La Granja

El Palacio Real de La Grana de San Ildefonso is a beautiful and tranquil place. It was built for Felipe V who suffered from depression. The architects styled the palace after Versaille, paying homage to Felipe's French roots. The French baroque style coupled with the Spanish influence make it a lovely balance between the two baroque styles. I tend to think that French baroque is a little too much--too over the top--but tempered by Spanish sensibilites, this palace feels comfortable and much more relatable.

We decided to head to La Granja to escape the heat. Mom and Dad were struggling with the intense Madrid heat (around 40 degrees celcius) and the shady paths were a welcome respite. We were a little sad that the fountains were not active (they only turn them on a few times a year because the pipes are all original) but the inside of the palace was well preserved and quite lovely. The fountains dot the garden at regular intervals and portray mythological themes. My next adventure will be to come when the fountains are on and have a photo shoot with pretty dresses. Anyone interested?

One of my favorite parts of living in Madrid is the signs of spring. I know spring has come when I see the first lizard.

These ants caught my eye as we were exiting the Palace tour. They were carrying this chip to a hole in the wall. We watched them heave it into the hole in complete awe. Such teamwork!