On the tour we saw some of the city with all kinds of buildings, new, old, high and low, buildings from the middle age and skyscrapers. It was a good tour with many sights, a good start of the trip. At last we drove to our hotel to settle in and freshen up. After that we went for a walk to get something to eat in an old restaurant at Plaza Mayor, the oldest square in Madrid, and we had a Spanish Tapas menu with eight different dishes, and it was incredibly delicious. All we had eaten so far was a few slices of bread since 03.00 in the morning.
Maybe we were tired after the long day yesterday, but early up for breakfast because the bus would leave at 9 o'clock. In Spain you are not always precise because the traffic is heavy, so we had to wait some time before the bus arrived. We were going to visit the old Moorish royal city of Toledo situated abot 70 km south of Madrid.
Toledo is one of the oldest cities in Spain. Before Christ the romans ruled the town, then the Visigother made the city their capital in 559. From 700 to 1100 the Moors ruled the city. Toledo city is surrounded by deep ravines with the River Tajo on three sides. The city lies very high with a very fine view. The city is a national monument and built in gothic and renaissance style. You can see and feel the history. There are many things to look at, a middle age castle high over the city and a lot of small narrow streets and 1000 year-old city gates and bridges over the Tajo river. People live in the city, there is a lot of life. For many years Toledo was a centre of three cultures at the same time, the Moorish, the Jewish and the Christian, and they lived peacefully together.You can see a mosque, a synagogue, and a Christian cathedral, which is the most important cathedral in Spain. In the vestry there is an impressing collection of paintings by world famous painters such as Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Velazquez and many others.
It was a very fine day with sunshine and 18 degrees celcius.
It was a very interesting visit, well arranged by Soufian, and he was also responsible for finding a Petanque Club in Alcobendas for us. We ended the visit with lunch in the canteen, and after that a bus took us to Alcobendas to play with a local club. We were given a warm welcome - nice to have in a foreign country by people you do not know. Some of them could speak English and we were able to communicate. The club has a very large petanque ground almost the size of a football field. It would be lovely to have such a field at home. We played doubles with the same teams and shifting partners, but all the time Danish against Spanish. The Spanish players were excellent but we did our best and had many good matches, but they were better than us.
Another way of throwing the balls, the advantage seems to be that the ball stops running on the ground after landing.
On the day which should have been our last day we were on a tour around in the city, starting with a visit at the Royal Palace, one of the palaces of the Spanish king and queen. It is very large, 382 rooms, luckily you are not a cleaning lady there. The castle is used on special occations and for major events like the wedding of the crown prince a couple of years ago to a famous TV hostess. The castle is very luxuriously decorated, mirror rooms, rococo rooms, throne room, a chapel and a very large dining room for grand dinners with many great crystal chandeliers, tapestries, chinese vases, tall as a man, and Sèvres china. There is very long distance from one end to the other at the dining table, the sauce will be cold before it arrives at the other end, there are so many chairs, that you need binoculars to see those at the other end. It is an impressing building with many funny details, at some places there are very thick carpets to keep the cold away. The curtains look like carpets, also to keep the heat inside. The curtains are closed as the daylight will ruin the paintings, tapestries, carpets and so on. There are no heating radiators. There are lots of fireplaces. The lighting consists of crystal chandeliers with candle lights, or electricity. A former king collected clocks, they are everywhere, everybody knows what time it is.
After the castle it was time to have something to drink. We went to the Atocha railway station, famous for its architecture. It was like going into a rain forest. The area in the middle was filled with palm trees and tropic trees. A hughe water area with a lot of turtles. That was something of a railway station, and we bought something to drink.
The next stop was Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, better known as the football field for Real Madrid. The arena was built in 1902, and rebuilt in 2002. Then it was named after Santiago Bernabéu, football player and president for Real Madrid. It is very big, the capacity is 120,000 spectators. The arena is in the middle of the town, so when Real Madrid is playing, all the streets around will be closed for traffic to make room for all the cars.
After the football, to the next arena, Plaza De Torros, built in 1929 but recently renewed. There is room for 40,000 spectators. Bull fighting will soon be history, some people in EU want to put an end to it. After a nice tour around it was time to go back to the hotel.
