(MAD) daily photo

Neighbourhood of Vallecas ( I )

2011-08-05T13:26:00.003+01:00

I hope starting two series, one of the neighbourhood I am living in, Tetuan. It is situated in the northern part of Madrid. There is one photo posted last month.
In contrast to Tetuan this picture shows the extension against south-east. Nearby the ancient village of Vallecas has grown the new town of Vallecas, an aggregation of thousands of new homes for young families.

A tad blurred

2011-07-17T19:00:00.004+01:00

How big and strong the beautiful Madrid-Tower, one of my favorite flat-buildings in Madrid; how gracil the aerial in the foreground. Last week I was on the roofs, and I did capture different beautiful views.

Inside of Tetuan ( I )

2011-06-27T18:00:00.002+01:00

Atocha Renfe - Main Railway-station

2011-06-16T21:57:00.004+01:00

This is one of Madrid's railroad-stations - the most famous one. Currently it consists of three parts, the original old station, you can see it in the foreground, the first extension in the background and the second extension behind the first one, not visible in the photograph.

The oldest part was inaugurated in 1851 with a train connection to the zone of Aranzuela in the south of Madrid. It was a terminus that had not had any connectivity to other railway-lines like the northern (to Valladolid) or north-eastern (to Burgos and Vitoria) railway-line.
In 1992 opened the first extension, started in 1985 with the competition won by architect Rafael Moneo. 1992 was the year of Sevilla's World Exposition, and Spain's national railway-company started the highspeed connection between Madrid and the andalusian town. The station concourse was transformed in a 4000 squaremeter botanic garden, a greenhouse with tropic palms and lots of flowers.
In 2009 and 2011 were opened the last extensiones, first the suburbian connection to the northern Chamartin-station, guided by tunnels, and later the southern extension by the same Moneo.

Spanish revolution?

2011-05-22T09:25:00.003+01:00

If you open the New York Times or other newpapers today, you can find information of this happening, this movement that is going on here in Madrid. People are meeting since may 15th, one week before the elections of today, to manifest themselves against the strong two party monopol and the poor government's interest in the unemployment of the youth (nearly 45% of the 25 to 35 years olds have no job). Afterwards I will tell you more. Now I have to go to vote.

Construction of the beginning of the last century.

2011-04-19T07:10:00.008+01:00

I am sorry for the big contrast in this photo but it was early in the morning, just at sunrise.
This rest home* in the northern centre of Madrid is a nice example for the kind of construction of the 1910s here. Originally designed in 1912 and built in 1915, it got its church in the thirties. Now it forms part of the city, but prior it was outside the limits of the town. Nevertheless the immediate surroundings are keeping its suburbian style. And it is only 500 metres from the Bernabeu-stadium away! Designed by Manuel Martínez Ángel, the two wings had accommodated sick persons, separated according to sexes. In the central part were situated the original church and the offices.
* What an ugly name for the last residencial of our old people, our parents, grandpas... You know a better word for these buildings?

Spirit meets sports.

2011-03-29T20:00:00.003+01:00

Today I show you the less famous backside of the Bernabeu-stadium. Surprise: It is worth to go behind the famous stadium. You will find a fine church from the early 1960s, with its polygonal floor adapting forms formerly used in the Spanish pavillon in Brussels by the architects Corrales y Molezún. This church, called Sacred Hearts, was build between 1962 and 1965 by Rodolfo García and had a strong visual impact in the same-called square.

Laberinto de miradas (Labyrinth of glances)

2011-03-13T02:00:00.004+01:00

Today I went to an extraordinary exposition which joins photographs from many of the ibero-american countries, like Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico and Spain. An overview you find on: http://www.laberintodemiradas.net .
The exposition is arranged thematically in: Identities and frontiers, Conflicts and Photographic collectives. If you are in Madrid I suggest you to take to have a look to this free-entry exposition until may 15th.

Nothing but quiet.

2011-02-20T12:00:00.001+01:00

You are arriving at Madrid, have a walk through Madrid and comes across this square: Callao what? Spaniards often let a letter, the spoken d, you know: cansado-cansao, alicatado-alicatao, callado-callao, Callao. I thougt. And 'callado/callao' means 'quiet'. But it is not true. There was a battle in Spanish-Southamerican War in 1866, the Battle of Callao, named by the peruan city of Callao. That's it.

The best air Madrid ever had...

