Olé: DAY 10: VALLE DE LOS CAIDOS / EL ESCORIAL

As spooky as it may sound, today was the "death day." Well... kind of. We visited two of the most outstanding edifications in the province of Madrid, both dedicated to death... both conceived as mausoleums: "Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos" and
"El Escorial" Palace.

Visiting "El Valle" was a "pharaonic experience." More than 10,000 years ago, Egypt built magnificent structures to honor their great governors (well, pharaons ordered their constructions before dying). In the other hand, Spain, had a dictator whose governement (dictatorship, I must say) has divided the country politically for many generations. Almost as a self-considered "pharaon," he also ordered the construction of his own magnificent mausoleum.

General Franco had the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen built as a memorial to those who died in the Civil War. The vast cross is located some 8 miles north of El Escorial and dominates the surrounding countryside. Some Spanish people find it too chilling a symbol of the dictatorship to be enjoyable, while for others its sheer size is rewarding (Can you tell how divided the political views are?)

The cross is 490 ft. high and rises above a basilica carved 820 ft. deep into the rock by prisoners. A number of them are said to have died in the 20-year-plus project. A funicular connects the basilica with the base of the cross, but access to the top of the cross is not permitted.

Next to the basilica's high altar is the plin white tombstone of Franco and opposite, that of Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera (founder of the Falange Española party). A further 40,000 coffins of soldiers from both sides in the Civil War lie here out of sight, including those of two unidentified victims.

Later we took the bus to "EL Escorial." Felipe II's imposing grey palace of San Lorenzo de El Escorial stands out against the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama to the northwest of Madrid. It was built between 1563 and 1584 in honour of St. Lawrence and its unornamented severity set a new architectural style which became one of the most influential in Spain. The interior was conceived as a mausoleum and contemplative retreat rather than a splendid residence. Its artistic wealth, which includes some of the most important works of art of the royal Habsburg collections, is concentrated in the museums, chapterhouses, church, royal pantheon and library. In contrast, the royal aprtments are remarkably humble.

After this impressive visit to the "dead," stomachs started to roar. We went to an Italian restaurant (kids mentioned earlier that they were craving for pasta). We had Gnocci, Spaguetti al Pesto, Baked Goat cheese, Melanzane (eggplant) a la parmegianna, Salmon Lasagna... and for dessert: Tiramisu and gelato... What a hard life, isn't it?

Should I mentioned that Emily, Desiree and Kathleen got a couple of cars to beep and scream "Guapas" (handsome, beautiful) a couple of times? Should I mention that Will is being called the twin of the guy in "High School Musical" by most of the female student body at Gonzaga?

TOMORROW: ÁVILA