On the 4th day in Madrid, we decide to take a bus tour from Julia Travel. (The guide is in Spanish and English and price is decent.) Todya’s plan is like this. Bus tour in the morning (El Escorial and Valle de los Caidos)—> Thyssen museum—> Shopping!

Around 9am, we get on the bus and it take about one hour. Damn, start raining…=( But we see the pretty rainbow from the bus. I have not seen the rainbow for a long time…

<—rainbow-chan

Now walking to El Escorial from bus parking with raining! No umbrella. Anyway, this place was built between 1563 and 1584 by Felipeâ…¡. There is Basilica, Royal Pantheon, Library, and Museum of Art. Inside it has gold a lots and incredible archirtecture=) When we went to the Royal Pantheon, I was a little bit scared. Actually, I was So scared because many dead Spanish kings were sleeping just next to me…It is like Calros â… , 500 years ago;(

<—Pretty painting by Luca Giordano

<—Chapterhouses, monarchs and angels

<—The bed room where Felipe 2 died is preserved with good condition. From the small window, the king was cheking at Basilica.

<-Royal Pantheon

After visiting el Escorial, we go to the huge cross at Valle de los Caidos. This is memorial the Spanish Civil War. You never imagine that this inside valley is like this. The cross is 150 m high and a basilica carved 250 m deep into the rock. Amazing!

<—Outside

<—inside

In this afternoon, go to Thyssen Museum. More paintings and more Goya, Gogh, and Picasso stuff. Now shopping time. Here in Spain is good for girls. Cute shoes, a lot of ZARA shops with cheper price, leather products! My eyes are heart mark all the time when I walk on the street,hehehe.

On the third day, we take a short trip to go to Aran juez by train. It takes for 40 minutes from Atocha station in Madrid. The transportation fee is quite cheep here. When we get to the Aranjuez station, just walk to the Palace around 30 minutes, not too bad. The place is so pretty. The palae of brick and white stone was built in the 18th century by the Habsburgs and redecorated by th Bourbons. There is several Baroque rooms, Chinese Porcelain Room, Mirrors Hall, and Smoking room. Every room was gorgeous!! It is worth a visit!

<-Royal Summer Palace and Gardens of Aranjuez->

<—piano

<—Smoking room, Arabian design so cute ^^

<—Yellow room and Chinise room

<—Feeling likeQueen=)

<–inside of museum–>

<—garden and Andres—>

After we back to Madrid, we go to the favorite tapas “canas y tapas”. Have some tapas and sangria!! So Yammy=)

a lot of drinkings!

Now the 2nd day in Madrid! Today’s plan is like this:Royal Palace–>Prado Museum–>Museo Nacilnal Caentro de Arte Reina Sofia–>Flamenco show!

We wake up early and get ready fast! Andres finds the coffee shop in front of our hotel. The shop is typical Spanis restaurant. Just have some sandwich and cafe there. Then take a taxi as you know.

The Royal palace’s construction lasted 26 years, wow! The palace was used by the royal family in 1931. Inside is so pretty. Pharmacy, Dining Room, Throne room, Royal Armoury…etc. My favorite room is Phrmacy and Royal Armoury. The collection of weapon and suits. It is my first time to see many collections like this. I found the samurai here,hehehe.

Next place is Prado Museum. My eyses get tired with this museum, so many paintings^^

The last place of today is Sofia museum. The collection is most likely modern arts such as Picasso, Miro, Dali…etc. I have seen so many Picasso’s painting. Most of them are very interesting. He had a good imagination, I think.

Tonight, Andres’ parents invite us to go to ” Cafe de Chinitas” His parents also went there and they liked it. This is the gift from our parents=) Thank you, Mama and Papa-san!! We really have a great dinner and time!!

Our table is just in front of the stage. One guest dancer is so cool. He is the best dancer for me!! I try to dance like him, but my legs don’t move fast=( I never get bored in Madrid. So much things to do!! Let’s go to next day^^

Our Journey started at 6am. Yay~, we are going to Spain. I can escape the cold weather and have good foods! =) Unfortunetely, the snow storm is coming to Denmark so our plane get delayed in Helsinki and in Denmark.

