Jamon for Sale

There is a quality scale associated with the Jamon.  There are four varieties and prices reflect quality.  The best jamon is called Jamón Iberico de Bellota - these black pigs are free-range, acorn-fed, Iberians.  When walking the streets of Madrid you will pass many, many delicatessens selling Jamon hanging in wraps.  The Jamon is sold as an entire leg or shoulder and there are special cutting boards and knives used to shave off thin layers of the ham for serving.

Jamon, Manchengo, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Crackers

Manchengo cheese is also a favorite among Spaniards.  This cheese is made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep of the Manchenga breed and is aged for between 60 days and two years.

Manchego has a variety of different flavors depending on its age. There are three versions of maturity sold:

• Fresco – the fresh cheese is aged for only 2 weeks, with a rich but mild flavor. Produced in small quantities, it is rarely found outside Spain.

• Curado is a semi-firm cheese aged for three to six months with a sweet and nutty flavour.

• Viejo, aged for one year is firm with a sharper flavor the longer it is aged and a rich deep pepperiness to it. It grates well but can also be eaten on its own or as tapas

Catedral de la Almudena

Just past the Palacio Real is the beautiful “Catedral de la Almudena.”  When the capital of Spain was transferred from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the seat of the Church in Spain remained in Toledo; so the new capital – unusually for a Catholic country – had no cathedral. Plans were discussed as early as the 16th century to build a cathedral in Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, but construction did not begin until 1879.  Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War, and the project was abandoned until 1950, when Fernando Chueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a baroque exterior to match the grey and white facade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. The cathedral was not completed until 1993, when it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.

Plaza Mayor

Onward we make our way to the Plaza Mayor for fresh sangria and live entertainment. Capable of holding 50 000 people the plaza was built on a grand scale. During its history it has been used as: a market, open-air theater, bullfighting ring, a place where executions and tournaments were held though nowadays its mainly used as a place to relax in the sun and enjoy the fresh air.

Below, please enjoy a few more photos of my stay in Madrid.

Casa de Correos

One of the first places we visited was the famous landmark “kilometer zero” in the even more famous Puerta del Sol.  The Puerta del Sol is the geographical center of Spain.  There is a  building known as the “Casa de Correos” which is the headquarters of the
Community of Madrid Autonomous government.  This would be equivalent to our State Capital.   Above this building is a famous clock tower that all Spaniards looks towards on New Year’s Eve.

Kilometer Zero

Much like the ball in Times Square is our symbol for the beginning of the New Year.  In Spain a person eats one grape to countdown each of the twelve chimes.  Directly in front of this building is a stone slab which marks “Kilometer Zero.”  This is the starting point for the 6 main highways in Spain.

Bear and the Tree Statue

Directly opposite the building is the most important statue in the square that of the “Bear and the Madrono Tree” (“El Oso y El Madroño”) .  This is the symbol of the city of Madrid.

Continuing our walk through the cobblestone streets of Madrid I find myself standing in front of an ENORMOUS building.  I never thought anything would top the Palace of Versailles in France for size but this building does.  It is the “Palacio Real” or Royal Palace.  It is the largest palace in all of Europe.  It has 2,800 rooms, over 110 doors, 870 windows, 270 balconies, 44 staircases and a banquet hall with a table that can seat 140 people!  It was used by the Kings and Queen of Spain from 1734 until 1931.  It was originally commissioned by Felipe V in 1734 and construction took 26 years.  During that time two more kings, Carlos III and Carlos IV also influenced the design and decor.  The current King of Spain, Juan Carlos I lives in the more modest Zarzuela Palace outside of Madrid, but the Palacio Real is still used for state occasions.

The Tower of London – kind of misleading name, it’s only about 3 to four stories tall, but it’s a series of several castles, walls, moats and towers. Through the years it served as a royal residence, and a place to store the Crown Jewels (they are still on showcase there today), a high profile prison and a torture chamber. For Eric and I it was the highlight of our stay in London. The tower included collections of weapons, armour, royal crests, jewels and more. If you are an English history, war or royalty buff, this place is a must see! We spent several hours here, walked the fortress walls, and really soaked (literally) in the whole experience. It’s in amazing condition considering it’s nearly 1000 years old.

