Category ArchiveEverywhere Once |

Sunset on New Bridge

by Brian on April 14, 2014 in Europe, Spain

Shannon and Puente Nuevo in Ronda, Spain

One of the easy things to love about the world outside the U.S. is how old everything is in comparison. We Americans date our existence as a nation to the year 1776. A lot has happened since then.

Magical Madrid, a Surprising Budget Destination

by Brian on April 11, 2014 in Europe, Spain, Travel

One of the most shocking things about Madrid is how affordable it is, especially for a major Western European city. Compared with places like Paris, London, and even some of the surrounding cities in Spain, Madrid struck us as an absolute bargain.

The Fountain of the Fallen Angel

by Brian on April 9, 2014 in Europe, Spain, Travel

Fuente del Ángel Caído, Madrid Spain, Fountain of the Fallen Angel

Sculptor Ricardo Bellver’s 1877 statue was inspired by a passage in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.”

We’re big fans of the unusual and the unique. If it happens to be taboo, too, then all the better. As one of the only public tributes to Satan anywhere in the world, Fuente del Ángel Caído (Fountain of the Fallen Angel) in Madrid’s Buen Retiro Park scores on both counts.

Rising an appropriate 666 meters above sea level, the statute of an angel bound by a snake, hair seemingly ablaze, falling backwards from the heavens is a striking sight. Even more so when the clouds cooperate the way they did on our visit.

But when our camera unexpectedly failed while shooting Lucifer, we decided we had lingered long enough.

Spain Suits us Muy Bueno

by Brian on April 4, 2014 in Europe, Spain

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Apologies are perhaps in order. It’s not nice to try to trick our readers, even on April Fool’s Day and even if very few of you fell for our little joke. So we’re sorry for that (if only just a little).

Nor was it good form to slander Europe, especially considering that most of our “complaints” weren’t at all applicable to Madrid. Except the small coffee thing. That is totally true. And it is something we really are struggling to adjust to.

In all other respects, though, we fell for Spain like an old flame.

We’re Out’a Here!

by Brian on April 1, 2014 in Europe, Travel

We’ve been in Europe for exactly one week and we can’t wait to get back home. We just can’t take it any longer.

Everything is so different from what we’re used to. The television channels are all in some strange language and it’s impossible to get something to eat at a proper dinner hour. Of course when we finally do get served, sometime around 10:00 p.m. (or should I say 22:00 – which is metric, I think) the portions are so small that we have to order three plates each. And don’t get me started on the thimble-like coffee cups. What’s with these tiny little servings? Haven’t they heard of Super Size here?