2011-02-10T20:00:00.001+01:00

... said the Councillor for Environment Ana Botella yesterday, asked for the highest value of NO2 in the air. Do you think the same way? I don't. (My bicycle is parked in the stack meanwhile and I have to go by subway.)

In the cold north.

2011-02-05T19:06:00.006+01:00

This is Castilla Plaza - the main square of Madrid's northern neighbourhood Chamartín. I was in luck to take this shot out from a terrace in a close building. Tr3tna did show you the KIO-Towers in an older post yet, a great work of the architects Philip Johnson y John Burgee, and the first inclined towers in the world. In the centre there is a 92m monument of a savings bank, designed by the Valencian engineer Santiago Calatrava from 2010. In my opinion put it here is a pity, rejecting all the greatness and smart balance the KIO-Towers have with a simple vertical statement. Now the square is really overloaded, don't you think so?

Masterpiece of St. Bernardo

2011-01-30T19:10:00.006+01:00

One of the most famous buildings by Fernando Higueras Díaz (1930-2008) is this ensemble of buildings for a military living-association, erected between 1968 and 1974. This house beside the roundabout of San Bernardo shows the main themes Higueras used to employ in his buildings: white concrete and plants all over the house. All the construction occupies a extended site, that is why Higueras decided to split the building and introduce a small street in the backyard.

Foggy Fog.

2011-01-20T19:14:00.005+01:00

There is an avenue that smells like city, looks like metropolis and sounds like urban life. The Great Way (La Gran Vía) is the most impressive and the most consequent pathway Madrid has - here I took a photo in the morning going to a building site I have nearby. This fog is nice picturally, isn't it? Once I will tell you about the building in the back - the Capitol, one of the most significant in the capital of Spain.

Good Morning Madrid.

2011-01-12T08:30:00.006+01:00

500m, 1.000m, 1.500m, 2.000m. Arriving at "La Dehesa de la Villa", something like "The Grove of the Town", a small rest of a typical iberian pinewood, I can enjoy this fantastic view: Lots of peaks, part of the skyline of the matutinal Madrid. The Lighthouse of Moncloa (Faro de Moncloa) in the center and the Headquarters of the Spanish Airforce on the left, with its 4 towers, typical of the Escorial-Castle-Style. 2.500m, 3.000m, ...

The last call (in 2010).

2010-12-31T23:59:00.000+01:00

Photos, of course. There are no manipulation in them...well, I was looking for the best frame, that is all. I think you know what they are - anyway, I wish you a very good and happy New Year!

Bernabeu-Stadium

2010-12-18T09:45:00.007+01:00

Famous Real Madrid's home-stadium is located in the northern part of Madrid, nearby the extended part of the Castellana-Avenue. It is called Santiago Bernabeu since 1955 in honour of the former president of the soccer-club. Built as Chamartin-stadium in 1947, it was remodeled in 1982 and in 1992. The last operation was leaded by the team of Estudio Lamela and the stadium gathered up to 80.354 seats, all covered by roofs.

Well guys (and girls): I want to wish you a Merry Christmas because today I will go to Berlin where lives my family. Have a good time, take care of your beloved people and try to relax.
See you soon. Yours, Martin

Parroquia María Micaela y San Enrique

2010-12-13T08:31:00.007+01:00

Yes fellows, we are back. This time not for one post only. We promise to be more continous. There were a lot of people worried about us - thank you all but we are fine. Certain circumstances avoid to spend more time with this blog, so we apologize to you.
The church you see is a community-church of the Tetuán-neighbourhood nearby the Bernabeu-stadium. It is one example for the fine architecture from the end of the sixties you find in Madrid.

Back in Phototown

2010-12-08T12:28:00.004+01:00

One of the most famous buildings of architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza the BBVA-Building (originally called Bank of Bilbao) is the entrance-sign of AZCA-Comercial and Office-complex. This building, designed in 1971, was errected between 1978 and 1981. In this photo the less-known entrance on the back-side.

New Chamber of Architects

2009-09-30T08:24:00.014+01:00

The old three-cornered complex of "Escuelas Pías de San Antón" with church, convent and the beautiful foutain Galapagos (fuente galápagos) will be cleared of all internal structure, achieving only the church and fachades with the foutain.Beside of the chamber it will be contain a library and a públic swimming-pool and better the social condicions of the neighbourhood.

White night in Madrid (I)

2009-09-21T06:38:00.004+01:00

Like every year the art department of the local government had organized Bread and Games for the masses. Because we are we went, too.
Thousands of people saw illuminated streets, parks and avenues like the Gran Vía you can appreciate down this lines. Various artists presented their work all over the capital. See more in http://lanocheenblanco.esmadrid.com .

