Madrid: Greetings from Retiro Park!

MADRID, Spain—EuroCheapo’s “Wandering Cheapo” Kari Hoerchler arrived yesterday morning in Madrid, where she’ll spend a week strolling about town. While there, we asked her to snap some shots of everyday life in Madrid on her fancy new iPhone.

Today Kari visited Retiro Park. Part of Madrid’s Jeronimos district, Retiro Park was originally part of Real Sitio del Buen Retiro, a palace complex for Felipe IV (1621–1665). In the 17th century, the park grounds provided a private playground for the royal family. By 1869, it was fully open to the public. Welcome to Retiro Park!

Entering Retiro Park, Madrid
Entering from Calle de Alfonso II and el Cason del Buen Retiro.

View of el Cason del Buen Retiro
View of el Cason del Buen Retiro

Retiro Park, Madrid sign
Yes, those are magnolias you see, imported from the southeastern United States. How exotic!

Retiro Park, Madrid sign

Jardines de Cecilo Rodriguez fountains
Inside los Jardines de Cecilo Rodriguez

Palacio de Cristal, Madrid
Built in 1887 by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, Palacio de Cristal was inspired by the structure of the same name, en ingles, in London. The glass and steel structure was originally designed to stage an exhibition of tropical plants during the Philipinne Islands Exhibition.

rounded trees in Retiro Park, Madrid

Peacocks in the Jardines de Cecilo Rodriguez
Che, pavito real! Peacocks are friendly inside los Jardines de Cecilo Rodriguez.

School children tracing tree bark along Paseo Parterre
School children tracing tree bark along Paseo Parterre

Thanks for the photos, Kari. We look forward to hearing and seeing more from Madrid!

All photos by Kari Hoerchler

About the author

Kari Hoerchler

En junio 2000, Kari moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina and never looked back...until she ran out of pesos. After another round of bank riots, the travel lady bug moved to more stable financial ground: Wall Street. (Hey, no laughing!) Currently the Listings Manager for Over There Interactive for cold, hard cash, she is also a co-author of The Maneater Murder Mystery Series and Venue Goddess for Lit Crawl NYC.

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