Madrid

Eric and I enjoyed Madrid much more than we expected.  We arrived, exhausted, after two delayed flights, from San Francisco to Frankfurt, and then Frankfurt to Madrid.  Our first unexpected delight was the apartment we found through Airbnb.  

  
The apartment was charming; small but very cleverly appointed, with perfectly sized appliances and gadgets to fit into each cozy nook.  It served as an ideal resting place for two weary travelers, an oasis from the hustle and bustle of Madrid during Holy Week.


We visited the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) first, standing in an incredibly long line (again, I suspect due to Holy Week?) to tour the palace, armory, and apothecary.  I enjoyed visiting the palace, and picturing the day-to-day lives of the royal family for whom this spectacular building served as home.  

One of my goals for the year is to learn a lot more about Spanish history.  Hopefully then I will have something more insightful to say about the palace.  

I also enjoyed strolling in the Plaza de Oriente, and the Sabatini Gardens.  Although it rained a bit during our stay, we had several clear afternoons to bask in the sunshine.

 

We also happened to join the crowds on Good Friday to see some of the religious processions in the Plaza Mayor.  We waited amongst the people, not sure what was happening or what we would end up seeing.  The crowd seemed relaxed and casual, rather than gripped by religious fervor.

  
One final "favorite place" in Madrid: the Parque del Buen Retiro (Park of the Pleasant Retreat) which certainly lived up to its name.  A lovely place to stroll with friends or family, take in some fresh air, watch lively street magicians and puppeteers, or even paddle on the pond if you're feeling adventurous.

I loved Madrid, and look forward to returning to spend more time in the lovely parks and museums.  Oh!  I forgot to mention the Prado, where I saw my new favorite painting, the Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch: so weird and fascinating!  I could gaze at that painting for hours, I think, although the crowds at the Prado prevented me from staying in front of it for more than a few minutes. 
       

Obligatory Blog Introduction

I begin this blog with a few words about the blog title, Year of Honey.  Instead of a traditional honeymoon, this is our honey year: a year for Eric and I to spend in each other's company, taking a break from the stresses of work and our regular life at home.  We feel incredibly fortunate to have the luxury of this time.  Hopefully it will be golden and sweet, like honey.  I decided against the title "Honey Year" for two very practical reasons: 1) I didn't like the double y of "honeyyear" (looks weird, doesn't it?) and 2) that title is already taken.  The title "bigstupidblog" was also already taken, so I had to go with something different.


I hope this is a year of honey for me, in the sense that honey is a substance that can't be rushed: it drips out of the jar in its own time, slowly and deliberately.  I've realized that my normal mode is to try to accomplish a task in the quickest or most efficient way possible, so I can rush to the next thing.  I plan my next activity before even completing the first.  Instead, this year, I want to approach life more like spooning out honey; being patient and fully engaged with each experience, taking the time needed instead of always trying to rush ahead.