Madrid, Spain

Easter, 2004 was a special time for me as I made my first visit to Spain to stay with a friend who lives in a town south of Madrid. Having a Spaniard take me around the city was really good as it meant that I could see things that the tourists do not always see. The nine days that I spent there were fantastic, and I shall certainly return to Madrid again.

This photograph is not perhaps one that immedietly springs to mind as being in Madrid, but it is one of the places that has stayed in my memory for it's uniqueness - the Puerta de Europa, the two buildings do lean towards each other at a frightening angle. When one stands at the bottom of the building the top floors are directly above. For me this will always represent Madrid.

Madrid should be called the city of contrasts - during the time I was there I felt that I had seen at least 5 different Madrids, from the old to the ultra-modern:

1. 2.

1. Plaza de la Villa 2. Plaze de Pablo Ruiz Picasso (the Picasso Tower)

Top Left: Otocha Station - the 19th Century station converted into a hot house
Top Right: Plaza de Espaňa
2nd Left: Plaza Major
2nd right: Palacio Real
3rd left: Puerta del Sol
3rd right: Museo de Prado
Bottom left: San Lorenzo de El Escorial - the Monastery Palace of Felipe II
Bottom right: Palacio de Comunicaciones (the main post office)