Green Park

We started our day at Green Park just across the street from our hotel.  Green Park is one of the Royal Parks of London.  For centuries the park has been used by royalty, aristocrats and saints.  The Park was first recorded in 1554 when Sir Thomas Wyatt led a rebellion in protest against the marriage of Mary I to Philip II of Spain. The area was meadowland used for hunting and the occasional duel.  In the park there are various monuments including the Canada Gate, Canadian WWII Memorial, Australian WWII Memorial and the Dominion Gates.

St. James Park

From Green Park we walk slowly through St. James Park towards Buckingham Palace.  The park was just coming alive with spring on fast approach.  Early spring flowers and vibrant blades of grass sparkled in the dew.  There were beautiful swans in the lake and birds were chirping all around.  It was such a beautiful and peaceful walk.

Buckingham Palace

We then found ourselves standing outside Buckingham Palace.  The Queen’s Guard at buckingham stand watch wearing their famous tall, black, bearskin hats.  The flag was flying over Buckingham which is a signal to everyone that the Queen is at home.  There were mobs of people gathering for the changing of the guards ceremony set to take place at 11AM.  We then made our way towards the most iconic symbol of London, Big Ben.

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Big Ben is part of the Palace of Westminster originally started in 1020. The palace was burnt down in 1834, so the Gothic architecture of today see is comparatively recent.  The palace houses both of the the UK’s ruling bodies, the Houses of Parliament and the House of Lords.  When parliament is sitting after dark, a light shines from the top of Big Ben’s tower.

Westminster Abbey

Like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey was at the top of the list of “must-see’s” for our visit.  The building was erected by Edward the Confessor in 1065, when he set his throne in the neighboring Westminster Palace. Westminster Abbey has become the setting for coronations, burials, funerals and marriages. Westminster Abbey is England’s main religious building. Many kings and famous people are buried there.

London Eye

Next on our journey we walk over the Westminster Bridge to wait in line (or queue) for our trip on the London Eye.  Built as part of the year 2000 millennium celebrations, it is now one the most popular attractions of all.  Essentially the proposition is a very simple one. Ride a giant big wheel 443 feet high taking 30 minutes to travel one revolution.  Eric and I really enjoyed seeing London from the top of the Eye.  We could see forever and the skies were surprisingly clear the day we toured.

London Hilton Park Lane

Today we landed in jolly ol’ Great Britain and were greeted with cloudy skies and drizzle (as expected). Our overnight flight from Raleigh-Durham International to Heathrow International was long but uneventful. We checked in to our 5-star luxury accommodations at the Hilton Park Lane hotel and were assigned a wonderful room overlooking the famous Hyde Park of London. This officially kicks-off of wedding/honeymoon celebration and I am so excited to be here!

After sleeping for just a few hours we decided to go find a British pub for drinks and dinner. The skies were clear of rain and only a few clouds remained. We walked through the neighborhood to a highly recommended pub in Mayfair called ‘The Audley’. Eric ordered the quintessential “bangers and mash” and I had their highly touted 9-layer lasagna. Both of the dishes were very good and the atmosphere was just terrific. As we sat at our small table in the corner the bar filled up to capacity with Brits just leaving from work on a Friday evening.

The Audley is an immaculate late Victorian pub that fits perfectly into classy Mayfair. The exterior is clad in pretty pale pink terracotta tiles. Large arched windows with turned hardwood frames are decorated with boxes of flowers and tumbling ivy. Inside is just as lovely. It’s more like a gentlemen’s club than a pub. Dark wooden panels cover most of the walls. There are some intricate carvings and glazed tiles. Original crystal chandeliers hang beneath an ornate plaster ceiling. A long hardwood bar counter serves the two bar areas. This pub was constructed in 1882.