Building day

Today I woke up very tired. To much walking around and culinary excitement the past days? Who knows. Ten minutes later I was downstairs on my way to the Metro, but with no good plan in mind.

Yesterday I thought going to Segovia. My sister gave directions and tips. Somehow I didn’t really wanted to go out of Madrid anymore. On the ride to the railway station I dropped off just before at the Plaza de Castilla. This is where where Puerta de Europa stands, which I really wanted to see.

These twin buildings were build at the busy Paseo de la Castellana, not far from the Charmartín railway station. To me they are quite impressive standing there. Maybe they are the bottom of an X starting going up in the sky.. Imagine how big such a building would be! They incline with 15 degrees and are 115 meters tall. Two ladies to reckon with. Why it’s called ‘Door to Europe’? I think because when you look through it like on the picture, you actually look up north where the ‘rest’ of Europe lays.

Going around the Puerta de Europa I went to Charmartín to get tickets to Segovia. Getting tickets proves to be every time a little adventure in Madrid. Waiting in line I discovered that I had to wait another hour and half for my train. I gave my queue ticket to a guy who was very happy getting more in front, and buggered off. Segovia is for another time.

Strolling down next to the Paseo de la Castellana I went through where Madrileños live their normal lives. Then I saw another tower I really wanted check out closer: Torre Picasso.

To me the Picasso tower is ‘perfection in design’. Straight, no odd colors, simple, nothing extra, nice. She’s 157m high and has 43 usable floors. Don’t get to close with a camera however, guards are quickly outside! Actually, I wanted to go up or ask if at all possible, but since it’s private ground and pictures are not allowed, screw them!

Next I made my way looking for the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas (bullfighting arena), which proved to be quite a walk! I eventually found it, but to much light to make pictures, so I’ll have to go back. Yeah, call me a nerd! Damn sun! On the way however, I found some bizarre, blueish building: Palacio de los Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid. This building-day didn’t make me hungry, but I eventually went to one of these Vips restaurants, or snack bars, whatever.. It’s good there, if you don’t know where to go too and/or hungry. Or just bored like me, at the time.

Tomorrow I’ll go checkout some museums!