Did you ever go to an art museum, look at something on the wall and think, "ah, I can do better…read morethan that!" Well then this is the museum for you; this is a museum where I truly believe that most of the museum goers can do a better job at creating art than the guy this museum is named for! I'm guessing that the guy was born in the city or close by because really, I have no idea why they would make a museum for him. I'm not saying that his stuff is bad; just that anybody can do what he did and most likely better. Picasso did some crazy stuff too but he created brilliant art as well. This guy Vicente, I guess, forgot to do that good stuff. Well if he did, it wasn't in this museum. I gave the museum two stars because not only was it just a few Euros to get in, but there was an exhibition of Juan Gris paintings, and SIg. Gris is a fine artist.

There are so many places worth a day trip from Madrid and this is one of them. In wanting to find a…read moreplace that could be a longer half day trip (but not more than this due to the short duration of my trip), this monastery appealed to me in that the commute time via public transportation is about an hour from Madrid Chamartin, or only about a 40 min drive (€40 rideshare price) from the western edge of Madrid city center. Certainly you could take more time around town and make this a full day trip in addition to visiting the Valle de los Caídos (the Valley of the Fallen) monument, there are a number of bus tours that run this exact itinerary. Departing from Madrid Chamartin the Cercanius C8 line arrives at El Escorial station, from which it's about a 25 minute walk or 15 min bus ride to the monastery which is the major tourist destination in town. The town itself is quaint and nice to take a stroll around to get a feel of a suburban downtown area. Tickets are available online and in-person by time slot and while in late September I didn't see times fully booked I imagine during peak tourist season you should book at least a few days in advance. Inside larger bags need to checked in lockers (€1 euro deposit for the lock mechanism function, returned upon unlocking the cubby), and then you follow signs indicating the direction of the tour starting from the main courtyard. Two highlights for me were a) the library with beautiful ceiling murals and filled with antique books, b) the elaborate pantheon crypt facility which are in current functional use as burial chambers for Spanish monarchy. I also appreciated that almost all the description placards were translated into English so there was a lot of information to learn. The grounds and gardens are very expansive and well maintained around the main complex so plenty of tourists and locals alike were enjoying a walk in the afternoon. Bathrooms are located within the building only after ticketed entry. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes within a 5-15 minute walking distance from the main entry/exit of the monastery where you can grab a snack, drink or meal.

El Escorial is also a must see if you're into learning and history, particularly, Spanish history…read moreand how it ties into the Philippines' history. After all, "if you know your historeee, then you will know where you're coming from, and you woudent haf to ask me, who da hell do you tink I am?" - Buffalo Soldier (Bob Marley and thee Wailahs) Ahem, back to this UNESCO site, it's about a one hour drive Northwest of Madrid. It was built in the 1500s and of course, there have been several modifications/additions/subtractions. It was originally built to commemorate victories against the French. It was also patterned after King Solomon's temple. I've been to and prayed at the Western Wall (Jerusalem) and coincidentally, you enter Escorial through the Western gate/door. It's a royal palace, a monastery, a basilica, a pantheon (burial site), a church, a library, a teaching institution, we could go on and on. It also has a garden but it doesn't come close to Palais de Versailles' sprawling gardens. I don't think Escorial's garden even eclipses the gardens of Chateaus Chenonceau or Amboise. But it's definitely a doable half-day trip to see this beautiful site. There's a great attention to detail and plenty to learn as you go from room to room. It's also the royal burial site for Spain's kings and queens, at least for the past five, yes 5 centuries. I was able to snap a pic of King Phillip II's tomb - The Philippines was named after him so I was sorta blown away. No pics are allowed here but I couldn't resist....shame on me.... Make sure you go on a guided tour or you won't make the best of your time. I liked that after the drive back to Madrid, it was a perfect time to have lunch and tapas.

Amazing, from start to finish! I was greeted by a very friendly receptionist who explained…read moreeverything we needed to know to navigate the museum including the use of the audio guide. Once beginning I was so impressed with the time and detail that was put in to every explanation for each point of the audio guide. They clearly really wanted you to understand the material and took great efforts to make that happen. Once I entered the museum I was wowed by all of the artifacts that they had preserved and showcased. Again, the attention to detail paid in every display including the description of each item's significance, really helped establish a holistic understanding of the various facets of the mint and how it worked. One of the really cool things was seeing the components of how the water wheel worked form the interior of the building and then viewing it from the exterior of the building, again so a holistic understanding of the mechanism at play could be understood. Absolutely top notch museum, if traveling to or through Segovia, neglecting to come here would be a huge mistake.

This stadium is so new and fantastic! I have never seen a football game here, but it looks like it…read morewould be fun. I walked around and every seat has a good view, and they are well covered by the roof. There are many concessions and restrooms, and their is lots of room. There are also many things to do around the stadium food trucks and such. Great place to see a concert as well!

Fantastic venue for Spanish football... world class establishment and facility…read more We sat in section 239 which gave us an amazing view of the entire field. We watched the Atleti come back from behind to beat the Babazorros from Alaves. It was pretty cool to see the fans react to a tie, and then the go-ahead goal. The fans are proud of their team. Outside they had a fun zone for kids, in addition to the Indi Kids Zone on the first floor of the stadium. Food trucks and team wear selling their wears. You can also find two Atletico de Madrid official gear stores on the grounds. We also were able to take a stadium tour and visit the museum. The Atleti athletes are able to dress and prep for matches in a first rate facility. The museum does a good job of presenting the history of the Atletico greats, their history, their championships, and their future. Plenty of interactivity, plenty of play for the kids. Visitors can match their skills against the scores of the players that have dropped their own high scores in the skills box. It was a good time. Aupa Atleti.