Monday

Third day in Madrid.   Perfect weather: in the 60's during the day and lower at night.   Sunny during the day.   Yesterday I visited the cathedral next to the royal palace.    If you look very carefully about 40% of the way up from the bottom you'll see a small figure with his back to the audience.  That's the organist.   I was impressed by the massive organ pipes that look very art deco to me.   They were brilliant in the sunshine that poured through the window.

Afterwards I went to a huge glass enclosed tapas bar where folks were REALLY rocking out and having a great time.   All age groups and nationalities.   The booze was flowing freely, and so I schmoozed with lots of friendly and happy people.   Then it was on to a light dinner at an outside cafe.

Today I met up with Nat and his husband, Gene, from Boston.   I was an usher at their wedding 4 years ago at the chapel on Harvard campus, with rehersal dinner and reception both at the Harvard Faculty Club.   Today we toured the royal palace, then to Reina Sofia to see Picasso's "Guernica" and other tromping around town.

The boys are looking a little stiff and formal there on the entrance steps to the interior palace, aren't they?   Loosen up, dudes; we're not actually going to shake hands with Juan Carlos, you know.   Tonight as the guys were resting up for tomorrow's adventures, I roam around town and got caught up in a huge protest in Puerto Del Sol.  It was to protest the continuing austerity measures here in Spain.