(Pictures with comments on Flickr)There seems to be some competition between the two, but for me the Plaza Mayor wins over Plaza de la Puerto del Sol. First, it’s actually a square; and second it’s totally traffic free! (Traffic goes under it.)At first it did remember me of the Piazza di Marco, but the only thing Plaza Mayor has in common with it, is that it is actually a square or, for the mathematicians under us: a rectangle.

The sides of the square are actually homes; some are even for sale! On the ground cafés and restaurants are trying to gear tourists to some table. Do not eat here however! Go to the La Latina district or the streets just outside the square, it’s much better and people don’t try to lure you in!

The main attraction is the Casa de la Panaderia (bakery), in the middle of the northern side of the square. It has some funny looking frescoes and the two towers host a clock, and.. a barometer! I learned the latter one while zooming in on it with my lens.

Around the Plaza Mayor you’ll find other plazas. Like the Plaza Provinzia just outside with the Palacio de Santa Cruz. A bit further you’ll find the Plaza Santa Ana, apparently famous for it’s night live. Dinner there however proved to be rather dull; having a drink there was nice though.

Till now, the most interesting place around the Plaza Mayor was Calle de Toledo. It’s the southern exit of the square. There is a nicer Argentinian restaurant which serves good food for a fair price.

If you detest street musicians like me, you better don’t go here. They just start playing, making loud ‘music’ while you try to enjoy your dinner. They actually get very annoying, some even angry, when you don’t pay. Make sure they don’t find out you are tourists, or they’ll just press even more for your money. Don’t give in! Just a trick! Well, I payed one..

Make sure to check my pictures on flicker if you want to see where I went. I’m not going to blog every day so verbosely!