Yesterday we took a very long walk through the neighborhoods adjacent to the  Palace Hotel. We walked by the Spanish Congress and the Supreme Court, so we were probably doing a tour similar to that being done by daughter Jane and her Carden Hall 8th grade classmates in Washington, D.C.  (Jane reports via text message that they caught a glimpse of the Obama children while visiting the White House.) 

We ended up in the Puerta del Sol, which is considered to be the very center of Madrid, and by extension, the center of Spain.  (The "zero kilometer" marker in the center of the plaza marks the center of the center.)  

Near Sol is another landmark, el "Museo del Jamon", or "Museum of Ham".  The Spanish are absolutely nutty about ham,and this place reputedly has the greatest selection of hams anywhere in Spain:  

After our walk we went back to our hotel and had a bit of an afternoon siesta, then headed out for dinner. We had decided to try out a few different places, sort of a "tapas crawl".  The first spot we went to, the "Tres Gatos" was just right. We ordered up a plate of angulas (baby eels) which was very tasty and exotic: 

Next we made our way to a neighboring tapas bar which had a very enticing window full of seafood.  I really have no one but myself to blame for having spent $125 for this (admittedly generous) plate of seafood: 

When we arrived, the impish waiter suggested that he should make us a selection from the seafood display in the window, and I foolishly agreed without inquiring as to the price of such a selection. When he brought us the huge plate pictured above, I should have said "That's too much; take it back!" or something like that. After all, we were supposed to be on a tapas crawl.  But it looked good, and it was good, so we ate and asked questions later.  When the waiter first arrived with the bill it was even higher (more like $150) and I protested, so he gave me a reduction. I'm sure his profit margin was still blessedly high. This is the type of restaurant my father would have described as a "clip joint", and they are a part of traveling, no matter where you go.  Certain of the locals are always on the lookout for foolish Americans who can easily be parted from their dollars.  Keeps you on your toes!  

Needless to say after that very filling and expensive round of tapas, we were done for, so we grabbed coffee and dessert at a little bar right near our hotel, where the locals were friendly and boisterous: 

Today we will visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum (which is actually right across the street from our hotel and can be seen from our window) 

After that we have no big plans so we will just see what comes up.  I think I will avoid seafood today.

Jim S., reporting from Madrid