Walking through El Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain

From 1630 onward, the Spanish Monarchy enjoyed bullfights and mock naval battles with their guests in a tract of land that would eventually become El Retiro Park. In the late 19^th century, the 350 acre green space would become a public park, one of the largest in Madrid, where visitors could rent a rowboat or a horse drawn carriage for a pleasant retreat.

A variety of waterfowl makes the manmade Retiro Pond their home, including a few exotic Egyptian geese.

The crown jewel of the park is surely the Crystal Palace, designed by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco in 1887.

Its first use was to display flora discovered on the Philippine Islands, but today it houses a rotation of interesting art exhibits.

Beside the conservatory, the little lake is big on charm, equipped with a waterfall and grotto.

Among the ducks and geese that live here are a number of mystical black swans.

Cypress trees grow around the lake, with the unique characteristic to survive in water.

There are over 15,000 trees blanketing the grounds of the park and a stroll through the Forest of Remembrance, a monument to the 2004 Madrid attacks, is a breath of fresh air.

Every Sunday at noon from late May through October there are free concerts in the park.