As we were leaving the Palacio Real on Friday I asked why there were people dressed in 18th century military costumes and was told there was a parade starting at 6pm. It was then 5.30pm so we joined the growing crowd behind barriers outside the palace. by 6.30 it was raining and cold. Lynne & I are not tall, but stand at least a head taller than the average Spanish pensionista. Luckily for us, their umbrellas met over our heads, with the odd drip down our nec...

We drove to Madrid to collect Lynne and Mal from the airport on Friday. They brought some British weather with them, but we still had a great day exploring. The Royal Palace was breathtaking, but having not been redecorated for 200 years we felt IKEA style had bypassed the spanish Royal Family, though they don't live there any more, or at least not in the public rooms. It seemed much grander than Buckingham Palace. Yesterday we took Mal & Lynne to see 'Guern...