White night in Madrid (II)

2009-09-21T06:37:00.002+01:00

White night in Madrid (III)

2009-09-21T06:19:00.002+01:00

Columbus Square

2009-09-18T08:26:00.003+01:00

Another view to Plaza de Colón (Columbus square). In the background the Colon Building, in the foreground Barclays Bank and the conversion of an 70th administrative building with a contemporary fachade. In the undergroud floor is situated the Madrid wax museum. The three building, two of them with concrete elements, the new one with light metalic sheets.

Urban illness.

2009-09-11T15:01:00.007+01:00

We are back. Back with urban damages like the one you can "appreciate" in this picture. Winner of an architectural competition the young authors do not know to realize it in the urban context. Who is to blame? The jury, the architects, the promotor? I do not know. It looks like a conversion of an old building whose green garden had been converted into a (beautiful) metalic fence.

Gay's Proud

2009-07-09T06:25:00.003+01:00

In Gay's Proud (Orgullo gay) some buildings change dresses to be more comfortable. Here one of the room-mate hotels, all called with unique names. Days we have to go out for sleep because there are crowdes of people and lots of decibels. If you have been ever in Spain you know what I am talking about.

Puerta del Sol.

2009-06-24T06:54:00.005+01:00

This is not the famous Puerta del Sol (Gate of the sun), but the impression is the same. Soon I will tell you more about the point cero of spanish highways.

Roofing I.

2009-06-18T19:22:00.003+01:00

The Second Republic opened the way to the northern extension of the city by demolition of the racecourse. A 1964 competion defined the actual commercial centre called AZCA, with symbolic buildings by architects like Francisco Sainz de Oíza with his BBVA-Bank building (1981) or the Picasso Tower (1988) by New York´s World Trade Center architect Minoru Yamasaki. Behind those you can see the Kia-Towers around Castilla square. In the background the skyline of Madrid´s four megatowers you found lots of pictures in this blog.

Markets (VI)

2009-06-14T11:44:00.004+01:00

We are back again. Hello fellows, here the photo of the Mayor Square you wanted we post. A lot of work and a journey to Barcelone to my wife´s sister delays a little our daily blog (that never was a daily but a two-times-a-week one).
This square, originally created by king´s Philip II. of Spain arquitect Juan de Herrera in the 1590th it was finished in 1619 closing its still open fronts. Once place for market and justice, today it is one of the most beautiful squares in Spain with lots of cultural events all the year.

Markets (V)

2009-05-27T07:16:00.003+01:00

North of Toledo Street leads directly to Madrid´s most famous square you see in the background: Mayor square. Its the traditional old market place in spanish cities mostly bordered by artisticly worked fachades. The most famous ones you find in Madrid, Salamanca, Barcelona (there its called: Real square) and Chinchon, nearby Madrid.

Monuments II.

2009-05-24T12:40:00.001+01:00

Another point of view of >The monument of the discovery of America<. I hope you like it, too.

Ring...ring. Ring...ring.

2009-05-19T07:21:00.006+01:00

The globalplayer Telefónica (Spanish Telecom) has opened two years ago its spanish headquarters, designed by famous architect Rafael de La-Hoz Castanys. It occupies 200.000 squaremeters formed of various buildings creating a great rectangle where 18.000 employees are working.

Saint Isidro

2009-05-15T17:50:00.003+01:00

Today lots of adults and children wear their traditional clothes at St. Isidros holiday. They go out to have lunch in the Pradera de San Isidro, a park beside of the Manzanares river. The way the man is dresses is called >chulapo<.

Stairway to heaven.

2009-05-07T07:18:00.004+01:00

The Iglesia Parroquial Santa Bárbara (Parish Church of St. Barbara) was built between 1750 to 1758 by François Carlier and Francisco Moradillo. It formed part of the Convento de la Visitación de las Salesas Reales whose backside part nowadays houses the Supreme Court. After a great fire in 1915 it was rebuilt by Joaquín Rojí.

Monuments I.

2009-04-30T07:40:00.007+01:00

This sculpure(s) from 1977 called >The monument of the discovery of America< by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios is one of two situated at Plaza Colón (Colombus Square). It consists of three concrete blocks and pedestrials with inscriptions by philosophers and indigenous leaders.
I will go out to discover London once again. tr3nta, where are you?

Iron and stone.

