El Escorial

By popular demand... a photo post!

Yesterday, I went to El Escorial with ISA. El Escorial is the summer home built by (for) Felipe II, as well as housing the burial crypt for the royal family. It was neat to see all the history behind the building. The library houses thousands of ancient books, and the summer residence is home to several fine pieces of art. It was also neat to be reminded that Spain has a king. I know that sounds weird, but it's just so cool to me that such a modern city as Madrid could be the home of a real honest-to-goodness royal family. I'm such a dumb American. The smallest things completely blow my mind.

They don't allow photos inside, but here are some of the outside.

After the tour and some free time to turn our attention to our sack lunches, we headed to Valle de los Caídos. Located some 10 km from El Escorial, this is the gigantic temple of doom where Franco is buried. This gigantic tomb/cathedral is built straight into the granite mountainside. You may not be able to tell from the pictures - you can barely tell standing there - but everything about it is abusolutely huge. It cost a few billion to make, during a time (after the civil war) when many madrileños didn't have the money for food. It's frigid and sparsely decorated interior and morbid iconography remind the visitor of death.

Needless to say, the site of Franco's grave is a controversial subject. But whatever the terrible memories it evokes, the Valle de los Caídos has a certain simplistic beauty to accompany it's slice of Spanish history.

Again, no photos are allowed of the inside, but here's what I've got:

Well, enjoy the photos. I've got a few more that I'll post soon, and I want to get out and take more of Madrid for you.

Until then, I'll keep posting if you keep reading!

Que Dios os bendiga,

-Rebekah