Date: Tuesday, 7 October 2003
Subject: Madrid on foot

Hello,

I spend the last two days strolling around Madrid on foot and truly enjoying this marvelous city. My hotel is situated 2 minutes by foot from the museums and from the center of art in this city. I wandered around the Playa Mayor yesterday and was able to see historic Madrid. I bought a 2-day pass on the double-decker bus to see the sights.

The parque del Ben Retiro is an oasis in the city where cars are not allowed. There are even monuments inside, including an ice palance made of glass and metal. Madrid has this touch of the 19th Century and the city plan is completely beautiful. The Paseo del Prado and the Calle de Alcala, two major avenues where the most beautiful plazas are linked together like a chain one after the other. It is all very beautiful.

I visited the musem of the Prado this morning and now I'm off to Toledo.