My first skywatch post...

I was walking down Huertas street and there was this beautiful sky above me... I thought I have to share this with other fellows bloggers, with skywatch friday... And as Madrid as such a beautiful sky I thought why not... and here I'am with a friday skywatch post...

Chating in the big pond stairs...

The light was so fine and so warm in the other day afternoon that I didn't resist in "stealing" this moment from this couple.

Edificio Girasol (Sunflower Building)

The Sunflower Building, is a modernist architecture building designed in 1964 buy the architect J. A. Coderch. The name of the building cames from that, literally, the building opens to the sun trajectory and is closed on is northern face (as in the photo)... From this facade it really look abstract, I love it.

Retiro's Crystal Palace with Duck...

Walking in the the Retiro park the last week end I couldn't resit to photograph this fellow... At first I thought it was interested in the camera but then I realize that it was waiting for some food and as I didn't have any,it just left... :-)

Kreativ Blogger Award

¡Another surprise!... I've received the Kreativ Blogger Award from niamh photography, thank you!!!
Now I have some awardee duties, which were to list 6 things that make me happy and 6 bloggers worthy of this award.

6 things that make me happy:

1. Ilenia, muaaaaaaa....
2. my pets
3. my family and friends
4. discuss about almost every thing...
5. architecture
6. photography

6 Blogs worthy of this award:

1. Joel Reynolds
2. Tuzla daily photo
3. My Journey
4. Funabashi daily cell phone photo
5. Oeiras and environs daily photo
6. Dusty Lens

Performance at Chueca...

Chueca (know as the 'gay' neighborhood of Madrid) is one of the most frequented zones on Madrid nights... It's frequent to see performances and other (every) kind of nocturnal activities... This one was announcing and promoting a telecommunications company... the atmosphere was great...

Old reflexes in New...

Downtown Madrid in some little streets new buildings have take the place of some older ones... But somehow there always present.

Garcia Lorca Tribute

In the centric Saint Ana Square (between Huertas and Jacinto benavente square) you'll find this tribute to the poet Federico Garcia Lorca... In this square you'll also find the Spanish theatre, a tribute to Calderón de la Barca, and the Luxury hotel Midnight Rose (the building you see on the photo), also knowned as the bullfighters hotel.

My Blogging Friends Forever (BFF) Award

Today's post is going to be a little different...

yesterday I received a little surprise from a fellow blogger. A prize; a prize that I didn't even know that it existed... I am happy and flattered... Thank you, JM (Oeiras and environs daily photo)!

Now, receiving this award gives me the opportunity to choose 5 blogs and give the award myself, following the next rules:

1. Only five people allowed
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award

Now, my chosen blogs are:

1.Evry Daily Photo

2.New York Portraits

3.Arona Every Day

4.Maiscio

5.Ivar Ivrig

Cybele Statue Fountain

Right in front of the Old post office, on Castelar Square, there is the Statue Fountain of Cybele (Cibeles in Spanish)... The Fountain (designed by the architect Ventura Rodriguez) dates from 1782 and was first in front of the Prado museum. In the year 1895 it was moved to it's actual place.

Kids with bikes in front of the old Post building...

In a Sunday without cars you can get really unexpected images... thousands of cars pass right through here every day!!!...

Congreso de los Diputados

Yesterdays photograph talked about the Equality demonstration made in front of the Congreso de los Diputados (the Parliament building)... I realize that I was not telling anything about this emblematic Madrid building so...

The Congreso de los Diputados Building, has a neoclassical style. It was designed by the architect Narcisco Pascual y Colomer, and built between 1843 and 1850. It sits by the Carrera de San Jerónimo (San Jeronimo Street) downtown Madrid where before was the holly spirit convent. Just one more thing the bronze Lion you see, are two one on each side of the acess stairs to the building, is the work of the sculptor Ponciano Ponzano and made in the Maestranza de Sevilla in 1866 from the enemy canons of the 1860 war in Africa...

To know more...

Equality Demonstration!!!

Equality demonstration in front of the Parliament (Congresso de los Diputados). This organization fights for children rights after marriage breaks up... Fights for that both parents have the same rights, duties and legal custody of their children... Sounds fare to me...

National Library of Spain by Night

The Biblioteca Nacional de España (National Library of Spain) is a major public library, the largest in Spain. It was founded in 1712 by the king Felipe V (philip V) has The Royal Public Library it changed is name to National Library in 1836. It's current catalog is called the Bibliografía Española. It indexes some 6,000,000 books and journals, 25,000 manuscripts, and 240,000 rare books. Situated on Paseo de Recoletos it shares buiding with the National Museum of Archeology.

To know more...

Alcalá Gate...

The Alcalá Gate, situated on Independence square, was built in 1778 under the order of the king Carlos III, as a monumental gate in the city wall to pass the road which leads to the nearby city of Alcalá de Henares, replacing an older gate which stood nearby.
The Gate work of the architect Francisco Sabatini is one of Madrid most visited monuments.

Across the central arch of the gate, you can see the church I posted some days ago.

To know more.

Inside Maria Guerrero Theatre

Remember I was going to see La Fura dels Baus in Maria Guerrero Theatre!?... Well here is an inside photo of this wonderful theater 1st home of the CDN (National center of Drama)... Opened in 1885 with the name of "the princess theatre" and changed to is actual name in 1931. The piece was wonderful I loved it, shame it was not possible to take photos during the act, but I guess it's fare... If your in Madrid till the 19th of october I strogely recomend you to go and see it...

To know more...

Saint Manuel & San Benito Church

When you get out of the subway in the Retiro's metro station you will find this fine neo- byzantine church. Impossible to miss it...
It dates from 1910 and it's the work of the architect Fernando Arbós y Tremanti. It's a kind of unusual Catholic Church cause of is Greek cross plan and it’s pantheon like section...

...¿Wanna Hat?...

One of the best thinks of walking on Plaza Mayor (Main square) on a weekend morning is that you can find street sellers with some old, nostalgic goodies to sell... You just have to semi-close your eyes to get great images... Have a nice weekend every one!!!...

Teatro Valle-Inclán

In 2006 the CDN (Centro Dramático Nacional (National Drama Center)) inaugurated it's 2nd theater; the Valle-Inclán theater, in the place were before was the Olimpia theatre closed in the early 90's... This new Center, on Lavapiés square, one of the changing zone of Madrid, has to rooms - one (classical style) for 510 pers. and another small one (Italian Style) for 150 pers.

Last Saturday I went to see "URTAIN" on the small room, called Francisco Nieva, Beautiful... Tomorow I'll go and see La Fura dels Baus acting a Godunov piece, I can wait for it!!!...

To Know more...

The Carrión by night...

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The Carrión building (1933), also knowned as Capitol building, is one of the most loved in the "Madrileña" Gran Via (main street)... Located in the Callao square is far visible when walking up from Cibeles square. The Schweppes neon on the top of the building is one of the Gran Via and Madrid best known icons; It's has been showned in numerous films like The day of the best (el dia de la bestia) directed by Alex de la Iglesia.

Click on images to get them large...

October 2008 Theme Day: Lines

Columns as lines... lines sustaining the city...
Just a night, like every other night, having beer, some wine... with friends... "de tapas"...
Madrid life style... who have been here sure knows it...

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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