Copenhagen airport

We arrive in Madrid around 4pm without our luggage We lost the luggage somewhere….I am just worried about my cloths and cosmetics at that time but after I see the pretty city, Madrid, I am almost forgetting about that issue,hehehe. We knew that there are a tons of thieves and pickpocket so we decide to take a taxi instead of using public transportations. After 20 minutes by taxi, we get to the hotel calls “Hotel Moderno”. Good location, friendly people and nice service.

First activity is to take a sightseeing bus. You know, that is just basic activity for travelers. I think it is good way to know the city at first day. It is helpful to make a plan for next day. Anyway, we see many attractions for 1.5 hours.

Next activity is shopping time!! There are many shops around the hotel. Oh~~I miss the big city. There are many people and shops. Llove this atomosphere, like my home town Tokyo. Here in Madrid is very good price and cute stuff. I get some soap and cosmetics! It was arount the sol station. At that soap, we get some tips for good restaurant. We follow that advice and find the tapas shop. Tapas is like small snacks. Usually, you can get a few olives, a piece of bread, or some potatos to accompany a drink with free charge. At the shop, there are several kinds of tapas and it is very good combination with beer and wine! At first day, we go two tapas shops. Both of them are quite good. I have a lot of fun today,hehehe^^

My mama-chan sent a package last week from Japan. And I finally recieved it today! It was Awesome:) My favorite magazines, foods, snacks, and Valentine’s gift for Antan!! Thank you, mama-chan^^ I just took the pics because so much stuff was inside. I will go back to japan in whole July so those stuff will be enough to survive until then. OMG, what can I eat first? Which book Should I read first? I think this 2 days I will have a stupid smile all the time like someone,hihihi.

—>

Wow wow, I found the very good offer to flight to Japan. Surprisingly, the total amount was 399 euro, but you have to buy today. Hihihi, I bought it! Now i will be in Tokyo from June 30-July 30. I hope the rainning season is over at that time, let’s see. I can see my friends and my family… I miss them

We go to trave to Spain with Antan for our honeymoon from this Tursday. For that, we did research and made a reservation for the bus tour tonight. I can’t wait. It will be great time! I will report it after we come back.

mOi MoI, I went out with my friends today. Still litte bit cold. We went to “TOKI” to have a lunch first. I ordered “Salmon Soup” which is the Traditional Finnish! The taste was good! I liked it!!

<–Salomon Soup

After the lunch, we walked around the city for 1.5 hours. Now the coffee time! The place we had a coffee was Aalto coffee shop which was inside of the book store. Quiet and good chatting time!! Here is the pic again.

<–Masako, me, and Noriko

I like the Finnish Coffee because it is strong and good smell. Well, it was weekend this week. I had a very good time with them. Sometimes I miss speaking in Japanese…But now I feel so good after so much chatting with my friends

Today we went to Otakut meeting to watch the anime. I love “Air“so much, but they have only 13 episodes. Today we watched 9 and 10 so only 3 episodes are left… Also this anime makes me cry ! ><

After that meeting, we went back home and watched the movie”Kundun” about Dalai Lama 14th. I like this movie. The music is wondrful and scenes contains the great pictures of Tibet. When he was kid, he already had a manhood like making a dicision to make people peace. I also understand about Tibet’s history more.

At 5pm, it is not dark anymore, wow wow. It gets dark around 15:30 last month. I feel like this winter is over! My body and mind is waking up from winter already. I really feel like this. Yesterday, I talked with my mother by skype. She was saying that I don’t need to wear the coat any more. I get sweat. I thought on February is the coldest month in Japan. Nice!

Tomorrow is the Valentine day! One of my favorite day in a year. I am planning to bake some cakes. Very often my cake is not good shape,hehehe. Let’s see this time.