El Palacio Real de Aranjuez
Thursday, 20th March
Had a nosebleed to start the day!! Had been feeling rough since I got to Madrid, with a sore throat and blocked nose (think it was the stuffy room!), so THAT's the result! Anyway, said goodbye to Hostal Puerta del Sol (had a pleasant enough stay), and off I went to Los Amigos on nearby Calle Campomanes--just next to the Teatro Real--where I was gonna be spending the night. Dumped my bag, and then I headed to Atocha train station to get a ticket to Toledo!!! :) Well THAT was a f**king rigmarole! Stood in about three f**king queues before I found out that you couldn't even buy a ticket to Toledo there, and so off I went to some other ticket office, which has the most RIDICULOUS queuing system IMAGINABLE!! You take a ticket, and then you wait...and wait...and WAIT, and there's only like one f**king person on the ticket desk!!! Was nowhere NEAR my number, so I thought 'F**k it! I'm off to Aranjuez instead!' Grrrrrrr!!! HAD planned to go there tomorrow (to see the Royal Palace), but the best laid plans...!!! So off I went to Estación Sur, and hopped on the 11:30 bus to Aranjuez! :)
GLAD to get off the f**king thing! I felt ROUGH, and REALLY needed fresh air!! Then off to the Palace I went...!!!
Bit of info:
The Palacio Real de Aranjuez was commissioned by Felipe II (1527-1598), and designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera (of El Escorial fame!!), and completed during the reign of Fernando VI (1713-1759). It's known for its ornamental fantasies (the Sala de Porcelana, for example) and its large gardens, and also contains the Museo de la Vida en Palacio (which contains lots and lots of lovely fans!!! :D).
Joined the tour at 1:00, and we pretty much raced around the place with the female guide giving very brief, not-too-in-depth descriptions of each room, but 1) I guess any more info would've been dull and 2) wow!!!!!! I LOVED the place!! Sooooo sumptuous!!! Soooo impressive, and sooo beautiful!! Can certainly rival the Palacio Real (and at least I didn't get robbed here! :p).
What you laughing at?!
Yet more of the statuary laughing at me...!!!
El Jardín del Rey
Felipe II
Mural to Charles V
Mural to Isabella of Portugal
Came across this in one of the Royal bathrooms! :p
Bought yet another book from the gift store (Las joyas de las reinas de España), and then I had a wander round the Jardín de la Isla, which was an absolute DELIGHT!!! :D The sun had come out, it was sooo peaceful...and I saw a squirrel lol!! :p Lovely place...
Jardín de la Isla
Dedicated to wine lovers everywhere!!! :p Old Bacchus!
Can you see the rainbow?!
So, after sitting in the sun and having a look at my new (-est) book, I went and treated myself to another of Aranjuez's delights: strawberries and cream!!!!!!!! Magic!!!!!!! :p
Un fresón de fresas y crema!!! :)
I then hopped on the 4:30 bus back to Madrid, and headed BACK to Atocha to get my ticket for tomorrow to Toledo!! Took f**king ages!! Ate a whole tortilla baguette...and could've devoured about three more in the time it took!! Suffer on...!!!
Randomness on the streets of Madrid!!!
Headed back to my hostel, chatted to a girl from New Zealand (!) who was sharing my 6-bedder room, and then I went to bed early 'cos I felt ROUGH!!!
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