Spring Hiking and Fútbol

Signs of spring are all around and so, lately, we’ve been feeling like getting out of the city.  This past weekend we headed to the mountains two days in a row to my new favorite place, Manzanares el Real.  This sweet little village is located at the source of the Manzanares River that runs through Madrid.  The river looks quite different at its headwaters – clear and pristine with many fly fishermen along the banks.  The town is on the edge of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, a national park, with impressive rock formations called Pedrizas.  Manzanares el Real also has a medieval castle that we had fun exploring.

The Castillo

Check out the snowy mountains in the background

Headwaters of the Manzanares River

The Hikers

Las Pedrizas (if you look closely at the picture above, you'll see the rock climbers)

Dave went to a fútbol (soccer) game in Madrid with his students.  They went to see the Atletico team, which has their stadium near our apartment.  We can hear the cheers and songs every time they play.