School in the morning of course. Got out a little earlier than usual and went down to the library to wait for Amanda and we thought Catherine in order to buy train tickets for a day trip to Segovia on Saturday. Amanda made it but through a series of strange miscommunications Catherine does not. In fact she changed her mind completely.
In the end it all worked out, but waiting in the hot library for answers was a little tiring, especially when it turned out we couldn't buy the tickets then anyway!
Patricia had made sandwiches for us as we were going on a short trip to Escorial in the afternoon...we went home had these sandwiches, and then I walked Megan through purchasing the tickets for us for Segovia..she sent them on to Maria Carmen who printed them for us.
Then we rested until 2:40ish when we left to meet Megan at the Moncloa Station where we would catch a bus to El Escorial, the Monastary-Palace in San Lorenzo.
It was just under an hour from Madrid stops included and was just beautiful. The weather in the past two days has cooled off some which has meant you can go outside and survive without melting for over 15 minutes. San Lorenzo is up in the mountains a little so it was much, much better.
We all got a coca cola and then walked to through the very quiet streets to the Monastary-Palace. Couldn't take pictures, sorry.
El Monastario de San Lorenzo del Escorial was commissioned by King Felipe (Phillip) II in ... As a monument to his victory over the French in one of the many wars between the countries on the day of Saint Laurence (San Lorenzo). It served as both a summer residence for the royal family and as a Monastary. Almost all of the Hapsburg and Bourbon Kings are entombed in the crypt along with the Queens who bore future kings and many Infantas (the royal children who would never be king/queen). It is absolutely enormous with basilica, library, royal living quarters, etc. and possess incredible views. (There was a wedding in the basilica which meant we couldn't enter, but you could hear the music)
There are many famous works of religious artwork, including several paintings by El Greco. There is an entire Hall with murals on every surface depicting famous battles Spain won under the reign of Felipe II. You could spend hours looking at all the details...you all should look up pics.
Following our several hours of exploration right up to the closing we went off in search of something to eat. The little town had come alive with people and music. We quickly settled on a place. Sangria, pasta and lots of dessert! (it was hard to resist these as their placemats had pictures all over them)
After we had eaten, enjoying the music from a small concert in a park right accross from us we walked back to the bus station for the 10:00 ride back to Madrid.
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