Spain has always been one of my favorite places to visit, yet I had never stopped foot in el capital, Madrid. With Memorial day quickly approaching, I started shopping for flights and came across a great deal on Delta…60k points for my transatlantic journey! SOLD- take my points and give me churros.
Planning a 3 day oversees trip isn't what you call a relaxing experience, instead I try to do everything on the must do list, while still trying to consider it a "vacation"…as you are supposed to relax on one, no?
I am so excited to share with you how I spent 3 magical days in the sunniest capital in Europe (200+ days of sunshine a year! ) . Taking an overnight flight always sounds great to me until I actually do it..and if you appreciate your sleep as much as I do,I know you can relate to the struggle of not getting your full, comfortable 8 hour nap.I took off from NYC after work on Thursday and quick 7.5 hour later, we were in Madrid ( a direct flight is a key to short term trips! )
DAY 1
By the time we checked in and were ready to take on the day, it was 10:30am…which actually seemed to be the same time that the Madrileños begin their day as well! We stayed at the Princesa Courtyard Marriot by Plaza de Espana which had beautiful spacious rooms but was good 20 minute walk to Madrid Centro…but hey, I am a New Yorker, I live to walk!
The first stop on our day one adventure was the Palacio Real de Madrid - Royal Palace of Madrid. This stunning beauty is the largest functional Royal Palace in Europe which hosts more than 3,000 rooms and is used for ceremonies while being the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. How large is large? Think of the U.S. Capitol Building ( including the underground tunnels and chambers). The Palacio's north side is also surrounded by the Sabatini Gardens , which were not open to the public until the 70's. Today, they are a breathtaking oasis in the middle of this metropolitan beast.
I am surprised I have gotten thus far into my Madrid trip without talking about COMIDA! One of my favorite things about traveling the world is eating along the way and exploring cultures through cuisines. After we left the Palacio and hunger had set in, we found ourselves at the perfect spot, Mercado de San Miguel. Think of Chelsea Market in NYC or any other food hall filled with tapas, sangria, cerveza, café…. Madrileños and tourist alike gather here to break bread and mingle. So many tapas, so little time! I was in heaven as there was seafood and avocado everywhere, but don't worry, there are plenty of other dishes too!
Full and ready to roll down the streets of Madrid, it was time to explore some of the famous squares / landmarks around the city :
Plaza Mayor - used to be the center of Madrid Centro and served as the main market for the city. Today, the plaza is surrounded by shops, restaurants and cervecerias. Word on the streets is that Madrid consumes more beer than most European cities….what about sangria?!
Plaza de Cibeles - An architectural master piece with marble sculptures and fountains. Talk about a photo op!
Puerta del Sol - used to serve as one of the gates to the city of Madrid , today, it is kilometro cero (0 kilometers) as the official center of Madrid where you will also find the office of the President. The square hosts the symbol of Madrid, which is a statue of a bear eating from a Strawberry tree.
You can't come to Madrid without eating at the world's oldest restaurant! Since 1725, Sobrino de Botin aka Restaurante Botin has been serving roast suckling pig and making people like Hemingway and myself very happy and full! You have to make a reservation ahead of time and be on time in order to be experience this time machine. I also enjoyed a childhood / Bulgarian specialty of tripe stew, finger licking good!
It's almost time for a Spanish staple…the Siesta ( afternoon nap!) but first, selfie! I stopped by the most photographed corner in Madrid, the Metropolis building - I will let the picture speak for itself…
After a fabulous siesta…its already 9pm, yet the sun is still out and it's about to be dinner time! Like many European countries and cultures, the Spaniards eat dinner late and live everyday life into the early morning hours. We stopped by "the HAT" for pre-dinner Tinto de Verano ( sangria's younger cousin- soda, fruit garnish and red wine). "the HAT" is a rooftop bar on top of a hostel…don't go there for the views, rather go enjoy the company of meeting other "wonder lusters" like you!
Madrid was so alive on Friday night, people were out on the streets, eating, drinking, enjoying life! We joined them as well while I was in carb paradise- eating a Bocadillo de Calamares…friend calamari thrown in a baguette. Not sure how I am going to fit into a dress for a friend's wedding this weekend, but those calories were SO worth it!
DAY 2
No need for an alarm clock when the sun in May comes out by 8am and tickles you to wake up! I am always on the hunt to find good coffee when I travel and it can be a struggle…but Mision Cafe delivered a delicious iced latte to open up my eyes even more. Don't judge me on this, but I also stopped by Starbucks to grab a freshly baked croissant….and let me tell you,we might not have been in France but those croissants were everything…treat yo self!
We were on the hunt for a traditional Spanish breakfast or should I say by the time we made it, lunch, ..churros y chocolate. I wanted to explore few of the near neighborhoods on the way to el Centro. We passed by Salamanca ( one of the most exclusive neighborhoods) and Malasana ( trendy & chic). also, The National Library , Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid is a must visit, while strolling at the park next to it and making your way through Paceo de Recoletos into the city center.
By noonish, we made our first culinary destination for the day… CHOCOLAT. Small café with chocolate scent that will grab you from a kilometer (after all, we are in Europe!) away. I had my first golden fried churros and I dipped them into dark chocolate…love at first bite! I could see myself living in Spain and dipping churros into chocolate on the daily. As one of the specials, I also ordered the Fresa Gaspacho- a traditional tomatoe based cold soup with strawberries..it definitely did not disappoint!
Full on more carb overload, we headed to El Retiro Parque to burn off the calories and explore where the locals go to tan, exercise and escape the city madness. El Retiro used to belong to the Spanish Monarchy and became public in the 19th century. In the middle of the park lays Palacio de Cristal. The Palace is built in the shape of a Greek Cross and is made primarily out of glass. Back in the day it was used as a greenhouse, yet today it hosts beautiful art exhibits!
Outside of the park, there is another beautiful green oasis and a photo op- Patrick Blanc's Lush Vertical Wall. Designed in 2008, the wall is one of the world's most lush living walls today. This stunning creation is suitably located in Madrid's Museum District.
As we explored the surrounding neighborhoods, and as I am always chasing views, we came across a rooftop, Azotea del Circulo, located on top of Cirbulo de Bella Artes ( art museum). The 4 Euros to go upstairs is well worth it, but don't leave without sipping on Sangaria or Mojito while enjoying the unobstructed panoramic views of Madrid and lounging around & mingling with the locals.
SIESTA TIME
For the night time, we wanted to enjoy a Saturday evening like the locals…by starting dinner at 11pm at the new hot spot in town "Carbon Negro" ( make a rezzy! ) Food was delicious and as expected on the pricier side…about 50 Euros per person. Around 1am, we headed back to the El Retiro…the park! Club Florida is located right behind the entrance of the park and was a great preview to the Madrid night life. For a 20 Euro entrance, you don't have to worry about how the doorman feels tonight and who made him mad :) or is thst just a NYC thing ? When inside, there were different rooms and an outdoor terrace where people of all ages (18+) were dancing the night away to local and international hits…Bailando, Bailando…as Enrique Iglesias sings…
DAY 3- La Ultima Dia
On Sunday , we were off to the usual late morning start but had to make it to the famous flea market- El Rasto- before it closed at 3pm. The streets of El Centro were filled with locals bargaining and selling new and used goodies while street music performers were adding onto the entertainment! The flea market is open every Sunday and public holidays throughout the year and located in the La Latina neighborhood. Locals and tourists slowly stroll the streets of the neighborhood in search for the next cerveceria y tapas!
What kind of Spanish Sunday morning would I be having if it didn't involve more Churros y Chocolate? We made our way to Churreria Chocolateria to dip baby dip. I prefer the chocolate at Chocolat ( yesterday's stop) but these churros were fabulous on their own…crispy and salty! After lightly put stuffing my face, it was time to get cultural and we headed back to the Museum District and visited Museo de Reina Sofia- Queen Sofia's Museum. The museum had a beautiful garden and works from Salvador Dali to Pablo Picaso.
As we continued to further explore the streets of Madrid and the stunning architecture, I found myself seeking yet another rooftop. We stumbled upon a popular department store, El Corte Ingles which had a rooftop food court! I know the idea of a food court sounds tacky, mall like…but this food court was a bunch of fabulous restaurants with bar and communal seating with views for days of the brick rooftop buildings surrounding the square.
Over 15 kilometers of walking through the city on this lazy Sunday, it was time again for a Siesta! By 10pm, we were ready to take on dinner and have Paella. If you are a seafood lover, a meat lover, a veggie lover, a food lover period, you can't go wrong with a Paella, a rice dish baked in a shallow carbon steel pan. While Paella originated in Valencia, the Madrileños have mastered it well - we enjoyed this mouthwatering with at Los Gayalos - right off of Plaza Mayor.
In a blink on an eye, 3 fabulous days passed and I fell in love with a city rich on culture, architecture, food, life and views.
Te veo pronto, Madrid! Adios!
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