2009-04-28T08:23:00.003+01:00

Detail of the building of the old "Banco Español de credito" (Spanish Credit Bank) - now Banesto. Its actual appearance it had since 1882, last rehabilitation. It is one example for eclectic style you find a lot near Sevilla street.

Lightstripes.

2009-04-24T07:25:00.004+01:00

Calle Alcalá - spoken Alka-la - is one of Madrid's largest streets. It joins the citycenter with the most famous square Sol ("Sun"), and the suburbs of the town, 15km far apart from Sol. The towerbuilding in the centre of the image houses the Circulo of Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Academy). For an entrance fee of 1 Euro you can both enter in the fantastic turn of the century cafeteria and visit lots of extraordinary fine arts expositions.

Noise.

2009-04-21T07:20:00.005+01:00

Gran Vía (literally "Great Way") is one of Madrid's most famous and most crowded streets. It leads from the Metropolis-Building to Plaza España, passing Callao where is the heart of it. Because of the elevate number of cinemas and musicals it is called sometimes the Broadway of Madrid.

>In the mid 19th century, Madrid's urban planners decided that a new thoroughfare had to be created, connecting the Calle de Alcalá with the Plaza España. The project required many buildings in the center of the city to be demolished, earning it the name of 'an axe blow on the map'. Decades after the first plans were made, construction still had not started and the media ridiculed the project, cynically calling it the 'Gran Vía'. Finally in 1904 it was approved and construction started a couple of years later. The last part of the street was completed in 1929.< (Wikipedia)

Silence.

2009-04-17T08:15:00.003+01:00

Leaving main streets there are lots of them with silence and poetic urbanism. Like in this picture nearby the opera.

Markets (IV)

2009-04-14T08:05:00.002+01:00

The dissapperance of houses lets pass the sunlight through the town.

Red clock.

2009-04-09T10:35:00.003+01:00

The clock of the Telefonica (Spanish Telecom) Building and the building itself are two important landmarks of the city. Built between 1926 and 1929 by the architect Ignacio de Cárdenas Pastor it was the highest building in Europe at this moment with a height of 89,30m.

Cityscape.

2009-04-07T07:39:00.007+01:00

Last floor. I go out of the elevator. There is no closed staircase in my house. All open. Madrid's air is passing through. I can see the Telefonica's Building with its clock, red lighted at night. I see the disorder of roofing that is a texture of tiles, tubes and stacks. There is chaos in front of the grand white open of the blue omnipotent sky.

Nineteenfourtynine.

2009-04-03T06:44:00.003+01:00

The Government-Department of Health and Consumers Protection in Prado's promenade and in front of the eponymous museum was designed by the architect Francisco de Asis Cabrero in 1949. Yes, 1949. And it is always an icon of spanish modern architecture although built in time of Francisco Franco's dictature. Once elevated to house the trade-union, in the democracy it became building for the ministry. Its perfect cubic volume stands for the perfection architects are looking for since ever.

Markets (III)

2009-03-31T06:37:00.001+01:00

Destruction.

Markets (II)

2009-03-27T07:19:00.004+01:00

I shot this photo during the destruction of San Anton's market. It will be another one with three parking levels and an all-open supermarket of the marketing chain OpenCor of the Corte Inglés. In this never sleeping Chueca neighbourhood I suppose it achieves success. The owners had planned to integrate some of the old stands, too.

Sunny days.

2009-03-24T09:02:00.005+01:00

Nearby the most famous square Sol ("sun") you find some extraordinary views, like this with the VITALICIO Insurance Building and the old Abbey of the Conception.

Chueca

2009-03-17T07:25:00.004+01:00

If you leave mainstreets of Chueca neighbourhood you can find some extraordinary facades, sometimes like in this foto with a little garden in front of it. Chueca, the centrical little square and the underground-station, whose name is dedicated to the composer Federico Chueca, is the most gayfriendly neighbourhood in Madrid. Once a high-criminated zone, it developed in the late nineties to an vanguardian and modern neighbourhood. But: there are lots of senior citizen who always had been lived there. It is the tolerant way of living I like, this contrast to see a couple of two men and an aged woman buying bread in the same shop.

One of them.

2009-03-13T09:23:00.007+01:00

One bright night I went out to take a shot.
Looking for the right light I caught a lot.

Tower Zoom...

