Downtown Madrid! On our last day in the Spanish capital, there was nothing else I wanted to do but revisit the places I used to frequent when I lived there. There sure were many changes. The popular Casa de Libros had closed and had moved somewhere else and so did the Hotel Arosa right above it. There was Primark now, the inexpensive clothing store mobbed by throngs of shoppers. It wasn't there during my last visit last 2004. La calle de Fuencarral has totally changed too. Now it is a bustling street full of fancy stores and restaurants. It used to be a shady cross street of the Gran Via. Madrid likewise seemed totally transformed. There were so many scaffoldings covering numerous buildings undergoing renovation. What changes!

The Congreso de los Diputados, or the Parliament Building. Would you believe, I forgot where this building was exactly located and I had to ask someone for directions to get here from Puerta del Sol. It had been 14 years after all since I last came here.

A water fountain inside the Retiro Park

I finally got to enter the Palacio de Cristal at the Retiro Park.

At the Plaza Mayor

The Palacio de Telecomunicaciones as it once was back in the day.

The Palacio de Telecomunicaciones today. I used to drop my letters here but now it has turned into a museum/office building. There is a fancy restaurant inside too.

Marc bought a sandwich with the popular Jamon Iberico here. Honestly, I don't know what it tastes like since I don't eat pork anymore.

The facade of the Madrid City Hall in Puerta del Sol

Inside a bar. Notice all the ham?

The Mercado San Miguel

I love shopping in Madrid. I find everything so affordable! So cheap! Taken along Calle de Serrano.