottles of water and electrolytes were handed out but the large bottles were more than he needed at one stop. He prefers the smaller cups
Lots of Porta Potties
Lots of wonderful bands (after all it was a Rock and Roll Marathon)
Overall, he loved the marathon and would like to run it again!

Here’s a bit of what I saw while cheering the runners:

Elite Men, Madrid Marathon

One of the Elite men, Madrid Marathon

Elite Runner, Madrid Marathon

Fun Band at the 18km, Madrid Marathon

Madrid Marathon at the 18km

Back of Two Minnies and a Mickey, Madrid Marathon 2013

Nacho Libre (?) at the end of the Madrid Marathon

Helping Mom and Dad to the Finish Line

End of the Marathon Band

John’s marathon shirt was too small for him, so lucky me, I have a new shirt to wear to my next tennis match.

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Displaced Beachbums

Exploring Washington DC and beyond

Posts Tagged ‘Travel’

Wimbledon 2013: My Golden Ticket to Centre Court

India: Women’s Interlink Foundation

India: Handcrafted items from Agra and New Dehli

Day Trip from London: Stonehenge and Sturminster Newton

Day Trip: Palace of Versailles

France: Day Trip ~ Paris and Palace of Versailles

London: Gorilla Circus “Flying Trapeze School”

Madrid Wrap-Up

Madrid: Saturday in Parque del Buen Retiro

Madrid Marathon 2013

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