2009-03-12T12:56:00.004+01:00

I'm so glad that "H" (hache) finally got some time to post (I hope he keep on posting). His photos are great. ¿don't you think?... Making echo of SKY and SCAPER post by "H" the other day I bring you a Tower Zoom of the 3 tallest building in Madrid and in Spain. The Sacyr-Vallehermoso tower, designed by the architects Carlos Rubio Carvajal and Enrique Álvarez-Sala Walter, is 236 meters high and it has 52 floors...

Dedicated to two women

2009-03-11T08:39:00.005+01:00

Don't mind I want to addict to sensational images. But these centrical square nearby Gran Via and underground-station Callao had been reformed after commiting two knifings. Two women, working in the street, were murdered in it in the last three years. I think it's a shame that have to happen things like that to change urban spaces, don´t you?

Markets (I.)

2009-03-08T11:12:00.004+01:00

Neighbourhood Justicia's old markets are nearly disappeared; one of the last is the Barcelo-Market near the Tribunal underground-station. But the new proyect with another shopping-center, culturecenter and public swimming-pools has already the license-to-be-built.

SKY and SCRAPER

2009-03-05T11:58:00.003+01:00

Madrid's four new skyscrapers, sawn of Chamartin's station in the north of the town.

Sunday Walk...

2009-02-24T10:54:00.008+01:00

It's being hard to page up every thing I'm doing lately, but this weekend I took some time to shot around Madrid while walking around with some friends... If your comming to Madrid (on sunday) you cannot miss the "CAÑAS Y TAPAS" (small beers and tapas) at "LA LATINA" after the Rastro Market...

Sunset Over "Casón del Buen Retiro"

2009-02-12T18:34:00.004+01:00

When coming up from the Prado Museum main building to the Retiro park you'll find the "Casón del Buen Retiro". Pavilion building, designed by Alonso Carbonell in 1637, originally it was the Buen Retiro Palace dance room, now it's part of Prado Museum complex. The Neo-classic apearence arrived in the XIX century after the destruction of the Buen Retiro Palace and the ampliation of the original building.

Manzanares River

2009-02-10T17:49:00.004+01:00

Many of you probably don't know, but Madrid as a river!... Yes!... A river!... It's name is Manzanares, it runs on the south part of the city, and is an affluent of the Jarama river that at it's time is an affluent of the more know Tagus river, the largest of Iberian peninsula, the one that pases throw some beautiful cities as Toledo or Lisbon.
At this moment the area around of the Manzanares river, is a big (long) "terrain vague" waiting for the "super" park that politicians have promised, before it was an high-way (called M-30, now its buried, a big tunnel 14 or 16 km long, even if you don't see it is there)...

Retiro Sky Watch!...

2009-02-06T12:31:00.004+01:00

...¡I did it!... Ufff... Here's my Friday sky watch... work is killing me, but in a crisis situation as this its only good news!!! :-) have a nice week-end everyone...

Caixa Forum StairCase...

2009-02-05T16:53:00.002+01:00

I'm sorry if I'm not posting every day but work is really "killing me" lately... I hope to get back to normal really soon... :-)
I leave you with a Caixa Forum Interior, the big staircase... It reminds me some of Escher drawings!... what do you think?!?... I'll try to post some sky watch tomorrow...

Caixa Forum

2009-01-29T11:56:00.004+01:00

Some of the best things Madrid as to offer are Museums, and contemporary architecture. Here is an example of both together, the Caixa Forum by Herzog and DeMeuron... One of the most recent cultural spaces on Spain's Capital; sure is a wonderful place to pass Sunday afternoon...

Know more...

National Library Entrance

2009-01-28T15:54:00.003+01:00

When entering the National Library some statues bring back to your memory some of the precursors of Spanish culture, this is from Saint Isidoro. In an almost perfect day near to a building like this, and a beautiful winter light, you can't help feeling small... but happy!!!.... :-)

New Lenses...

2009-01-27T14:08:00.005+01:00

I'm just amazed with my new wide angle lenses!!! Every thing you see is in it... :-o
Here's an early morning shot on Goya street looking at the 'Concepción de Nuestra Señora' Church and Velásquez subway entrance...

"José Hierro" Public Libray Interior

2009-01-23T11:30:00.006+01:00

I leave you with some shots from the interior of the library. The first one, the entrance hall from above (from the 3rd floor) and the other one of the library rooms. Have a nice weekend every one!!!

"José Hierro" Public Library

2009-01-22T12:59:00.004+01:00

The Usera Public Library is a "landmark building" by the architects Ábalos y Herreros, built in 2002, it takes part on a 3 building promenade, together with the Usera Police Station and the Usera Health Center, creating an important urban space in a somehow caotic city pattern from the late 50's, 60's and 70's...

