Around the world with Irina: madrid

......Another half day trip from Madrid. even if it was very hot, I decided to do something on my last day here. So I took again the Cercanias from Atocha (5,20 euro round trip) and I went to Alcala de Henares (or Citadel on the River Henares). I chose this town for two reasons. It's also part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it's also Cervante's home town.
......I confess, I haven't chosen the best day to go there. It was Monday. Most of the sites were closed. I got there at noon and there was nobody on the street in the old center. I had to spend the next almost two hours in a McDonalds because it was too hot (what was I thinking of??).

......But even under this circumstances I managed to enjoy a 2 hour walk. I visited the Cathedral, a monastery, Cervantes Theatre and his home (on the outside). There were some guided tours at the University, but at 5pm. One of the most important streets in the city is the Calle del Cardenal Cisneros which takes tourists from the Madrid Gate at the entrance of the city, to the old city center and the Cathedral in Santos Niños Square. Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares, and baptized in the Church of Santa Maria in 1547, although his family moved from the city when he was still young. The city celebrates his birthday, 9 October, every year and organizes an annual Cervantes festival. The local university is acknowledged as a global leader in the study of Cervantes and his works.
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Cervantes Square

Oidor Church

Museo Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza outside Cervantes' birth-place

Calle Mayor. See? Absolutely nobody in the streets

Cathedral of the Santos Niños

Parque Municipal

Teatro Cervantes

Facade of the old Alcala University

Inside the University

Laredo Palace

El Escorial it's about 50km away from Madrid. Don't get dicouraged. There are trains from Atocha that get there. Very slow ones (Cercanias), but you're there in one hour and fifteen minutes. The price of a return ticket is 6,50 euro. When you get to the station in Escorial you have two choices. Either pay 1,20 euro/way for the bus ride (less then 5 minutes) or walk. It might take you 15 - 20 minutes, but it's not a big deal. From where the bus leaves you, go up the stairs, take right and you're almost there. Grab a coffee first, then take a map from the Info desk at the entrace, pay 8 Euro for the ticket (or 10 for the ticket+audio guide) and you're ready to visit San Lorenzo El Escorial.
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Before visiting, read some facts about its history. So you'll get really impressed. I only tell you that the first stone of the monastery was put on April 23, 1563 and nowadays the entire monastery and its historic surroundings are part of UNESCO World Heritage (declared in 1984).
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Getting closer to El Escorial