Encountering the historical, charming, tacky and more while walking through central Madrid (Photo-essay)

On the morning of my second full day in Madrid, my German friend and I decided to walk from out hotel by the Spanish capital's museum neighborhood (where such as the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza are located) over to the center of the city.  Our primary destination was the Palacio Real but we took our time getting there, making sure to choose a route that'd take us past some major landmarks. 

After spending a few hours at the official residence of the Spanish royal family and another couple of hours or so enjoying a big and leisurely lunch at the nearby Plaza de Oriente, we meandered back to our hotel via a different route.  In the process, we got to see quite a few sights -- some of which impressed me, others less so...

The Plaza Mayor is large as well as visually impressive

(and I bet it'd be even more so if there hadn't been a bunch of

portaloos placed in the center for use by open air concert attendees!)

 

Puppet Ponyo poses in the center of the square

with the equestrian statue of Philip III :)

 

I found the smaller Plaza de la Villa nearby to be far less 

crowded and, consequently, tranquil and charming 

Having taken 100 years to build, the Almudena Cathedral

located next to the Palacio Real (and on the site where a mosque

once stood), was only consecrated in 1993

 

On one side of the church of San Ginés at Calle de Arenal

is a bookstore that's been there since 1650! 

 

As far as I'm concerned, the super crowded Puerta del Sol is 

touristy, tacky and the kind of place where pickpockets thrive

 

 I was so out of there soon after snapping this photo

of the back of an Uncle Sam-costumed Mickey Mouse

carrying Minnie Mouse and Hello Kitty balloons in its hands!

 

Meanwhile, demonstrators, including those calling for the protection

of marine life, clogged up yet another of Madrid's many plazas