To Know More...

Late... but Back... Happy 2009!!!...

2009-01-21T10:42:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone Happy New Year!!!... Happy 2009!!!... I'm Back after a big vacation but I really need it, to start the New Year of full shape!... Thank for your kind comments on my blogs... I leave u today with a shot of the firework first firework of the year...

(MAD)rid Xmas Atmosphere!!!...

2008-12-23T12:42:00.005+01:00

Not the best shot!... But I think is very representative of the Xmas atmosphere in Madrid... Cold Nights, Clear sky, lights everywhere, Christmas markets, busy people from here to there... well... is Xmas and you can feel it in the air... :-) I don't know if I'll be able to post in the next 2 weeks 'cause I'm going on vacation :-) Yuppiiiiii.....
FROM (MAD)RID DAILY PHOTO I WHICH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS (and just in case I can't post in the next few weeks) A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!...

Sky Watch Reflected!

2008-12-19T11:15:00.005+01:00

I love to shot buildings reflected on buildings, I some know what I think about it... (for the ones who don't or don't remember, Look here) :-) So I thought I'll try do capture some sky watch this way... and here it is!!!... Have a nice weekend everyone.

Royal Palace from Sabatini Gardens...

2008-12-18T11:06:00.004+01:00

The Sabatini gardens were made in honor of Francesco Sabatini, architect that in the XVIII century did a great deal of works for the crown, the gardens were open to the public in 1978 and built in the early '900's in the place ocupied by the royal stables (built by sabatini). On ower day this garden is a must see for anyone visiting Madrid.

And before I forget (again) I'd like to thank Rakesh Vanamali who awarded 2 times in a row... :-)

As usual one gives what one receives, so I'll give this awards together too to 8 bloggeres...8 friends...

Rob of Trieste DP

Blognote of Arona DP

JM of Oeiras and environs DP

Pia K of Pomp & Serendipity and The World According to Pia

Marie-Noyale of Larchmont DP

Nobu of Tokyo Snap Photo and Funabashi Daily Cell Phone Photo

Olivier of Evry DP

Babzy of Babzy photos Blog

Prado North Entance by Night

2008-12-17T13:19:00.002+01:00

I was out for some shots the other night when it started to rain and I had to put my camera away... but before I made some shots... This is the north entrance to the Prado Museum, and probably the better know by everyone, if your out to visit this magnificent museum you'll sure enter here...

Metropolis Building Details

2008-12-16T16:36:00.005+01:00

Remember the Metropolis building by night post, here, well I decided to show you the beautiful details of it's corner facade... This building opens the Gran Via on its east side (corner with Alcalá street). Hope you enjoy it as much as I do... :-)

More Christmas lights...

2008-12-15T17:04:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone, I've being really busy in this last few days and I'll probably be like that till after Christmas but I'll do my best to keep on posting, answering and visiting your blogs...
Today I leave you with some more Christmas lights, a detail from Alcalá gate x illumination...

Rowing in the Retiro Park Big Pond...

2008-12-10T19:29:00.007+01:00

Is a common tourist, and not only, practice - Rowing in the Retiro Park big pond - theres not much to see, I mean the pond is rectangular... you can go around it and you'll see the same stuff... but well the nostalgics and romantics love the tour... :-)

¡Christmas lights ON!...

2008-12-09T14:48:00.003+01:00

All the the city is now illuminated by the Christmas lights and the Christmas spirit (buy, buy, buy, and buy... do it now or... :-) I'll be posting some more of this in the next weeks, giving everyone to know the 4,6 million Euro Madrid Christmas illumination... Is a bit too much don't you think???!!...

(MAD)rid Towers Sky Watch

2008-12-05T20:34:00.003+01:00

I live you with another view from two of the tower... And have a nice weekend everyone!!! :-)

Reflections on a (half) rainy day!...

2008-12-03T12:05:00.008+01:00

Remember the Madrid Towers?... well their finishing them now... All towers (there are 4) are around 250m high and I would say their omnipresent in the city (It's possible to see them from all city around). Some days ago I went there to see them from another angle... and I got this reflection of one of them, designed by Norman Foster...

Ladies roundabout!!!...

2008-12-02T12:22:00.003+01:00

I was just out for a tranquil walk on the beautiful Paseo del Prado boulevard, when I saw this ladies!?... I thought: -What are they talking about?!... So I approached... but I didn't get anything!?... I rounded about... and still nothing the primordial theme they were talking just was out of my reach...:-) and I thought: -I have to post this!!!... and here they are :-) the ladies roundabout...

