Behold the Royal Turkeys

 We are heading out of the central city for a bit of fresh air. We will start in the landscaped Jardines de Sabatini.  Tan is very descriptive.

Just behind the Royal Palace, the Sabatini Gardens offer a more structured and elegant green space in the heart of Madrid. Visiting in winter at the beginning of the year, the gardens were moderately crowded, with tourists strolling along the symmetrical paths and stopping to admire the palace views. The bare trees and trimmed hedges gave the gardens a clean, almost minimalist appearance.

The calm design of the gardens contrasts nicely with the busy areas around the palace. Fountains, statues, and carefully arranged greenery create a sense of order and balance, even in winter. Although the cold weather limits how long visitors stay, the atmosphere remains pleasant and relaxed. Overall, the Sabatini Gardens are a beautiful place for a short walk or a quiet pause. Despite some New Year crowds, the gardens still provide a refined and peaceful experience close to one of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks.

Now to the Campo del Moro - or at least on the edge. PLL is equally expansive.

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Madrid’s city life, Campo del Moro is the perfect spot. These gardens are a great respite—very quiet, tranquil, and surprisingly overlooked by many tourists. Why It’s Special The park is massive and beautifully maintained, featuring a variety of different paths that lead to secret gardens and small frog ponds. It’s a place where you can truly immerse yourself in nature: Wildlife: There is an abundance of wildlife including birds, butterflies, and the famous peacocks with their huge, colorful plumes roaming freely. Atmosphere: It is so peaceful inside that all you can hear is the humming of bees and the singing of birds. Walking these paths, you really feel the history of the kings and queens of Spain who once strolled here. Photographer's Dream The views are spectacular. From the main entrance, you get an amazing perspective of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. Because of the elevation and the lush "green carpet" of the lawn, the palace looks like it is floating in the background. It is easily one of the best spots in Madrid for photography. Go Unhurried: Give yourself time to wander. It’s a large space (over 20 hectares), and the best parts are found by taking the winding side paths away from the main avenues. Whether you want to see the "royal turkeys" (peacocks) up close or just need a quiet moment surrounded by nature, this is a must-visit gem in the heart of Madrid.

Over the Manzanares and into the Casa de Campo. This stretch of convenient countryside was established for the Royal family and their noble chums. During the Civil War it was the front line in the defence of the capital. https://lacasadecampo.es/

The campo has been farmland, woodland and various things in its time. Today it is mostly a home for holm oak forest. In 2002 686,294 trees and shrubs were recorded These include stone pines, cypress trees, poplars and willows.

Yves loves the place. Eight months ago they wrote 'These are hours to spend in this magical place: beauty of the place, beauty of the panoramas, many remains, streams, different vegetation depending on the place, very often a great solitude, therefore a real mental and physical breath of fresh air.'

So we end the day.