Jer: This is the restaurant I meant in the comment I posted on your Madrid and Spain board. Great place! I took this picture 2 mos. ago. You are welcome to use it if you want.
It's funny, when I saw the view from your kitchen window I had never realized that when I used to play chess for the Schweppes Chess Club in the Liga Castellana at the San Miguel cafeteria second floor back in the seventies, that the windows on that street were actually Plaza Mayor apartments.
I've always loved el mercado de San Miguel ever since I was a kid and would go there to spend countless hours playing chess and then go back home late at night cutting across through the Plaza to reach Puerta del Sol and take the Metro home. I wasn't born in Spain, but I've always felt a sense of belonging in Madrid that I've never felt anywhere else...and I've been to some places...I was in the US Navy for ten years and had a chance to see my share of places and I try to visit Madrid as often as I can and take the A-6 to the Sierra and beyond. Madrid has some of the most exciting surroundings of any city in the world. You are very lucky you can share these times with your girlfriend...most of my girlfriends have had a difficult time understanding my love for Madrid...probably because they never had a chance to go there. Now I realize there are many more people that feel my way and I'm not so nutty as sometimes people like to imply...and if I am, I'm in good company!

�Tienes un sitio mol�n, t�o!
�Hasta la pr�xima...y Felicidades!

Rafa

thanks Rafa. wow, we must have heen related in a past life buddy. I feel the same way about madrid. as for the girlfriend thing, it is easier for me since she was born and bread here (jejeje, a pure blooded Madrile�ita me he pillado) and she loves it as much as I do (well...almost).
the truth is that most entrances to the apts. here in the "plaza mayor" are on the side streets. the apartment is great since it goes right through from the cava de san miguel to the plaza, very few of the plaza apartment actually have entrances inside the plaza itself.
I know EXACTLY what you mean about being crazy about this city, i travel a bit and wherever i go "madrid me llama" (madrid calls me) as well. It is a feeling that can't be described. i posted on this type of feeling in my "memorias" of Madrid forum and it seems that others share in it. sounds like you have some great memorias of your own. got a chill down my spine reading your post above.
hasta prontito amigo,
jer...

Hi Jer--Its great to see your web site continue to grow. This site is really something, with all the photos, videos and audio selections. Of course, the real drw is the Plaza Cam. I visited Madrid for the first time in May 2000. After each day of out and about, we ended each afternoon at the cafe in the far corner to the right of your apt. for cervezas frias. I loved watching Madrid from that vantage point. Now, I can check it out all the time! HEY!!, who's that sitting at my table!

welcome aboard Kurt, thanks for the complements on my site, they are what keep me going when i am out of breath from running around this entire city taking photos of absolutely everything i can get my camera lens on! yeah, the plazacam is realy a blast, and i will let the cat out of the bag and tell you that soon it will be on all day, every day, going 24/7 soon! hopefully within a few months when telef...ica brings me my dsl connection. wow, in may of 2000 i had just moved into this apt. and you did not wave to me? �jejeje! yup, nothing like a cold "ca�a" (brewskie?) to take the edge off after a long day of "madriding" (that is a word by the way, i just looked it up in my own persoanl dictionary) and it is only understood by madrid fans! glad i am able to bring you back to your "mesa" and view of the plaza, i just love to serve up great tasting virtual visits of this amazing city.
hasta pronto, jer...

Plaza Mayor

I have 3 very distinct memories of Plaza Mayor.

The first was on our first morning in Madrid and walking into the Plaza to be kept in awe of the beauty and simplicity of the Plaza and to find a Statue of a "man on a horse" which gave us some amusement on that day and many after. The reason was that our friend's Brdie-to-be had left us at our Hostale whith instructions to meet in Sol next to the statue of "man on a horse" for dinner that night, which we thought would be OK, except that Madrid has many, many statues of men on horses. Thank God that we soon became acquanted with Madrid and realised the differences in the Plaza's etc.

The second instance was walking from our Hostale to the Cathedral and becoming involved in a "Nike" promotion complete with Spanish Tennis Stars and a large number of Television crews all interviewing people. It was quite a struggle with my 10 words of Spanish to explain that I couldn't answer their questions. It was good fun any-way.

The third was on the last Saturday of November when we were looking at all of the Christmas lights that had been switched on that night and were throughout the City Centre, when we came upon the Christmas Market in the Plaza and looking in awe at the different pieces on sale.

I can't wait until we return.

David