Madrid

As we drove north from Moratalla, the weather got colder and colder. Snow tipped the mountains, the trees were bare and the sky was winter grey.

We found a campsite about 50 k south of Madrid at Aranjuez. The bad news was that the ground was flooded. The good news was that the prices were very low, the wifi worked and there were frequent trains from Aranjuez to Madrid. So we booked a couple of nights in a hotel in Madrid and left the van on the campsite (parked on the tarmac).

Aranjuez is the Spanish version of Versailles, full of beautiful 18^th century palaces which we walked past on the way to the station. Martin played at being the sentry.......

The old centre of Madrid entranced us with its street art

and its pretty bars

and its small independent shops – including this rather large sweet shop which would have enraptured Bella and Taylor but bewildered them with its vast choice.

Here are some more photos from the streets

an electric bus

a funny menu

and our very own Lowry photo!

And some photos from our visit to Reina Sofia Museum

including some arty reflections

and the inevitable visit to the cafe

After a couple of days immersed in art at the Prado and the Reina Sofia, we returned to Aranjuez and prepared for our journey home.