No Sangria???... No Party!!!...

2008-12-01T16:50:00.005+01:00

If you go out at night while visiting Madrid (and thats a must), you'll find scenes like this almost everywhere, doors and windows open and people half in, half out... this is one of the reasons I always go out with my camera you never know when you gonna find a good shot... Here we are in Santa Ana zone and around there are places that only serve sangria... :-) Can you believe that???!...

Alcala Gate, now, by night...

2008-11-28T10:48:00.004+01:00

Today I wanted to post a sky watch thing but I had no time, so I went for a nocturnal walk about and here it is an Alcala Gate night shot. If you want to know more about the gate... remember this post?!... Have a nice week end every one...

2008-11-27T11:05:00.005+01:00

Don't let the sunny shot mistakes you... In this days even if the sun is out, it's cold, very cold, right now their are 0ºC / 32ºF... Brrrrrrrrr..... :-) But the Retiro park cats seem not to get much bordered by this cold and keep on with their cat lifes...

Oh!... and if you stay long enough, the Small cat above in a few seconds is going to attack the big one... but their just playing... :-)

Reflections or Distortions!?...

2008-11-26T14:55:00.003+01:00

How do old buildings see new buildings? and how new see old ones?... New buildings don't get reflected in old buildings... but the old, most of the times, are reflected on the new ones... If you cant see your self it probable that you think you look like what you see; So, new buildings must think they look like old buildings but old buildings will probably think their distortions of what they really are...

¡More Circus!...

2008-11-25T13:10:00.002+01:00

At petition of some... Here is another curious image that the installation of the American circus in "Las Ventas" Bullfight Arena (Plaza de Toros) offers... :-)

Circus as come to town!!!

2008-11-24T14:21:00.006+01:00

The American Circus as arrived to "Las Ventas" (the biggest bullfight arena in the world). The contrast between these two spaces and ways of life is so big that it is almost hilarious... Well at least it makes me smile :-)
I'm kind of busy lately so I'm sorry if I'm not commenting on your blogs as usual!!!...

Plaza Mayor Performance...

2008-11-20T16:24:00.003+01:00

Plaza Mayor one of the most (if not the most) charismatic squares in Madrid is full terraces, mimes, clowns, human statues, street music... you name it!...

¡Escaping bus on Columbus square!

2008-11-19T09:10:00.003+01:00

I was taking a photo of the fountains (behind the passing bus) and of the tower (Columbus tower, 102m height)... but I got a surprise!!!... ;-)

Monument to the discover of America

2008-11-17T17:25:00.006+01:00

It's basically a group of three huge concrete sculptures with embossed inscriptions and figures designed by Joaquin Vaquero Turcios and installed in Colombus square in 1977... Each of the "stones" as a symbolic meaning: Profecy, Genesis and Discover.

¡watch the birdie!...

2008-11-13T12:10:00.002+01:00

This girl was taking the classic tourist photo to her family in Jeronimos access stairs... I like how they came out!!!... :-)

New and Old overlayer...

2008-11-12T13:25:00.006+01:00

The Jeronimos church and the new Moneo building (Prado museum ampliation) superimposed... This view is of complex comprehension, much criticized by many, but from my point of view very rich... it gives complexity to the urban landscape; isn't this what "the city" is all about?... layers over layers of time and space and life - and what ever you fill like - on the same place?!...

Inside Los Jeronimos

2008-11-11T11:02:00.004+01:00

Since in the last few posts I'm showing some Madrid interiors here is one more... :-)
It's the church of "Los Jerónimos", this beautiful temple that originally dates from 1505, assumes it's actual appearance in the late XIX century cause of the serious damages inflicted by Napoleon troops in the beginning of the same century. The cloister was integrated on Prado museum ampliation by Rafael Moneo. On its large history, 500 years, it has been, church, convent, hospital, headquarters, warehouse...

Ooohhh!!...and before I forget this is my 150th post... :-)

...in MNCARS belly...

2008-11-10T10:49:00.003+01:00

The new MNCARS building by Jean Nouvel, has some very interesting spaces, here the bar/restaurant under the concert hall; the ceiling you see above is literally the belly of the concert hall.

SkyWatch Latina Skyline

2008-11-07T10:57:00.006+01:00

Latina is one of the oldest and more charismatic Madrid neighborhoods... It's impossible to walk on it's streets and squares and don't fall in love for this part of the city... the dome on the left is San Andrés (Saint Andrew)... have a nice weekend every body.

