Chinchon

CHINCHON

Chinchon is a cute little town very close to Madrid.  We took a day trip on the bus with the Hawkins and the Deschamps.  First, a word about the bus system here.  It is really remarkable.  All those 65 and over get to ride the bus anywhere in Madrid and all over the district, going to all the outlying towns, as often as they want for a monthly fee of 12 euros a month.  This also includes all the trains, and subways.  I am the only one in our group who is under 65.  Fortunately, it was only 4 euros for myself to travel to Chinchon.

Before the bus ride we grab a few snacks for the ride.

The bakeries are our favorite.  The guy in the bottom corner doesn't look pleased to see my camera.

It was a pretty day and a very nice drive.

I'm not sure what this monument was out in the middle of nowhere.
But I liked the plane up on the right that was about to fly over.

A cute little town we drove through on our way.

Their Belen.

The bus dropped us off in front of the old convent.

Our gang.

Greg decided to gross everyone out by drinking the water from this very very
old fountain.  I think in the olden days they used to water their horses here.

Looking a little grossed out himself.

These Christmas banners hang from so many balconies.

Randy getting a ride on the race car.

Another great bakery.

The oldest building in town being held together with braces and wiring.
 There could be a little duck tape there as well.

Plaza Mayor

What makes this plaza mayor so special is that in the bull season it doubles as the bull ring.

The balconies as the grandstands.

The town Belen.

The watering hole.

It seems like the doors just keep getting smaller, or Greg is getting bigger.  I'm not sure he could even get through this one because it is so narrow as well.  It's an antique store, and their clientele must be Munchkins, I guess.

The plaza is encircled with outdoor restaurants.

One of many interesting shops.

Another interesting shop. The "Feliz Navidad" is a nice touch.

Dave spots something interesting on someone's plate.

Randy too.

Yup, snails.  Yumm!

Charlotte and Sylvia working their favorite sport, shopping.  It used to be my
 favorite sport as well, but now my favorite is photographing others shopping.

A very interesting shop window.  The sign says, "homemade pigs."

Treking up the hill to see the church.

This wall has all kinds of little niches, and the pigeons have taken them over.

The view from the top of the hill where the church is.

The castle.

Zooming in on the Plaza Mayor.

The old clock tower.

After the long trek up hill the church is closed.

More doors for Munchkins.

Pigeons everywhere.

Here we go again.

And this is ridiculous!

So we decide it's time for lunch, and our only choices are disgusting Spanish restaurants.  We have not, as of yet, had one single good meal in a Spanish restaurant.

One thing that should have tipped us off, was the place was decorated
with the heads of losers in the bull ring.

They have the tiniest Coke bottles I have ever seen!

There can't be more than 4 to 6 ounces of soda in that bottle.

Dave got snails.

The sad thing is, I think he got the best meal of the group.

This dormer window is quite literally being held together with duck tape.

Oh, Carlotta, I mean Charlotte.

This is a common sight in Spain.

I just thought this tree had the oddest shape.

I don't think I have ever talked about the olive trees.  Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world.  Thusly, this country is covered in olive trees.  Here are a couple in the middle of town.

Waiting for the bus.  A great day with great friends.