December 21st The solstice and our visit to El Escorial

We jumped on a bus this morning and rode out to El Escorial, we left Madrid around 10:30 because the daylight will be so short today and in addition there is another strike on the EMT (subways and buses) from 2:00 until 6:00pm then again from 10:00 pm until 2:00am.   We want to get back to Madrid in the window in between.   We arrived in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial around 11:30 and immediately went over to the palace.  It was built in the late 1500’s and contained a palace, monastery, and school when it was built.  It is no longer a royal palace but the monastery and school are still functioning today, it was dedicated to St. Lawrence and was built with a footprint that mimics the supposed grill upon which St. Lawrence was grilled.   It is pretty austere in design and really big, much larger than the Palacio Real and certainly less ornamented, but considering how devout and almost ascetic the King (Philip II) that built it was; it’s not surprising.   I particularly loved the portion dedicated to the building’s design and construction as it contained examples of the drawings, tools, and materials used in the construction.   Another highlight was the library which is a gem, it’s chocked full of old books, illuminated manuscripts, and astronomical devices many of which are on display.  

 I loved the sign above one of the entrances threatening excommunication for anyone taking books without authorization, luckily for me all the cases were locked or I’d be under an interdict, and in jail. 


As we were heading back to the bus to return we came across the most ambitious Christmas display I’ve ever seen.   Several of the streets in the town had life-sized dioramas depicting the nativity and many of the activities that might have taken place around that time period.   Very impressive and the whole town was out and enjoying the stroll through each different scene, especially the little kids!  We were treated to a lovely sunset on the way back to Madrid.

Don't think this is historically accurate