Last Gasp....Madrid

We were collected on time by our Grand taxi (not so grand, old Mercedes) driver in Asilah and delivered to the Tangier airport in plenty of time for the flight back to Madrid. We found our new home in the Lattino district of Madrid, very well let dated, squeaky clean and tiny! 

A short walk took us right into Plaza Mayor, and there was no doubting that we were back in Spain. 

Sucking pig anyone?

Chocolateria San Gines is located just off the plaza and is open 24 hours a day. Churros con chocolate, mmmm.

Mike selecting his cut at Museo del Jamon.

Madrid was jumping on Saturday night. Lots of dressed up characters in the plazas to pose for photos with.

A bit busier than usual perhaps with this demonstration in a Plaza del Sol.

The oldest restaurant in the world, also situated just off the Plaza Mayor.

We had wondered why there was so much rubbish on the streets near our house when we arrived yesterday.

Well, we are staying right in the middle of the El Rastro flea market that is at its busiest every Sunday, but also on other days. It was packed! Spot Helen in the crowd.

This photo is taken from our front door, the queue is for the bar over the road, El Capricho, which all the locals said served the best seafood tapas. 

Plaza Mayor on Monday morning. Yep, we still have had beautiful weather, though it is a bit cooler in the evenings.

Lining up for the 'free' entry to the Museo Prado on Sunday evening. This queue went right around the building, but we did get in and had time to see most of the masterpieces.

Walking home.

Via another Museo Jamon where the beer is cheap.

Mondnay morning coffee stop at the La Torre del Plaza Mayor. 

Lining up,for the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, for another freebie session. We had plenty of time to check out the musical clock over the road.

But the queue moved quickly once doors opened at midday. Some of the masterpieces: 

Degas

 Van Gogh (my favourite)

Lichtensein 

Parque de el Retiro in the afternoon.

Madrid RENFE railway station.

Last bit of culture, Museo Reina Sofia, in the evening for yet another 'freebie'. Picasso's Guernica is the big draw card, but also lots of other well known masterpieces.

Toulouse La Trek

Dali.

More Picasso

Mike, Helen and Marg do Spain! Olé!

Mercado San Miguel, tapas were on the menu.

Catedral de la Almudena

Palacio Real.

Even the swans in Madris have that flamenco feeling.

Plaza Espana.

Plaza del Sol.

It's All Saints Day today, Tuesday, so a bit of an extra long weekend. Many locals celebrated Halloween throughout the weekend. 

Farewell Espana. 

Morrocco Day 20- 21 Asilah

I We caught the  bus from Chefchaouen to Tangier. Despite our concerns about not getting a seat, everyone was seated except the ticketing guy who hid below window level as we passed through police checkpoints. After a steep downhill out of town we passed through windswept agricultural towns with lots of rubbish flying around.

At Tangier we swapped to a grand taxi, and for a fixed price, were whisked away to Asilah, a small coastal village, about 30 kms south. 

Horse carts are available to take you around town, but we waited at the gate to be met by our local contact who led us to our final Airbnb in Morocco. Well it was a bit of a disappointment after the standard of places we have stayed in. Clean enough, but nothing worked...wifi, t.v, washing machine and the beds a bit firm. But it is well located, just outside the medina walls.

Rosie was here 16 years ago and had told me to look out for the biscuit man. Well perhaps it is this guy who says he has been selling biscuits made by his wife for 29 years, and yes, they were delicious.

Asilah has the reputation of being a bit of and artist colony after a community project in the 70s had local children paint murals on the inside of the medina walls. There was a bit of artwork on display but , to me, it was all a bit amateur and not very nice. 

 

The medina itself is tiny, and was also pretty empty, this being the end of Autumn when all the summer tourists have gone home. Lots of the houses in the medina were locked up, apparently many have been purchased and renovated by Spanish and other expats. 

There are several examples of the hidden Windows where women could observe the goings on outside their houses without being seen.

And some more lovely doors to add to my collection.

The view from our terrace, with our nearest mosque within touching distance. Yay for early call to prayer!

We have been so lucky with the weather, so far for the whole trip we have only had one wet bit, and that was the first day we had the car in Spain when Mike was driving through the mountains. Since then it's been hot and sunny every day. 

But here we have wind, so walking around was not as pleasant as it could be. In fact, Asilah itself has been a disappointment, there's a lot of rubbish outside the medina and nothing much to do or see here. Lots of semi built holiday developments along the coast but the beaches also had lots of rubbish and rubble. Perhaps it's different in peak season. But, the good news, we did find a bottle shop.

View towards the 'new' town. 

One last wake up with a semi tuneful call to prayer and it's back to Spain for a couple of days of culture before heading home.