In the morning we boarded a Trapsatur luxury tour coach for a panoramic tour of Madrid...
Today, eight gates from the old walled city of Madrid stand as monuments to the past.
Madrid, Spain's capital city, seat of the countries monarchs and governement is home to 3.3 million people. It is a city of palaces, monuments, parks, churches, museums, universities, entertainment and commerce.
After the morning tour, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant, freshened up and met up with our tour guide for a tour of Spain's Royal Palace. We would only get to see 28 of the 2,800 rooms.
Photography was not allowed in the Royal Palace......the tour was impressive, the Palace is vast and lavish. It is located on a bluff looking north toward a mountain range...The present King and Queen of Spain live in a more modest palace outside of Madrid. The Royal Palace is used for state occasions.
When asked why he does not live in this huge palace, the king was reported to have replied, "I don't want my eggs to get cold between the kitchen and dining room."
We were fortunate that we booked the tour through a tour company. They seem to get preference over the general public which stand in very long lines to get in.
After the palace, our day wasn't done...it was just starting as far as I was concerned...because today was my 70th birthday and Connie had planned a special evening.
First, the Madrid Carnival celebration was about to start with parade passing under our Gran Via hotel room balcony...... How convenient !!!!
The birthday celebration was underway.... well wishing telephones calls from our children and my siblings back home, added to the day! But wait !!! Connie had made plans for dinner for both of us at the 9:30 seating at Madrid's El Cafe de La Opera, a most unique and excellent restaurant.... We ate a sumptuous dinner while listening to operatic performances by five young and talented stars.
This most enjoyable occasion was topped off by a "cumpleanos felices" wish along with champaign toast sang in spanish by the opera singers....What an evening... We left the restaurnat at 12:45 AM. Thank you Connie!
p.s. It is a small world! The opera singer Anna, behind my left shoulder, was born in the Bronx, raised in Flushing and her family now lives in Babylon, LI. Anna won a fellowship to study opera in Spain. She has sung in St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, LI, NY; and that day, she sang happy birthday to me in spanish!
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