El Escorial

Philip II was the Spanish King who had a bit of a tussle with Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth I.

Philip built a few ships to invade England in 1588 but whilst they were waiting to pick up an army from Holland a bit of a problem with the English fleet, the reputation of a certain Francis Drake and most particularly a spot of bad weather rather put paid to his invasion plan.

His home palace was this place, El Escorial. Quite a pile of stone. Bit austere. We were there yesterday.

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