Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2020/07/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yesterday I started my summer break with a day trip to Madrid. This was my first trip away from Alicante since I returned from Croatia in early March, and my first use of any kind of public transport since then. In fact, I originally planned to drive, but in the end the convenience and speed of the train won out; the high-speed AVE train covers the 450 km to Madrid in about 2 hours 20 minutes, almost twice as fast as driving, and obviously less tiring. So I took a 7 a.m. train to Madrid, spent a couple of hours in the Museo Reina Sofia looking at contemporary art, followed by a walk in the Parque de Buen Retiro, then a visit to the recently re-opened El Prado to re-visit some of my usual favourites from the past, such as Vel?zquez, Goya or Bosch. Then I walked to the Puerta del Sol square, which was much less crowded than on an average summer day, but then again, it was 40C (104F in US money) at that point, and hanging out on a square with no shade whatsoever was not an attractive proposition. So I walked down one of the main shopping streets that emanate from this square, and happened upon this group of young people and their dogs outside the Corte Ingl?s department store: https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-xkhBJ2H/A <https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-xkhBJ2H/A> They were collecting money for animal rescue in one of the few places in Madrid that had sufficient footfall to make such efforts worthwhile. And the dogs certainly attracted attention and money: https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-kBKv5c6/A <https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-kBKv5c6/A> Including from me. I emptied my pocket change into the jar held by the young woman on the left, and then got her to pose for a quick snap. The dogs were obviously more interested in the sandwich the other volunteer was unwrapping: https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-ZFkJQdv/A <https://www.greatpix.eu/All/Picture-A-Day/i-ZFkJQdv/A> It was nice to be in the big city again. I walk around the totally deserted Plaza Mayor too, Madrid?s main tourist trap?except that this year there are no tourists and the locals don?t go there much. Many more pics to come. Cheers, Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu <http://www.frozenlight.eu/> http:// <http://www.greatpix.eu/>www.greatpix.eu PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws <http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws>Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/ <http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/> Cycling: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator <http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/belgiangator> YNWA "I?m not arguing, I?m just explaining why I?m right"