Today we took a free tour of the old city of Spain and our guide gave us the entire history of spain in an impressive 10 minutes. I learned so much. I also fell in love with Juan, the current King of Spain. Here is my summary. Military Dictator we hate, he dies and has slotted Juan (also the would be next in line Monarch) to take over, but Juan has been secretly plotting against Dictator and upon taking over, opens up the government and makes it a democracy. The people vote for it to become a Constitutional Monarchy, making Juan their King. 1980s left over military crazy man wants to take over the government and make a dictatorship again, barges into the parliament and holds everyone hostage. Some of his military cronies start taking over towns and all communication gets cut off to the parliament. Meanwhile Juan is like, what are you fools doing? He holds a press conference and is just like, you are my people and you voted me your King and I am not going to let Spain fall back into this, we are a Democracy and I stand with the Democracy. So the military cronies realize that if they don't have Juan this is silly and they back down. But Crazy man in the parliament has no idea what has happened, still thinks he has cronies holding cities, until the next morning when someone slips a newspaper under the door. He realize he has lost, backs down and Juan saves the day. In 2010 there was a TV show about the best Spanish person in all of history where the entire nation voted and Juan won. I love him. And I want to be a Spanish Princess.
We started our tour in Plaza Mayor!
The view while waiting for our tour to start
Cathedral
A Statue. I remember so many details from this tour.
Back in Plaza Mayor
Gorgeous side streets
Church across from the palace, where our tour ended in a climatic explanation of Juan's life.
We went to the palace after the tour was finished and spent some time sitting under the lamp posts, taking a sitting break.
Getting some Spanish sun under the lamps
In the palace courtyard, where Juan still comes for formal state events, although he doesn't live there.
After the palace, we headed to the Temple de Debod. Over 2000 years old, Egypt gave this temple to Spain as a gift. Why doesn't Egypt give me a temple? I have a birthday every year.
Inside the Egyptian temple in Spain.
After the Temple we went back to the Prado and Reina Sofia and then headed to Las Tablas, for our night of Flamenco dancing! We arrived in a large dimly lit basement room and took our place at our black table adorned with a single tea light. We got our Sangria, the lights went out and the musicians took the stage. Three woman took the stage and a man followed shortly. There was an opening scene of sorts, in which everyone danced a short bit. Then they each had their own longer section. It was incredibly impressive! And just so intense! It was one of the highlights of my time in Madrid!!!
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