10 & 11 November 2023
We had a short, 28 minute, train trip down to Madrid yesterday. Of all our train journeys in France and Spain, this was our least interesting as, as well as being very short, most of it was through tunnels.
Madrid has been an assault on our senses. It's streets are crowded. In some streets people are shoulder to shoulder, making walking very difficult.
We've been reflecting on the quiet rural lanes and tracks of the Chemin du Piémont Pyrénéen, the empty green forests of Camino Baztan, the silence in the mists on Monte Faro on the Invierno, and the vast open land and skyscapes of the Caminos Teresianos - which we had all to ourselves.
This afternoon we decided to walk to a park, Parque de el Retiro, to find some peace and space. It covers 125 acres with more than 15,000 trees - but even there, in the central areas of the park, the crowds were massive. We enjoyed wandering the very many lanes though.
There is a huge police presence throughout the city, and the park, which is both reassuring and a little worrying. Before coming to Madrid we received emails from Travel Safe NZ warning of both pro Palestine and pro Israel protest marches, which the email stated have been peaceful but have the potential to become violent, as well as violent political protests. We have seen one pro Palestine march which was very peaceful. Police were much in evidence.
Plaza Mayor, Madrid:
