I traveled to Madrid, Spain for work briefly then up to London where I decided to visit Windsor Castle to see how the royals live. I also got to catch up with my friend Tom from GE who lives in Aldbury outside London. Arriving in Madrid at Bajaras Airport - it is a very new airport, and large IMG_9299 This nice fruit basket was waiting for me in my (small) hotel room in Madrid. Unfortunately I wasn't the intended recipient (Attn: Sr. Monti). Based upon the size of my room, I doubt it was the EU trustbuster Mario Monti. IMG_9300 The meeting was larger than the GE Healthcare offices would permit, so we met at the GE Corporate offices in Madrid, which were right next to a Fast Good (as close as it gets to MacDonalds for the true Spaniards - quality food but fast!). The Spanish are VERY interested in living life well, you can see more of how Fast Good tries to fit into that on their website. I know, more than you wanted to know about Fast Good...but it's not just the monuments that speak to a culture... IMG_9304 John and David from GE Healthcare UK on the train to the terminal back at the airport IMG_9319 Yes, Bajaras is a BIG airport, with plenty of space like these empty terminals (at least on this day) IMG_9321 What a nice control tower (lots of cameras too) IMG_9294 The wing of an aircraft and the land around the airport IMG_9327 The city of London - you can see the Thames river running to the lower left of the picture and a sideways view of the London Eye about 1/3rd up the photo on the far left IMG_9331 Passing over a roadway as we land IMG_9348 What fun - a trip to Cardiff in Wales, UK. Here you can see along the way to the southwest to Cardiff from London are speed cameras, cows, construction, and lorries IMG_9351 Crossing the Second Severn Crossing IMG_9352 IMG_9353 There has been a bridge over the Thames at Marlow since the 1300s and the current one, a suspension bridge, was designed by William Tierney Clark in 1832 IMG_9364 I'd say this hotel really isn't "compleat" without some more space for the "p" IMG_9370 Back in my hotel in good old Harrow-on-the-Hill you can see how green the UK is - plants growing IN the roof IMG_9371 Yon is Windsor Bridge! IMG_9467 And for those of you not speaking Olde English, this is also the Windsor Bridge. It was freed from tolls in 1898 (although I think they still have a troll problem...) but perhaps due to lack of profit on the bridge they closed it to vehicles in 1970. IMG_9380 It's Tom - and being an important GE employee he's on his mobile phone IMG_9381 Good news - Windsor Bridge is NOT falling down IMG_9383 A glance of the castle IMG_9386 Queen Victoria looking quite Victorian IMG_9389 People enjoying a mild-ish February day in front of Windsor Castle IMG_9392 I wonder if the queen minds the impostor just outside her grounds? IMG_9393 Tom somehow used my camera to take this photo of me... IMG_9408 I'm not sure if the moat is educated in this room or people are "educated" by being thrown in the moat - either way it's not pretty inside there IMG_9417 It IS pretty inside there below the walls mere mortals are allowed to trod upon is a wonderfully kept garden IMG_9418 IMG_9421_pano (Left to Right) St. George's Chapel, the round tower, and the Horseshoe Cloister IMG_9426 I think they need an underground parking garage for this place...or palace...or castle... IMG_9433 St. George's Chapel - Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, it is a nice building (although somewhat inconsistent in the presentation/preservation and no photos allowed inside) IMG_9435 The Royal Standard of England IMG_9439 IMG_9440 IMG_9444 IMG_9446 A guard along The Quadrangle IMG_9440 Energy efficient bulbs in this lamp IMG_9451 A guard (?) looks quizacly at a tourist making a pose IMG_9453 IMG_9455 IMG_9456 Queen Victoria looking over Windsor IMG_9461 Return to Features