This Author's Website is http://budgettravelerssandbox.com
If you are ever in Madrid on the first Wednesday of the month don’t miss the Solemn Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace. Free admission makes the event very appealing to any travelers, budget or otherwise, and spectators can enter the grounds at around 11:30 am. Best to arrive early for a good viewing location. The ceremony is very colorful with soldiers on foot and horseback.
Of course, what would the ceremony be without a military band…
Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. On Tuesday I decided to head out of Madrid, and visit Toledo on a day tour. Bus tours are really not my thing, but I knew that if I wanted to make the most of a day in Toledo I really had no choice. The tour was pleasant, and gave me a great feel for this historic city. I’ve put it on my list to return. At some point I want to wander the narrow streets, sit by the river, and catch the feel of the city at every time of day and night.
I’m sharing one of my favorite shots of the day.
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A view of sunny Toledo on a cold, sunny day….
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I booked this tour through Madrid City Tours. The cost with lunch (optional) was 70 Euro, and I thought it was good value. We had a very knowledgeable guide, Anna, who provided interesting facts and stories of each site we visited. I was able to book online easily with a my credit card.
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Just steps from Madrid’s busy Plaza Mayor, I was excited to step into Mercado San Miguel on a chilly Sunday morning to experience what was being offered at the market’s various food and drink stalls.
Outside the Mercado San Miguel…
I arrived shortly after 10am, so I was able to do a leisurely stroll through market…
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The fish vendor…
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Martini, anyone? (Maybe after lunch…)
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Yummy Spanish Baguettes…(I wanted to jump over the counter and grab one!)
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I fell in love at the olive “stand”…
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By 11:00am the crowds were thick…
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Time to eat! I wanted one of everything and finally decided on….
Clinging to those “little sticks” were some of the finest olives I have ever tasted. The flavor just popped when I bit into each one. Fresh mozzarella cheese wrapped in sun dried tomatoes and savory pickled onions all added to this tasty delight. The wine was a Spanish Rojas Reserve (nice body!) and look at those “legs”
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Fresh and so tasty! Every mouthful was a taste sensation!
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Wine chilling…..
Tapas prices ranged from 1 to 5 Euro, and wine was 3 – 4 Euro/per glass. The market opens daily at 10am. You can find out more at their website…Mercado San Miguel
The website is in Spanish, so you’ll have to use Goggle translator, and I have found that it doesn’t always load properly, so do be patient 
Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. Yesterday was my last day in Chiang Mai, and I spent the day eating good Thai food, having a foot massage and saying so long to several friends. I am always a little sad when I leave CM, but I have just arrived in Madrid after an overnight flight from Bangkok. I am excited to be here, and have settled into my accommodation. Within the hour I will be out exploring!
Several mornings recently I managed to get myself up and out the door as the sun was still rising. I was rewarded with some great shots that could never have happened at any other time of the day. A few of my favorites are posted below.
To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.
Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.
As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox.
If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.
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(To view a larger version click on the photos.)
Morning Alms, Thapae Gate Road…
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Garden Buddha…
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Wat Chedi Luang…
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Ringing the morning bell…Wat Chedi Luang…
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Welcome to another week of Travel Photo Thursday. What a difference a couple of weeks can make when you’re traveling. I’ve gone from wiling my days away on a white sand beach to becoming snap happy at Chiang Mai’s Royal Flora. Definitely more tiring than a day at the beach, but who can get tired when you’re surrounded by all these beautiful flowers?! With such a kaleidoscope of colors my camera was on overdrive. This is just a very small sampling for you to enjoy.
To join in the Travel Photo Thursday fun simply post a photo on your blog. Return here and place your link in the Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post.
Please post a link to a post featuring a travel photo, not simply a link to your blog.
As a courtesy please post a link to Budget Travelers Sandbox.
If you do tweet a shot, please use the hashtag #TPThursday.
The Royal Flora is a massive flower show incorporating corporate gardens, country pavilions, the biggest orchid exhibit I have ever seen, a giant floral wheel, and a royal pavilion. Deciding where to go and what to see can be a challenge. The show runs until the end of March, so if you happen to be in Chiang Mai don’t miss it!
From the Orchid Pavilion
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Bunny on Steroids…
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The Floral Wheel…
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“King Bhumibol Tulip”
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A free shuttle is available, and a ticket for the day can be purchased on site for only 200 Baht (approximately $6.00US). This is definitely an event that any budget traveler can easily enjoy without breaking the bank.
More info. about the show is available here… Royal Flora
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on Mercado de San Miguel — Madrid, Spain — Sampling Food and Drink in a Spanish Market on Travel Photo Thursday — February 2, 2012 — Historical Toledo — A Sunny View on Through the Sandbox Lens #38, Changing of the Guard, Royal Place, Madrid
on Travel Photo Thursday — February 2, 2012 — Historical Toledo — A Sunny View
on Travel Photo Thursday — February 2, 2012 — Historical Toledo — A Sunny View