Old Atocha Station Interior

2008-11-06T11:35:00.003+01:00

The old Atocha station building was (re)built around 1890 after a fire in the original building from 1851; the author of the project was the Gustave Eiffel pupil Alberto de Palacio. The station was 152 meters long and 40 meters large. The old building is now converted in a 4.000 Sqm of covered tropical garden, and comercial center.

11M Monument Core...

2008-11-05T18:29:00.003+01:00

Well someone asked me how the monument was on the inside?!... well here is it... a big dark empty room... and in the center of it, the dome... It sure makes you think...

11M Victims Monument

2008-11-03T16:28:00.003+01:00

It's placed right in front of Atocha Station; The 11M monument is there to remember the victims of terrorism. Made with glass bricks (the biggest ever made) it has 11m and it's the work of FAM architects. In the interior of the monument an 'amorph' dome shows many of the spontaneous messages that people left (in many languages) in the days and months after the 11M/2004...

My first skywatch post...

2008-10-31T11:00:00.005+01:00

I was walking down Huertas street and there was this beautiful sky above me... I thought I have to share this with other fellows bloggers, with skywatch friday... And as Madrid as such a beautiful sky I thought why not... and here I'am with a friday skywatch post...

Chating in the big pond stairs...

2008-10-30T14:44:00.004+01:00

The light was so fine and so warm in the other day afternoon that I didn't resist in "stealing" this moment from this couple.

Edificio Girasol (Sunflower Building)

2008-10-29T19:56:00.009+01:00

The Sunflower Building, is a modernist architecture building designed in 1964 buy the architect J. A. Coderch. The name of the building cames from that, literally, the building opens to the sun trajectory and is closed on is northern face (as in the photo)... From this facade it really look abstract, I love it.

Retiro's Crystal Palace with Duck...

2008-10-28T18:02:00.006+01:00

Walking in the the Retiro park the last week end I couldn't resit to photograph this fellow... At first I thought it was interested in the camera but then I realize that it was waiting for some food and as I didn't have any,it just left... :-)

Kreativ Blogger Award

2008-10-28T17:23:00.004+01:00

¡Another surprise!... I've received the Kreativ Blogger Award from niamh photography, thank you!!!
Now I have some awardee duties, which were to list 6 things that make me happy and 6 bloggers worthy of this award.

6 things that make me happy:

1. Ilenia, muaaaaaaa....
2. my pets
3. my family and friends
4. discuss about almost every thing...
5. architecture
6. photography

6 Blogs worthy of this award:

1. Joel Reynolds
2. Tuzla daily photo
3. My Journey
4. Funabashi daily cell phone photo
5. Oeiras and environs daily photo
6. Dusty Lens

Performance at Chueca...

2008-10-27T16:42:00.003+01:00

Chueca (know as the 'gay' neighborhood of Madrid) is one of the most frequented zones on Madrid nights... It's frequent to see performances and other (every) kind of nocturnal activities... This one was announcing and promoting a telecommunications company... the atmosphere was great...

Old reflexes in New...

2008-10-24T18:26:00.010+01:00

Downtown Madrid in some little streets new buildings have take the place of some older ones... But somehow there always present.

Garcia Lorca Tribute

2008-10-22T09:36:00.005+01:00

In the centric Saint Ana Square (between Huertas and Jacinto benavente square) you'll find this tribute to the poet Federico Garcia Lorca... In this square you'll also find the Spanish theatre, a tribute to Calderón de la Barca, and the Luxury hotel Midnight Rose (the building you see on the photo), also knowned as the bullfighters hotel.

My Blogging Friends Forever (BFF) Award

2008-10-21T10:34:00.007+01:00

Today's post is going to be a little different...

yesterday I received a little surprise from a fellow blogger. A prize; a prize that I didn't even know that it existed... I am happy and flattered... Thank you, JM (Oeiras and environs daily photo)!

Now, receiving this award gives me the opportunity to choose 5 blogs and give the award myself, following the next rules:

1. Only five people allowed
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award

Now, my chosen blogs are:

4.Maiscio

Cybele Statue Fountain

2008-10-20T15:34:00.006+01:00

Right in front of the Old post office, on Castelar Square, there is the Statue Fountain of Cybele (Cibeles in Spanish)... The Fountain (designed by the architect Ventura Rodriguez) dates from 1782 and was first in front of the Prado museum. In the year 1895 it was moved to it's actual place.