It has been 30 years ago that we lived in Spain. We were stationed at Torrejon AFB from 1985 till 1989 and lived in base housing off base. It was called Royal Oaks (El Encinar de los Reyes) and it was situated between Alcobendas and Madrid. This year we decided to go back to Spain to see where we used to live and how much it had changed after 30 years. Our plan was to stay 4 days in Madrid and from there to the south of Spain: Andalucia.
We drove the car and spent 2 nights in France in airbnb's.
Arbonne, near the Spanish border.
In Madrid we had booked an airbnb in the southern outskirt of Madrid (Fuentelareyna) with a very nice couple : Luis y Ana.
When we reached Alcobendas, we decided to leave the autovía and follow the sign for El Encínar de Los Reyes. We ended up on the service road and with so much traffic and road signs, no gps ("don't need one, I have a map" attitude) we missed the turn and were now on the service road leading us into Madrid. Couldn't get back on the autovía. The traffic system in Madrid is so complex and demands careful planning which I had done at home but now we got off our track. To make a long story short. After ending up again around Alcobendas and heading out to Madrid for the second time, we got off on the Paseo de la Castellano, where we stopped and asked a very nice and patience lady, in my best spanish, how to get to our airbnb which was in fact not too far. I was so glad that we finally reached our destination. Our car was parked in the parking lot for the next 4 days!! Public transportation or walking is the way to go here.
Champagné, near Le Mans
Arbonne, near the Spanish border.
In Madrid we had booked an airbnb in the southern outskirt of Madrid (Fuentelareyna) with a very nice couple : Luis y Ana.
When we reached Alcobendas, we decided to leave the autovía and follow the sign for El Encínar de Los Reyes. We ended up on the service road and with so much traffic and road signs, no gps ("don't need one, I have a map" attitude) we missed the turn and were now on the service road leading us into Madrid. Couldn't get back on the autovía. The traffic system in Madrid is so complex and demands careful planning which I had done at home but now we got off our track. To make a long story short. After ending up again around Alcobendas and heading out to Madrid for the second time, we got off on the Paseo de la Castellano, where we stopped and asked a very nice and patience lady, in my best spanish, how to get to our airbnb which was in fact not too far. I was so glad that we finally reached our destination. Our car was parked in the parking lot for the next 4 days!! Public transportation or walking is the way to go here.
The next day we took the bus to El Encinar de los Reyes.
What a difference with 30 years ago. Freeways everywhere in and around Madrid. The road from Madrid to Alcobendas which used to be country is now build up with industrial areas and residencias. Not to forget our neighbourhood. There used to be lots of space between the houses for the kids to play. Now everywhere very expensive large houses has been build here but.....our house and some of the old houses in our area were still there and still looked the same but, obviously, renovated in a much better way than when we lived there.
Here is a link about the history of the Americans living in Royal Oaks.
Here is a link about the history of the Americans living in Royal Oaks.
Our house
Even a new shopping center.
It was nice to see how it had changed but it didn't feel familiar anymore.
Next was Madrid where we walked till we dropped.
Plaza de Castilla, which has a huge busstation now , it has four levels, three of them underground.
Monumento Abogados de Atocha
Puerto del Sol
The famous pastelleria La Mallorquina, if you love pastries, that's the place to go.
I still have some of these figurines at home.
Plaza mayor
Small traditional shops are still here...
....so is the oldest hotel La Posada del Peine (1610)
La Rosaleda gardens in parque de Oeste. We were too early to see the roses blooming.
La Rosaleda gardens in parque de Oeste. We were too early to see the roses blooming.
In this park we took the cable car (Teleférico) to the biggest public park in Madrid Casa de Campo. (Country House)
This used to be the royal hunting ground under Philip II, who build the city's royal palace here when he moved Spain's capital from Valladolid to Madrid. The park was only used by the Spanish royal family until the proclamation of Spain's Second Republic in1931.The state donated Casa de Campo to the people of Madrid. Eight years later Spain became a military dictatorship under Franco.
We walked back to the entrance of Case de Campo...
This used to be the royal hunting ground under Philip II, who build the city's royal palace here when he moved Spain's capital from Valladolid to Madrid. The park was only used by the Spanish royal family until the proclamation of Spain's Second Republic in1931.The state donated Casa de Campo to the people of Madrid. Eight years later Spain became a military dictatorship under Franco.
We walked back to the entrance of Case de Campo...
...and from here to Campo de Moro passing Puerta de San Vicente first. Madrid has 4 monumental Puertas, erected in the 18th/19th century . They were part of the wall that surrounded Madrid to protect the city. Although Puerta de San Vicente is a reconstructed in 1995.
Peacock in Campo de Moro. In the background the Royal Palace.
Royal Palace
Plaza de Armería
Street performers in action.
Monument of Felipe IV
The surrounding area of El Escorial is beautiful.
Peacock in Campo de Moro. In the background the Royal Palace.
Plaza de Armería
Monument of Felipe IV
A nice day trip, 45 miles away from Madrid, is El Escorial, It's good to escape the busy city center for one day. We took the Cercanías C-8 line train. Public transportation is outstanding in Madrid. From the train station it was a 30 minutes walk up the hill.
El Escorial Monastery is a quadrangle shaped Spanish Renaissance structure that has served as a museum, a church, library and even a school. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Spain's most popular and visited sites.
Here we descended into a basement chamber containing the remains of several past Spanish kings and queens. We were not allowed to make pictures here.
The surrounding area of El Escorial is beautiful.
After 4 days in Madrid we drove to Sanlúcar la Mayor near Sevilla.
To be continued...
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