Everyone always told me if ever in Madrid to get my picture made with The Bear…so upon arrival to this bustling city, Cissy & I headed straight to the Puerto del Sol. The statute of The Bear leaning on the Strawberry tree was huge… 13 feet tall and weighed 20 tons. It has been a part of Madrid’s coat of arms since at least 1212, when troops from Madrid were first recorded in history as carrying a flag showing a bear with the seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major, or larger bear in Latin (also known as the Big Dipper in North America). This may come from Ursalia, the name given to Madrid during the Roman period, or it may simply have been a reference to the bears that were common in the surrounding woods at the time. These bears have long been driven out of the area, if not completely eliminated.

The past couple of days in Madrid have been both interesting and fun…. watching its 6.5 million people filling the streets each day to shop and get out of their small apartments to go to work or simply walk in one of the many parks. We were content to sit at a local sidewalk cafe and marvel at the amazing architecture of the buildings that date back 700 plus years. Our visit to the famous Prado Museum totally captivated us for hours with the masterpieces from the 1400s forward. Even if you’re not an art enthusiast, this museum is full of treasures that make you fall back in time.

The rooftop views both evenings were awesome and the sunset last night showed the city in its best light.

On to Lisbon and new experiences ….