Blackmailed by My Desire to Wander

Fountain in the Island Garden

False lake and buidlings in the Prince´s Garden

Casa del Labrador

After an exhausting trip to Lisbon a week ago, i decided to relax for the weekend. No trips, no papers, and especially no walking. But, just as i was beginning to enjoy a stress-free weekend, i opened my inbox to find an email from the school. Every Friday, each student at SUMC receives a short newsletter telling of all the interesting places and events taking place in Madrid that coming weekend. I have seen many of the places that have been previously listed, though this weekend there was something different. On the newsletter was a stunning photograph of a palace, somewhere in between Hapsburg austerity and the Bourbon baroque, all done in red brick and gray stone-they called it El Palacio Real de Aranjuez. I was immediately undone with desire to see the palace and its impressive gardens for myself. That Saturday morning, i went by bus to Atocha station bought a ticket on the Cercanias for around 3 euros and off i went. After a 40 minute ride, and a 12 minute walk, i saw the palace. It was much more impressive than the photograph allowed, and the palace tour, which i always strongly recommend to be accompanied with an audio guide a guide book of the building, was fantastic. The additional exhibition of items from the daily lives of the royal family was intriguing especially the exhibition showing the wedding gowns of the current queen, the current crown princess, and her sisters-in-law. The gardens, also toured with an audio guide, were massive spanning many smaller gardens and parterres. Fountains placed throughout the gardens, as well as a false lake with a temple and pagoda, a false mountain that can be scaled to find a small pagoda, winding paths, grottos, islands, and even a smaller palace built for the relaxation of the king called Casa del Labrador. After making an appointment, i was able to tour the small palace, which was an absolute jewel-box. Though smaller than the main residence, the palace was gilded and covered in marble in its interior. Each ceiling held a different painting, most in the Pompeian style, and the wall coverings and porcelain floors were still original. Another not to miss part of the gardens is a museum totally dedicated to the pleasure barges used by the royals when they stayed at Aranjuez. The day was amazing and worth missing a relaxation day.