°•♥•°——B—a—C—k——F—r—o—M——V—a—C—a—T—i—O—n——A—n—d——R—e —A— d—Y——t—O——p—L—a—Y——°•♥•°

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

It's Asian Nicole. Please, take a guess? Where was I flying to? Haha.... It was last year, Oops, 2023? Yeah, it is 2024 now! Happy New Year, Everyone!

From the Pearson Airport (YYZ) To....

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

Madrid, Spain's central capital, is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU). It is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace and Armory, displaying historic weaponry.

Madrid houses the headquarters of the UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB). Madrid is home to two world-famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. While Madrid possesses modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House, etc.

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Plaza Mayor (English: Town square) is a major public space in the heart of Madrid, the capital of Spain. It was once the centre of Old Madrid. It was first built (1580–1619) during the reign of Philip III. The Plaza Mayor dates back to the 15th century where it was originally called the "Plaza del Arrabal" and was used as the main market of the town. In 1561, the plaza was transferred to the city of Madrid. King Philip II commissioned Classical architect Juan de Herrera to remodel the area. Construction did not begin until Philip III's reign in 1617. Juan Gómez de Mora continued on the architectural renovation, and was finished two years later in 1619.

The Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape and highlights the uniformity of the architecture. 237 balconies are present on the three-story residential buildings that face inward towards the Plaza. To enter or exit The Plaza Mayor, there are ten entrances to choose from. Today, it is the location of the annual Christmas market. It has also hosted bullfights and soccer games. Every Sunday and holidays it hosts stamp collecting and coin collecting market in the mornings.

The Felipe III Statue, Madrid stands in the centre of Plaza Mayor depicts King Philip III of Spain triumphantly riding his stallion.

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[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

Jamón ibérico (English: Iberian ham), is a variety of jamón or presunto, a type of cured leg of pork produced in Spain.

According to Spain's denominación de origen rules and current regulations on jamón, the dry-cured jamón ibérico must be made from either pure breed Black Iberian pigs or cross-bred pigs at least 50% Black Iberian mixed only with Duroc pigs, the same restriction as required to keep official ibérico denomination on any Spanish pork meat product.

Jamón ibérico, especially the one labeled de bellota, has a smooth texture, rich, savory taste, and regular marbling. The fat content is relatively high compared to jamón serrano. I love Spanish jamón. I was so glad that I found a store at the Plaza Mayor.

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[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Royal Palace of Madrid is worth a visit. This magnificent landmark has the splendor to match its size.

Before you even enter the palace you are greeted by a massive courtyard within the palace gates. This is a prelude to what is to come. It’s here that you can capture some magnificent pictures of the palace and surrounding area. As you approach the west end of the courtyard there is a series of arches which then provide you with a panoramic view of the city below.

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

From Medieval Alcazar To Royal Palace: The Royal Palace dates back to the 18th century but actually sits on the site of the old Alcázar of Madrid, a medieval fortress converted into a palace which Philip II made the official residence of the kings of Spain in 1561. The Alcazar, decorated with great works of art from the Spanish golden age, was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 1734. Legend has it that members of the court of Philip V, of French origin, started the fire in order to build a French or Versailles-style palace. But it's just that, a legend.

For the enormous task, King Philip V sent for the best European architect of his time, Filippo Juvarra, who never got to see his work finished, something very common at the time, as the works took many years to complete. It was his disciple, Giambattista Sacchetti, who was in charge of adapting his ambitious project. The entire building is made of vaults with no wood in the structure, which would guarantee the survival of a large part of the Palace in the event of a fire, and with many floors to accommodate all the government offices, the official business of the Royal House and the servants. It was a building made to house the country's ultimate power.

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Palace has a total of 3,418 rooms. Even though you’ll only be permitted to tour a fraction of them, the ones that you do visit are well worth it. Each room presents itself like a page out of history and tells a story. On my visit, I liked that each room seemed to have a theme and was unique.

Once you begin your tour of the rooms of the palace, photography isn’t permitted, and they’re very strict on that. But that didn’t detract from my tour, instead, it kept me focused on what I was seeing and experiencing. However, you still can get photos in certain parts of the palace, so don’t worry, you’ll be able to get some great pictures.

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world. It is the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the city of Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has 1,450,000 sq ft of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms.

The palace was initially built by Muhammad I, Umayyad Emir of Cordoba, between 860 and 880. After the Moors were driven out of Toledo in the 11th century, the castle retained its defensive function. Henry III of Castile added several towers. His son John II used it as a royal residence.

If you love history then you’ll find that the Royal Palace of Madrid is worth visiting. Throughout the tour of the palace, you get the chance to find out the history behind the rooms and the palace itself. The palace was completed in 1755 and the three-plus decades of history are present throughout.

View of the palace complex from the east

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

Not only is the palace spectacular, but the surrounding gardens are worth a visit as well.
Sabatini Gardens is a prominent feature of the Palace grounds. It’s a beautiful collection of plants, trees, and shrubbery that is a delight to experience. The entire gardens are carefully manicured. It’s a relaxing place to go for a stroll.

The gardens are meticulously maintained and include various fountains, statues, and meticulously trimmed hedges. The Royal Palace of Madrid Gardens is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering a serene and picturesque oasis in the heart of the bustling Spanish capital.

 

[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Monument to Philip IV (or Fountain of Philip IV) is a memorial to Philip IV of Spain in the centre of Plaza de Oriente in Madrid. It was raised at the insistence of Isabella II of Spain in the first half of the 19th century, opening on 17 November 1843, a year before Narciso Pascual y Colomer came up with the square's final layout. However, its equestrian statue of the king dates to the 17th century and was produced by the Italian sculptor Pietro Tacca. It was begun in 1634 and shipped to Madrid in 1640, the year of his death.

The sculpture, atop a complicated fountain composition, forms the centerpiece of the façade of the Royal Palace. The statue was based in drawings by Diego Velázquez and a bust by Juan Martínez Montañés (who also collaborated on the work). The daring stability of the statue was calculated by Galileo Galilei: the horse rears, and the entire weight of the sculpture balances on the two rear legs—and, discreetly, its tail— a feat that had never been attempted in a figure on a heroic scale, of which Leonardo had dreamed.

View of the park facing the Royal Palace

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[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Plaza de Oriente is a square in the historic center of Madrid. Rectangular in shape and monumental in character, it was designed in 1844 by Narciso Pascual y Colomer. The square was propagated by King Joseph I, who ordered the demolition of the medieval houses on the site.

The Plaza de Oriente is located between some important landmarks in Madrid: To the west is the Royal Palace; to the east is the Teatro Real (Royal Theater); to the north is the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation. The plaza has statues of 44 Spanish kings from the medieval period, including: Alfonso I of Asturias; Alfonso II of Asturias; Euric etc.

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[Asian Nicole]

Hello Gentlemen,

The Teatro Real is an opera house in Madrid, Spain. Located at the Plaza de Oriente, opposite the Royal Palace, and known colloquially as El Real, it is considered the top institution of the performing and musical arts in the country and one of the most prestigious opera houses in Europe.

The groundbreaking of the Teatro Real was on 23 April 1818, under the reign of King Ferdinand VII, and it was formally opened by his daughter Queen Isabella II on 19 November 1850. The Teatro Real received the "Opera Company of the Year" award at the 2020/21 International Opera Awards. The building is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 1993.

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