Something happened in February, but we have little documentation to show for it.  Nevertheless, we are most certain it occurred. 

Three of us took a train to Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, España and one of us took a plane to Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.  In both cases, the camera was left behind.

Cartography – Atlanta

Post card – Madrid

Cartography – Madrid

Post card – Atlanta

With the aid of smart phones, however, we were able to capture a semblance of the flavor and appeal of both cosmopolitan juggernauts.

First off, let’s get things straight:  compared to Madrid, Atlanta is more expensive in areas of health care, groceries, transportation, and rent.  Yet you can bet your last euro that you will pay around 35% more to eat at a McDonald’s in Madrid than you will in Atlanta.  And the price will be even higher if you factor in the air fare to get you there.  You decide.

In Madrid, visitors are free to explore any number of sites:  El Museo Prado, of course.   Also, high on the list are the Plaza del Torros, Calle Gran Via, Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor, and the not-to-be-missed Parque del Buen Retiro.  We can rely only on the following documentation to account for sites seen.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Parque del Buen Retiro.

Meanwhile, 6,961 kilometers away in Atlanta, Georgia, visitors are welcome at the Atlanta Aquarium, the World of Coca Cola, the High Museum of Art, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  One visitor, however, chose to join with celebrants who were honoring Naval Commander M. H. Rose, Ret. (US Naval Academy, Class of 48 A) on his 90th birthday.  This event, ninety + years in the making, took place at Maggiano’s in Buckhead.  Cmdr. M. H. Rose, Ret. was surrounded by his two beautiful, intelligent, successful, loving, dynamic, and articulate daughters, and by his gorgeous, loving, devoted, intelligent, smart and stylish wife, and yet not one of the many guests managed to snap a group photo of the family of four.  Let these random pictures suffice as proof that this gathering occurred.

Guest of Honor: M.H. Rose

With beloved wife.

Intelligent and beautiful daughters.

Documenting dessert.

Proof that party actually happened.

We miss him.

Ultimately, comparing Atlanta and Madrid is like comparing turnip greens and boiled peanuts or las manzanas y las naranjas.  It cannot be done….can it?  Which would you prefer?

Churros con chocolate, Chocolatería de San Ginés.

Chocolate cake with icing, Magianno’s.

“Luck is to have a clean neighborhood.”

Picking up the dog.

Atlanta Botanical Garden.

El Parque del Buen Retiro.

Eventually, we all met up again in Granada, in the Albayzin, and decided that we were now in the best place of all, for the time being.

The best place of all.