Reunited in Madrid

Julia met us in Madrid, a vibrant and friendly city with great open spaces and amazing food. Some highlights were Campo del Moro Park, Sabatini Gardens, Casa de Campo Park, El Retiro Park, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. A real gem Steven arranged was tickets to the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC, donated to Spain by the Egyptian government to prevent it from being flooded after the construction of the Aswan dam. We also had a tour of the Royal Palace--so opulent with many little rooms that are hardly used today. The markets were a must-see and did not disappoint. Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado San Anton, and Mercado de la Paz all had many great tapas to try. The most impressive flea market, dating back to 1740, was the Mercado El Rastro. It was packed and went on for many blocks. We scored some souvenirs. Julia arranged our visit to Toledo, the original capital city of Spain (about 40 minutes south of Madrid by train). It was oozing with historic charm and had plenty of churches, cathedrals, mosques, and synagogues to tour. All in all, the best part was being with Julia.