Yes, it should have been the day for going home, but due to the volcanic ashes from Iceland we could not fly home. We had been in contact with our travel agent in Denmark many times and with our agent in Madrid the last couple of days to change the travel schedule since the flight was cancelled. We drove to the airport, we had to leave the hotel, otherwise we could not be covered by the airline company or the insurance company.
Welcome to many people at the airport, long queues, some sleeping on the floor. We had to find Lufthansa Information Desk which was difficult with all these people, they were everywhere. Our group was parked at a place where there was room, and two persons left to look for the information desk. It was not so difficult, it was nearby. There was a long queue, so all we had to do was to wait. At last, the first they told us was that all flight tickets were cancelled, and Lufthansa refused to receive payments for everything. Back to the group to tell about the situation
The only thing to do is contact the agent in Madrid in the hope that they can help. About 3 hours after arriving to the airport we were on our way back to Madrid. The agent had found a hotel to us, and found a place where we could get something to eat, we had to stay one day more and many things must be done, for some of us change of arrangements at home, one of us needed some medicine and some more money. We could not stay in Madrid forever, the agent tried to get us home by train, but there was a strike in France. She found a bus to bring us to Frankfurt non stop, that could be possible if we stayed 2 more days which we chose to do. There was a tiny problem, who could pay up front for the bus 10,000 Euro or no bus. We had to ask Grundfos Spain to pay for the hotel for 2 days and the bus to Frankfurt. At that time we were grateful for being employed in a world-wide group of companies. No one could take us home, and Without our efficient travel agent, we would have been compelled to stay in the airport for days.
Thursday morning, we were told that it was not certain that we could get a flight home. The airports in Denmark were closing, but we would get more information later. At 10 we were told to go to the airport, new tickets were issued, but it was still not cerain that we would get off. Around 15 we knew we could. A little before 17 take off from Frankfurt and arrival in Billund about 18. Finally back in Denmark again, the longing for home may be great. Well arrived at Bjerrinbro it was time to say goodby after a longer trip than planned but nevertheless not so bad after all, we have had a very good journy with a lot of experiences.
Petanque board
Jørn V. Jensen / chairman
Pictures from the tour
Arrival in Frankfurt and some waiting time before the next plane.
Now arrived in Madrid.
Just a look at the newest building in Madrid before arriving at the hotel.
In the picture you see: Ib, Karin, Benthe, Inger Marie, Sv. Åge, Jens Peter and Gudrun.
It is obvious that Madrid is a capital city, the roundabouts are much bigger and nicer than those in Bjerringbro.
A hughe statue in the middle of a roundabout.
Nice, isn't it?.
There are many demonstrations in Madrid against this and that.
This entrance does not say much, but as you see on the next screen, there was really something behind the door.
Welcome inside, here is nice and cosy.
Everyone in place, at last, lunch at 15 o'clock. It was very needed after many hours.
From Plaza Mayor, the oldest square in the city. There are many ways to earn money, he sat so quiet that you could not see him breathe. There were many of his kind around in the city.
Our dinner the first night was at a restaurant were there was Flamenco dancing too.
The old Moorish royal city of Toledo, founded before Christ and was capital in the year 569 until Madrid took over.
An imposing castle on the top of the city.
Here we have a cathedral which is one of the most important in Spain with great riches.
It has not been easy to take the city in the old days with the river arond the city.
Here it is easy to see some obstacles in order to take the city.
The shop is open, there are customers.
Sightseeing and taking fotos in the city.
One of the bridges to the city.
One of many small waterfalls.
A model of Toledo.
Entering the city. The bricks are very big.
A look at the cathedral.
A working shop were the man was making a sword.
Also jewellery was made of gold.
A small collection of the weapons made for sale.
Our guide is telling us about the city.
A street in the old part of the city.
Another example of the narrow streets, not much room for a car.
A form of art, think about the wind getting to it.
New and old things meet in the old city.
Many people live in the city, keeping it nice and clean.
The old royal castle.
A big an a new market place in the middle of Toledo.
They can also bake bread.
And selling beer in the city too.
A souvenir shop for the many tourists coming to the city.
Beautiful pictures in the walls of the narrow streets.
A map of Toledo
Entrance to an old prison, not much place there.
One of the many towers around the city.
A nice, but special place to eat.
A garden outside the restaurant.
and the bar.
The food is prepared in an open kitchen, the cook cannot cheat. It is small pigs, but we were going to eat something else.
