We got up early today to try out the Ritz hotel breakfast buffet and it definitely made getting up early worthwhile. I failed to get my camera fired up but I found a representative picture of the fruit area: It really did look like that! And then there were the breads and pastries, the full leg of jamon they were slicing on command, the eggs, the meats, on and on. So delicious. Tomorrow I will grab some more photos.

They actually serve the buffet until 11am but we had to be ready at 9:00 a.m. to be picked up for our tour of the historic central area of Madrid known as Madrid de los Austrias, so called because this older area was built by Hapsburg monarchs who came from Austria to rule Spain between 1516 and 1700. We met our tour guide, Julio, at the hotel and walked toward the Puerta del Sol, which is considered the center of Spain. Here is a photo of the "zero k" plaque embedded at the Puerta del Sol:

Near the Puerta del Sol is the Plaza Mayor, where they used to stage bullfights and now is a gathering place for Spaniards and tourists alike. Since we were there on Sunday there were many coin dealers exhibiting their wares. We walked some of the oldest streets in the city and went by (but couldn't enter, due to the early hour) the oldest restaurant in the world, Casa Botin. Here is a picture of a model of the kitchen that is displayed in the front window of the restaurant: Those are actual minature ovens, pots, pans, etc. The actual size of the model is probably about 15 inches wide. And here is a model of the dining room. It almost looks real:

Then it was time for us to go to the Prado Museum, which is one of the most celebrated art collections in the world, featuring works of Velasquez, Goya, El Greco, among many others. You could spend a month visiting this museum if your feet could hold up. Mine lasted through the tour, but just barely. This Velasquez painting, Las Meninas, drew the largest crowds: This was groundbreaking at the time since the scene depicts Velasquez painting the queen and the king (see their reflection in the mirror in the background), while their daughter, the Infanta Margaret Theresa, looks on with her ladies in waiting (the "Meninas"), two dwarfs, and her dog. Our viewpoint is not the usual one (the artist's) but the subjects'. Very meta! Cath said it had been described as the "first modern art". And what about that mysterious man exiting the back of the room; I wonder who he was and where he was going.

After our visit to the Prado, Julio took us to a restaurant called Casa Ciriaco, which is certainly the most classic traditional Spanish restaurant I've ever been to, founded in 1906. The waiters deliver massive casuelas filled to the brim with roasted meats and potatoes. Croquetas and meat pies are very popular. Not the type of food we eat normally but quite delicious, and very fun to be in such a traditional restaurant that knows exactly what it is about. And as far as I could tell we were the only non-Spaniards in the place. Here are photos of the exterior and of one of the dining rooms:

After that lunch we needed a nap so we came back to the hotel for a lie down to recharge the batteries. And for a bit of blogging!

Hasta mañana!