Madrid, Sunday

We arrived on time at 13:35 at the Madrid Puerta de Atocha station which is in the centre of Madrid near the Prado Museum. We then took a taxi to the other Station Madrid ChamMartin which is a fair distance from the centre. We could have taken either the Metro or the City Train to ChamMartin but given we had so much luggage we hopted instead for a Taxi. We deposited all our luggage at the Consigna por Equipajes and then went to take the Renfe Train back into the Centre of Madrid. The train is cheap at 1.50 Euro per person for a 3 station ride, we got off at Puerta Del Sol which is one of the main Plaza of the city near the Opera house and the big department store El Corte Ingles which celebrates 160 years in business in Spain. In Spain you cannot go wrong with steak or ham, a national specialty. So we went to a favorite of ours in Madrid, De Mario on Plaza Puerta del Sol at the coner with Calle del Correo.

We always sit at the back where they have their dining room with nice white table cloth and full service. Sunday lunch in Spain is like in Italy, a family thing to do and it starts around 13:30 and last until 16:30.

We started with a glass of Pink Champagne and then ordered our food, I had a plate of roasted red peppers with a topping of fresh anchovies and then a filet of steak in a Rochefort sauce. Will had roasted red peppers with caramelized onions and blue cheese on bread, sort of like a bruscheta and then a filet of chicken breast with a mushroom sauce. For dessert nice lemon sorbet. We really like De Mario in Madrid such a nice place for lunch or dinner.

Then we went across the Plaza del Sol to the Dept Store El Corte Ingles for a bit of shopping, they offer 10% off any sales to Foreigners, just for shopping with them. They had their Xmas display up and it was great fun to walk around the 8 floors, we saw Santa Claus and said Holà!!!

We bought a few things, they do have very good prices and in some cases better than back home. I remembered that we spent New Year's Eve and New Year's day 2011 in Madrid and what fun we had, the city is beautifully decorated for the holidays. Would love to return for the Holidays in Madrid, they do celebrate a lot and the weather is just crisp and nice. They have these light displays hung over streets for several blocks in a row and at intersections they use various display of lights, a riot of Xmas colours.

Tonight from the Madrid ChamMartin Station we take the hotel-train Madrid-Paris, there is a full restaurant car and a 3 course meal is served with wines etc... served around 21:30. Arriving in Paris tomorrow around Noon time. We then change trains and take the Euro-Star from la Gare du Nord to London St-Pancras Station. We are spending a few days in London before returning to Winter in Canada.

Sunday in Rome with lunch

We got up early this morning and took the puppies for a long walk on the grounds of the Villa Torlonia which was prior to 1943 the residence of Prince Torlonia and for 20 yrs that of Fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini. The Palace and all other buildings have been restored to the splendor of the time when the Torlonia family used the grounds as their summer residence outside the walls of Rome. The park is quite large and has hills and ravines and statues and ponds and fountains, numerous trees of all kinds and fake roman temple ruins. The puppies love to run and walk all over and smell the grass. They also met other dogs, all are on leashes, this is a rule in this park. It is important for them to get to see other dogs to socialize them. They will be 9 months old this coming week.

We then went to Piazza Spagna (Spanish Steps) to have lunch at what Frommer's and Fodor's describe as one of the best Enoteca restaurant in Rome. The Antica Enoteca (1860) at Via della Croce 76B belongs to a friend of ours a fellow Canadian who has lived in Rome for many years. See web site www.anticaenoteca.com

I had smoke salmon with lemon, then a first course of a Crepe stuffed with ricotta and spinach in a creamy tomato sauce. My second was leg of lamb with roasted potatoes, dessert panna cotta. We had a bottle of Taittinger Champagne, tomorrow is a big anniversary for me and Will. Will had an antipasto of cured meats, cheese, olives, red peppers and artichoke, chicory. He only had a second dish of roast chicken, he skipped the first dish of pasta.

Then we walked back along the Corso which runs between Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo, looking at the stores, we stopped at Schostal which is a men's store, near Palazzo Chigi which is the Italian Prime Minister's office. Shostal has been at this location since 1870 and sell only pyjamas, shirts, ties, gloves, handkerchief, sweaters and scarves, all products are 100% cotton,wool, cashmere or silk. All classic wear and beautiful, service is also old fashioned. I bought a shirt and was given an extra pair of cuffs, so I could change the cuffs should the original wear out before the shirt.

We then went to the Ferrari store, they have all the accessories to go with your car, should you own a Ferrari, there is so much that goes with that look. The store is near the Mausoleum of Emperor Augustus on Via Tomaselli. We have a friend who wanted something from the store and so we went to get it for him. They also have a kid section a bit like GAP kids though this is Ferrari kids.

We came home and within minutes the power went off, we were about to go for a walk with the puppies but found out that we could not open the 2 meter high gates of the driveway since they are electric, it is impossible to scale them and the only other gate at the back is locked and I did not have the key to open it. The portiere is off on Sunday's and the administrator is no were to be found. Luckily a neighbor on the ground floor had a key to the back gate and he opened it for us. When we returned from our walk with the puppies the electricity had returned.

Beautiful day today in Rome about 18C and sunny.