Everyone has found a place at the table.
The dish is served.
After the lunch, it is time to take a walk in the garden.
Again, one of the many towers.
Carmen our guide and the driver.
A Spanish landscape.
One of the many market places in Madrid. We had to find the place for our dinner, a new place for every evening.
A restaurant is found, but it is not the right one.
Finally we found the right place, and it looks very good.
The view from the hotel room.
In Algete, with Grundfos. The grafitti paint has also found its way here.
You are not in doubt who is living here.
Algete is placed 80 km north of Madrid. There are 85 people at the company.
Grundfos is placed high over Algete.
The reception at the plant in Algete is grand and fine.
The meeting room where we started has pictures of Poul and Niels Due Jensen on the wall.
The party in front of the Grundfos building. From left Inger Marie - Lisbeth - Sv. Åge - Benthe - Inger S. - Soufian our host from Grundfos Spain, Jørn - Jens Peter - Gert - Ingelise - Karin - Ib - Gudrun and Jørn Jensen takes fotos.
Everyone in the meeting room for a briefing about Grundfos Spain.
A small token from Denmark with thanks for our visit. It was an Easter egg painted by the Queen Margrethe.
On a tour at Grundfos Spain.
Storm P. has also found way to Spain.
There were not many of the 85 persons in the factory that day, they were traveling.
There are many things in stock in order to perform service.
Some new products were assembled.
It is nice and clean everywhere.
but not everywhere.
Outside in the beautiful weather.
Sun cells in the back, providing both Grundfos and the city Algete with power.
Grundfos in Algete participates in some sports.
A last look at the plant before the bus picks us up, to bring us to Alcobendas, where Grundfos was located previously.
At the arrival at the Pétanque Club we were meet by a very friendly man.
The chairman of the club was dressed up nicely.
Now everyone say hello to each other.
Everyone ready for the match. At this point our chaiman Jørn gets a message about an ash cloud over Europe. You cannot get home to Denmark.
Some talk about the way of playing.
There is a good spirit between the Spanish and the Danish players.
Making ready for the matches.
Perfect weather, good petanque ground, they are playing.
Inger is throwing a ball.
The match was narrow.
There was also time to enjoy each other between the fight.
A high game.
Now you have to wait until it is your turn, Spain or Denmark.
A team from each nation.
4 happy persons from Spain who think it was fun to meet someone from a small country. Where is Denmark actually?
The last day was spent on a tour in Madrid.
A park in front of the royal castle.
The square inside the royal castle.
There were many people viviting the castle. It is open when the royal family is absent.
We were lucky to be there before the many people arrived.
When we were leaving the castle, the queues of visitors was long. Luckily we were leaving.
From the railway station Atocha.
Inside the big room there are turtles and exotic palms. Something very different from a Danish railway station.
Santiago Bernabeo stadium in Madrid. It is just huge.
Carmen, our guide in front of the bullfight arena.
It is a very big and fine arena both inside and outside.
People are queueing up to buy tickets.
Some of us on Plaza Mayor.
The beautiful square, Plaza Mayor.
It is obvious that people in Spain often eat out.
Not many are sitting, people are eating and drinking standing.
Minnie Mouse is at the market place, where is Mickey?
Here is Mickey Mouse. He got a nice talk with Jørn.
The reson for some extra days in Madrid.
It is looking very dangerous.
We need to go to the airport to cancel our tickets.
Many others have the same problem.
The group was placed, and now to find the desk for our flight and get at the queue.
Back in Madrid, with a new hotel, and we are now relaxing after the tour to the airport.
There were also clouds over Madrid.
Karin - Ib - Gudrun - Jens Peter and Lisbeth are relaxing.
All the places where the Pétanque Club has been.
Since we do not know when to fly home, we took a bus from Madrid to Frankfurt. 29 hours with two drivers nonstop 2400 km.
Something to eat on the tour through Spain.
A view over a Spanish landscape.
El Toro is to be seen in many places in Spain.
A lot of olive trees.
Just time for a break.
Breakfast in France.
Some French mountains.
It was time to take a look at Frankfurt.
The old town of Frankfurt.
An article in a local newspaper telling about the tour, there is no translation of it.
The text below the article: On the Queen Margrethe II 70th birthday a petanque tournament in Alcobendas in the northern part of Madrid took place.