Royal Palace of Madrid

Palacio Real de Madrid, Spain

Royal Theater

Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain

We are now at Plaza de Oriente. The statue of Philip IV stands in the middle of the square. The Royal Theater in the picture is a major opera house in Madrid.

San Ginés Church

San Ginés Church, Madrid, Spain




Inside of San Ginés Church, Madrid, Spain

Santa Barbara Church

Santa Barbara Church, Madrid, Spain

This Church was founded by Barbara de Braganza. She was a Portuguese Princess married with Fernando VI, the King of Spain.

Santa Barbara Church, Madrid, Spain

In Spain Kings are buried in El Escorial. Queens are also buried there if they have been mothers of Kings. Barbara de Braganza and Fernando VI didn't have children. Therefore Barbara de Braganza was buried in this Church.

Santa Barbara Church, Madrid, Spain

Fernando VI was so in love with Barbara that he preferred to be buried in this Church rather than in El Escurial.

Basilica de San Francisco el Grande

Basilica de San Francisco el Grande, Madrid, Spain

Puerta de Toledo

Puerta de Toledo, Madrid, Spain

Plaza del Angel

Plaza del Angel, Madrid, Spain

Santa Ana Square

Plaza Santa Ana, Madrid, Spain

Wine and Tapas

Txakolina, Calle Cava Baja 26, Madrid, Spain

Plaza Mayor with Statue of Felipe III

Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain

Plaza Mayor of Madrid

Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain

The Fountain in Poerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain

Tio Pepe - Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain

Tio Pepe is the best selling brand of Sherry.

Let's have an afterwork walk

Telefónica, Gran Via, Madrid, Spain

Another week in Madrid

Good Morning! Welcome to Madrid.

Volunteer Park - Seattle

Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington State, USA

This is the water tower of the park.

Green Lake

Green Lake, Seattle, Washington State, USA

International Fountain

Seattle, Washington State, USA

Seattle SuperSonics - NBA game

KeyArena, Seattle, Washington State, USA

This was my first time watching a NBA basketball game: Sonics vs Timberwolves. At that time Seattle SuperSonics were based in Seattle. Following the 2007–08 season, the team moved to Oklahoma because was sold to an investment group based there.

Andechs Monastery

Andechs, Munich Great Area, Germany

Today a colleague of mine told me about a very strong religious beer that he drunk in Munich. Actually I know what he is talking about. Let me tell you the story.

One time, when I was in Munich, I went to a 15th century Baroque Monastery located in Andechs. There are still Benedictine Monks living there. To reach the Monastery I had to walk up the hill. The way through the forest make me feel like in the 15th century :-) Unfortunately visitors are not allowed to get inside of the Monastery.

Nevertheless it is possible to visit the church :-)

Now comes part two of this story: the beer. As you know Monks used to fast during long periods in the Lenten Season. This abstinence only allowed bread and water. Soon they started to complement this diet with strong bear (liquid bread). Nowadays this bear brewed by the Benedictine Monks is very famous.

Path to the Monastary

Barajas Airport Out of Action

Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain

The airport was closed by snow. It was a long day waiting for my flight back to Lisbon.

Snow and Sun

It was an incredible week with snow and sun :-) Look at the following pictures taken to Supreme Court of Spain.



Supreme Court of Spain, Madrid, Spain
Tribunal Supremo de España, Madrid, España



Supreme Court of Spain, Madrid, Spain
Tribunal Supremo de España, Madrid, España

Good Morning with Snow

Madrid, Spain

Today is snowing in Madrid :-)

Let's go out

Menu de Els Quatre Gats, Picasso

Have a good evening.

Supreme Court of Spain.

Supreme Court of Spain, Madrid, Spain

Sunny and Cold Day!

Temperature: -3ºC

Degas in Madrid

Very nice coincidence! One week in Madrid and the opportunity to see the exhibition Degas El proceso de la creación at Fundación Mapfre. It was the last day, however there are two excellent exhibitions still available over there: Entre dos Siglos and Nicholas Nixon, Las Hermanas Brown 1975-2007.

I was not allowed to take pictures therefore I am posting the Degas’ famous wax sculpture, also present in the exhibition: The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. The majority of critics didn't like when it was shown in 1881. After the dead of Degas, the sculpture became widely appreciated.

Cabalgata de Reyes 2009

Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid, Spain

I stepped out the office to see the Epiphany Parade 2009. The street was so full of people that I could only see nuestros hermanos :-)

Welcome to Spain.

Moutains, Spain

The picture was taken while flying from Lisbon to Madrid.

Kirkland Harbour

Kirkland, WA State, USA

Kirkland

Kirkland Marina Park, Kirkland, WA State, USA

Welcome to 2009!

Mount Rainier National Park, Southeast of Seattle, WA State, USA