http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/plaza-mayor/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/plaza-mayor/01-plaza-mayor-madrid.jpg There were many other tourists stopping by to admire the architecture of Plaza Mayor. Madrid, Spain Plaza Mayor, Madrid http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/plaza-mayor/02-plaza-mayor-blowing-bubbles.jpg There were many street performers, including this man who was teaching a tourist how to blow giant bubbles. Madrid, Spain Blowing Bubbles in Plaza Mayor http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/plaza-mayor/03-plaza-mayor-madrid-at-night.jpg There were still many people gathered in Plaza Mayor deep into the night. Madrid, Spain Plaza Mayor at night http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/plaza-mayor/04-plaza-mayor-night-madrid.jpg Plaza Mayor late at night. Madrid, Spain Plaza Mayor at night http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/royal-palace-palacio-real-almudena/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/royal-palace-palacio-real-almudena/01-almudena-cathedral-palace-real-madrid.jpg One of the many beautiful scenes at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Madrid, Spain Almudena Cathedral http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/royal-palace-palacio-real-almudena/02-jesus-carrying-cross-almudena-cathedral.jpg A statue of Jesus carrying a cross at the Almudena Cathedral. Madrid, Spain Jesus carrying cross at Almudena Cathedral http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/royal-palace-palacio-real-almudena/03-royal-palace-palacio-real-madrid.jpg The facade of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Madrid, Spain Palacio Real Royal Palace of Madrid http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/01-street-painter-museo-prado-madrid.jpg A street painter outside of Museo del Prado (the Prado Museum) close by to the entrance of Retiro Park. Madrid, Spain Street painter outside Museo Prado http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/02-museo-prado-museum-steps.jpg Steps leading from Museo del Prado to Parque del Buen Retiro. Madrid, Spain Museo Prado steps http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/03-retiro-park-garbage-can-shadow.jpg One of the many long trails at Parque del Buen Retiro. Madrid, Spain Retiro Park garbage can http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/04-crystal-palace-stacked-lawn-chairs.jpg A sculpture made of lawn chairs at the Crystal Palace in Retiro Park. Madrid, Spain Crystal Palace at Retiro Park http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/05-palacio-de-cristal-madrid.jpg The Palacio de Cristal was an amazing glass structure within the park. Madrid, Spain Palacio de Cristal in Parque del Buen Retiro http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/06-statue-boy-park-retiro.jpg A statue of a boy in Retiro Park. I don't remember if it was supposed to be an angel, but I reckon it is. Madrid, Spain Statue of a boy in Retiro Park http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/07-boats-on-retiro-pond-madrid.jpg Rowboats on Retiro Pond in the Parque del Buen Retiro. Madrid, Spain Rowboats on Retiro Pond http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/08-retiro-metro-station-graffiti.jpg Some interesting graffiti at the Retiro Metro station. Someone had also written "Nadie es ilegal" on one of the lights (translated to "nothing is illegal"). Madrid, Spain Graffiti at the Retiro Metro Station http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/parque-del-buen-retiro-park/09-bocadillos-calientes.jpg Taking a rest at a food shack near the Fountain of the Falling Angel (El Angel Caido). Madrid, Spain Hot sandwiches in Madrid, Spain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/puerta-del-sol/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/puerta-del-sol/01-puerta-del-sol-blue-flags.jpg There were many colored flags flying overhead in Puerta del Sol. I'm not entirely certain if they had any significance. Madrid, Spain Blue flags at Puerta del Sol http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/puerta-del-sol/02-puerta-del-sol-green-flags.jpg The view from my hotel room balcony. Madrid, Spain Green flags at Puerta del Sol http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/puerta-del-sol/03-puerta-del-sol-arenal.jpg The busy street of Calle Arenal, where my hotel was located. Madrid, Spain Puerta del Sol at night http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/puerta-del-sol/04-puerta-del-sol-tio-pepe-sign.jpg The Tio Pepe sign has become a part of Puerta del Sol, like a sort of Spanish Times Square. Madrid, Spain Tio Pepe sign at Puerta del Sol http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/01-plaza-de-toros-de-la-ventas.jpg The stadium wasn't full for the bullfight, but that doesn't mean people weren't enthusiastic about the festivities. Madrid, Spain Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/02-bullfight-picador-horse.jpg This is beginning of the first period, also known as the tercio de varas ("the lancing third"). The picador (horseman) stabs the bull in the back of the neck with his lance. Madrid, Spain The picador ready to challenge the bull http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/03-bull-goring-horse-picador.jpg This is exactly why the horse is blindfolded. In the past, horses were not as protected by padding, and there would often be more horses killed than bulls. Madrid, Spain Bull goring the picador's horse http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/04-bullfight-matador-muleta.jpg A very skilled matador avoiding the horns of a large bull Madrid, Spain Matador with his muleta http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/05-bullfight-tercio-de-banderillas.jpg During the second "third" of traditional bullfighting, these flags are planted onto the back of the bull. Madrid, Spain Tercio de Banderillas bullfight third http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/06-bullfight-las-ventas-madrid.jpg The matador taunting the bull from a safe distance. Madrid, Spain Bullfight at Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/07-bloody-bullfight-madrid.jpg The matador tempting the very bloody bull. Madrid, Spain A bloody bull vs. the Matador http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/08-bull-vs-matador-madrid-spain.jpg The matador getting ready to deal a lethal blow to the tired bull. Madrid, Spain The matador ready to kill the bull http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/09-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas.jpg People leaving after a couple of rounds of bullfighting. Madrid, Spain Plaza de Toros, Madrid http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/bullfight-plaza-de-toros-las-ventas/10-plaza-de-toros-madrid-spain.jpg The facade of the Plaza de Toros in Las Ventas, Madrid. Madrid, Spain Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/01-victimas-del-atentado-alfonso-statue.jpg This angel statue is decicated to those who died during a bombing meant to take the life of King Alfonso XIII in 1906. Madrid, Spain Victimas del Atentado Alfonso Statue http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/02-spanish-motorcycles.jpg Motorbikes were very popular in Madrid, and in Spain in general. Madrid, Spain Motorcycles parked in Madrid, Spain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/03-barrio-de-las-letras-colorful-door.jpg A very colorful door in the Barrio de Las Letras. Madrid, Spain Barrio de las Letras colorful door http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/04-puerta-de-alcala.jpg The gate of Puerta de Alcala at sunset. Madrid, Spain Puerta de Alcala http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ http://kennychung.net/photo/madrid-spain-photography/madrid-streets/05-calle-mayor-madrid.jpg A relatively empty Calle Mayor during our last night in Madrid. Madrid, Spain Calle Mayor at night http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/