The Parks and Plazas of Madrid

Parque de Los Olivos, Algete, Madrid Province.

HFF, Everyone! Madrid. Parque de El Capricho. Palacio de Los Duques de Osuna.

A local park, filled with ornamental (ie old and gnarled) olive trees.

Not far from where I used to live.

Parque de Santander, Madrid. My local park until recently.

El Retiro rose garden, Madrid. First shown in 2017. These are my favourite roses. I had them in a London garden but didn't take cuttings before I left and then spent 25 years looking for it! Not easy when I didn't have a name! But the colour is distinctive as is the dark green of the leaves (apparently an indication of an old variety). I did eventually spot it in a Portreath garden (Cornwall) and also a London front garden (in both cases the owners weren't in so I couldn't ask for a cutting) and then, miraculously in the rose garden of the Retiro park, Madrid!

Named after a French actor.. Better on full screen.

I know I've posted this square before but it's a pleasing place. And anyway, back problems mean I don't walk as far as I did even 2 weeks ago so I was pleased to walk this far today.

H. A. N. W. E. everyone! El Jardín del Principe de Anglona,

Madrid's obelisk memorial to its war dead. Not far from the Museo del Prado. It was taken on November 11th, last year but not at 11 am! (Perhaps better on full screen).

Some of you questioned my description of it as a granite monument and I think you were right to do do. I suggested marble but I don't know. It looks like wood here, but it certainly felt like stone underfoot when I was there. I like the tree too! I think it's a chestnut but can't be sure.

These gardens are open untill minight so I thought I would take a twilight look today. I also thought the title was witty!

Another small park (Parque Ríos Rosas) adjoining the Canal Isabel II water company´s works. No, it's not closed because of Covid but because of high winds (Hurricane Alex). I saw the two fences and thought it might work.

Jardín de Nuevos Ministerios. I think it represents watercraft but the notes were impossible to read at that angle and in the etremely bright light. Nuevos Ministerios, Designed by renowned architect Secundino Zuarzo in the 1920s but building work was delayed by the civil war And in the 1940s, Franco wanted changes along more traditional lines so what you see is a mix of art deco and late 19th century norms, It actually seems to work!

Occasionally, temporary displays of modern art are displayed in this garden, I read the notes seen on the wood here, understood not much, even in the English translation, took a photo of the notes in case anyone was interested but the photo didn't come out. But I quite like it! In the distance (mid-pic) can just be seen the cranes at Real Madrid's stadium.

Plaza de Olavides, Madrid (an octagonal 'square'!)

Near the entrance to the Roselada de Madrid. Full screen please.

A pleasing walk along Madrid's River. They sank a motorway below it and freed up the surface to make this totally pedestrian riverside park.