Madrid and Segovia

FROM DANI:

5/26: We began the day by getting ready to catch a bus from San Sebastian to Madrid.  We raced across the small town and found the "station", bought our tickets and a little something for breakfast.  Off we went on the bus.  We drove through rolling green countryside, sometimes in sunshine others in downpour.  We caught up on some sleep and got into our books (Mark is reading Odd Thomas and I´m reading Thunderstruck...we plan to swap when we´re finished).  We arrived in Madrid and made our way to find a place to spend the night.  We found a room (big and decent) and went to find dinner...we were both growing hungry and had the idea that it would be funny to eat at a ribs joint bearing the name Texas.  Big mistake.  Not funny at all...just expensive!  The food was so-so and on our walk home we went past a nice little fast-food Turkish place that serves Doner Kebab (I learned to LOVE these while living in Germany).  Bummed but making a note of it´s location we headed to an internet place.  We were wanting to escape the rain...so we found a deal on plane tickets to Casablanca, Morocco on 5/29.  Yes, that Casablanca!  Here´s lookin at you, kid!  Emboldened by our great find we splurged on dessert at McDonald´s and went to bed.

5-27: We had decided to make a day trip to Segovia (about an hour and a half bus ride away).  On our arrival we located a great place to stay cheap and unloaded our belongings.  We walked through the city which boasts a Roman aqueduct (it was once a Roman military base and needed water).  It was chilly and growing darker...rain coming!  We grabbed lunch and sat out the rain.  We walked around the city that is over 2000 years old.  It was nice and relaxing and quiet.

5-28: Back to Madrid.  We hit up El Prado, considered to be the best painting museum in the world.  It was beautiful and overwhelming.  We saw many students with their easels doing their best to replicate famous works.  We saw works by El Greco, de Goya, Velazquez - including Las Meninas, a painting which many artists consider the best in the world.  Very, very cool.  We stood with a crowd for a long time just looking at it and wondering at the talent!  Then onto a stroll in Retiro Park where we ran into Mickey Mouse (trying to make money off of tourists wanting a picture).  We hit up a couple of great Plazas, had some sweets, read some history, and headed for Doner Kabab for dinner.  We spent the evening in planning mode...getting ready for Morocco, more Spain, France, and Ireland.  Any suggestions?  Please send them!  :)  Oh, did I mention we lunched at a restaurant named Iowa??

Stay tuned for more from Africa!!!!!