Javier Cámara-Rica 🐝🇪🇸

Vente a Cádiz, omeee, que hay más agua! Te vas a ir a una alberca? Jeje

Love that park !!

In the heart of the Retiro Park lies this large lake, a popular spot with the city's residents, who go there to sunbathe or hire rowing boats.

Built between 1634 and 1636 by the architect, Cristobal de Aguilera, this lake was the heart of the Buen Retiro Palace garden  and was used to hold  water shows, such as navy battles or mock battles, and boat rides for the King and Queen and their Court. At that time it was linked by a stream to the chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua, which no longer exists, and the Retiro had its own shipyard to build boats. In the middle of the lake there was an oval-shaped island which was used for theatrical and musical performances.

On the same spot, almost a hundred years later, Farinelli delighted the court of Philip V with his singing. In the last third of the eighteenth century the island in the centre was covered by the waters of the lake and in 1902 the monument to Alfonso XII was erected. Financed by popular subscription, it is an outstanding example of historicist architecture. The monument was designed by José Grases Riera and completed by Teodoro Anasagasti, while the equestrian statue crowning it is the work of Mariano Benlliure.

Currently, the lake offers several activities within the Estanque del Retiro Municipal Sports Centre like rowing boats, two of which are wheelchair accessible (these last ones will be available as of February 2019), solar boat (wheelchair accessible) and solar classroom and the Municipal Kayaking School

As I grit my green with envy teeth, I ponder why whenever its pouring with rain, and this time the garage is flooded I am faced with a lovely picture, as well as Kens comment.

I would say it was uplifting positive even, but I'm having to work on it.

Now wheres my coffee and cream cake that may do the trick

I Googled El Retiro, Javier, and got “Expansive, 19th-century park with boating lake & rose garden, plus numerous fountains & statues.” 👍

But then I saw all the magnificent on-line photos, and the above description seems so inadequate. 🤔