Trifter

Imagine you are strolling among the flowers, seeking the protective shadow of tall trees, hearing the sound of crickets, when suddenly you come to a lake. Your eye is immediately attracted by a light as intensely active surprising: the Crystal Palace stands before you.

Located in the Retiro Park in central Madrid, Palacio de Cristal (or Palace of Glass) is undoubtedly the star of building gardens. Composed entirely of glass resting on an iron structure, the palace playing with the sun to offer you a magnificent spectacle technicolor. It’s like a rainbow in the sky Standing offered to you, sublime …

The Crystal Palace was built in 1887 by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, on the occasion of the exhibition on the Philippine Islands. More than just a winter garden, he aims to become a truly global showcase for tropical plants. A response to some sort of beautiful English greenhouses at the time, such as the Palm House at Kew Gardens.
In recent years, the Palace hosts regular exhibitions of contemporary art.

The lake is artificial him. Its crystal clear water and, makes us want to take a dip, but the barriers surrounding warns us. We can see many varieties of cypress, whose unique and have their roots as well as part of their trunks submerged. The place is quiet, soothing.
Let’s go now in this wonderful building. Admission is free.
After waiting a few minutes (because you are unfortunately not alone in wanting to discover the places), a nice keeper lets you and 19 other people and here is a pair of socks. Budding mathematicians that you have understood the only 20 people can enter at the same time, both for good supervision and to protect the site.

A pair of socks … it may at first seem surprising, incongruous, but when one sees the floor of the Palace, composed entirely of mirrors, we can understand better. The place has been beautifully maintained for over a century, acknowledge that it would be a shame to degrade due to a pair of basketball, or, worse, high heels.
Once the pair of socks in hand, he’ll just you shift slightly to the left of the entrance where patches await you. Remove your shoes, put socks (barefoot forbidden) and drop your little shoes on the shelf for this purpose. No worries, there is no risk of flight, the standby guardian.

You are finally dressed for the visit! There is no particular order to visit the Palace. Composed of a single room, entirely empty (no expo the day I visited) so you can admire the incredible architecture, you’re free to go through at your leisure. Believe me, you will soon be amazed by the light almost unreal beauty and color schemes. A real treat for the eyes, which will delight the young and older children.
Before leaving, be sure to get your shoes, and take away the socks: gift of the house!

You’ll finally understand the title of my opinion. Ladies, ladies, especially before you go there, do not make the mistake like me to put you in a skirt. Car giant mirrors with ground (indicating that I had found anywhere in my guide), you can imagine the spectacle!  
While my friend was dying of laughter, as I myself am “slightly” felt uncomfortable.

My second board is on the day of the visit. Since the structure is glass, do you make hot days, or you discover that the Palace can also be transformed into a true sauna. If you have limited time to visit Madrid and you need to visit the summer (I remind you that in Madrid the barometer ranged between 35 ° and 45 ° C), remember to bring several small bottles water with you, otherwise you find dehydrated in minutes.

May-September: open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 20h. On Sundays and public holidays from 11h to 18h. Closed Tuesdays.
October-April: open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 18. On Sundays and public holidays from 10h to 16h. Closed Tuesdays.
Closed: Tuesdays, 1 and January 6 (day of the Magi, the local Santa Claus), 1 and May 15 (San Isidro, patron saint of the city), and of course 24, 25 and 31 December.

METRO STATION: Retiro, line 2.
A magical place, as I had never seen, who seduced me at first glance, both for its beauty and its simplicity. The presence of the lake right next adds to the feeling of peaceful, feel in a bubble, you know those soap bubbles with which one plays child and maliciously play with the light to change colors … And indeed it is the same, except you’re in a palace. Delight guaranteed.

For cons, the lack of explanatory panels I missed, I wanted more. So I tried several guides: all ensure that this is a site to see, without really gave other details (in kind to buy …) and it is a shame that an institution as the Centro Nacional Reina Sofia (second most important museum in Madrid) who is responsible for the management makes no further efforts in that direction.
Finally … if you go by Madrid, do not go there, I promise you will not be disappointed!