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Palacios
The Palace at Rio Frio is north of Madrid, near
Segovia. This palace was built for the stepmother of one of the kings.
It isn't quite finished and was rarely used as the royal residence, primarily
being utilized as a hunting lodge.
The palace at La Granja was used as the summer palace by many different members of the royal family. The gardens located behind the palace are extensive with an elaborate set of fountains copied from those at Versailles by the Bourbon line of kings. The fountains here are supposed to actually be superior to those in France, according to some experts. The fountains only operate for a short period of time one or two days a week.
A view of the fuente, or fountain, directly behind
the palace at La Granja. Note "la jefa" in right foreground.
Another fountain in the gardens. On this day,
eight of the fountains were operated, rather than the usual five, so many
more people were on the scene.
The operation of the fountains at La Granja was
celebrated with great enthusiasm by the "gente" or people.
The royal palace, or Palacio Real, in Madrid is
still used for occasional state functions. The palace is the building on
the left, the spired building being a catedral. The last king to live here
was the one before the civil war in the 1930's. The present king lives
in a palace on the outskirts of Madrid. He is quite popular and seems to
be leading the country toward prosperity. He was shown recently on TV driving
himself to the hospital, without any escorts, to see his newest "nieto",
or grandson.