Part IV continues with my trip about Spain and Portugal. From Sacramento to Lisbon, follow my journey through these two countries. Leaving La Coruna, I make my way to Madrid to explore Spain's capital city.
Day 6 - Welcome to Madrid
We woke up late, got ready, and packed before heading to the airport. We said our goodbyes to Leah and arrived at the airport around 11:30. After a quick flight to Madrid, we arrived around 1:45 pm to a cool and overcast day. We took the Metro to the Puerta del Sol stop and walked around for a while to find our hotel. It took a while to get our bearings and find where we were going. Again, I was a bit frustrated but we finally found our hotel and checked in.
After settling in for a bit, we went to one of the most famous museums in Europe the Prado. The Prado is home to so many artists and a great collection of art. Spanish artists Velazquez, de Goya, El Greco, and other artists like Titian and Peter Paul Reubens are just some of the more than 3000 works of art.
I love paintings from the late Renaissance through the early 1800s. Like other huge art museums, I took my time going through the museum seeing all these paintings from eras that I love. A couple of my favorite paintings were Boschs The Garden of Delights and Velazquezs Las Meninas. There was so much art to see and not as much of the modern art and impressionist art that I dont like. Of all the museums I have been to in Europe, the Prado may not be my favorite but it is near the top.
After finishing up at the Prado, we took a walk through Madrids beautiful Retiro Park. The park is over 330 acres lined with trees right in the middle of the city. There are some nice gardens, great spots for people watching, a nice lake surrounded with people and carnivals, and numerous fountains with beautiful tree lined paths. The color in the trees was beautiful as we enjoyed this peaceful place to walk and relax. We wandered through the park until dark and then walked back to our hotel. For a late night trip, we stopped off for dinner and churros and chocolate over a pedestrian filled Puerta del Sol. After our late night snack, we then headed to bed.
Not a lot to do on this day as we got to Madrid late in the afternoon due to traveling. My initial impression of Madrid was not an overwhelming one. Mainly flat and dry with nothing that really stands out in the city. I will have to see what the rest of this city offers over the next couple of days.
Lessons Learned some of the best memories on a trip are had with people you dont know. Watching locals walking hand-in-hand or walking with families, play with their kids, seeing how people interact all of this is something that cant be measured in terms of a price or be checked off of a list. Seeing locals in their own environment helps you understand the culture a little better and makes your trip a bit more meaningful.
A walk through Madrid's Retiro Park (Credit: JB)
Day 7 - Exploring Madrid
We woke up around 9 am to start a very busy day in Madrid. On our first stop of the day, we went and visited the Royal Palace to see the estate and site of royal functions for King Juan Carlos. The crowds were limited so we were able to walk right in and view beautiful bedrooms, dining rooms, and themed rooms. The palace was built in the 18th century by King Philip V (French grandson of Louis XIV). Because of this, he designed a palace after that of Versailles. For me, Palacio Real cant compare to Versailles but it is grand and beautiful.
The courtyard leading to the palace is huge and everything about it is huge. It was indeed impressive. After finishing up at the Palace we went to the Catedral de Almudena. This cathedral was named after the Virgin of Almudena and was built so that the capital city of Madrid would have its own cathedral. It was very large and impressive as it overlooked its neighbor, the Palacio Real. From there, we headed over to the bus station to buy our tickets to Granada.
In the afternoon, we headed over to the modern looking Reina Sofia. We took the elevator up and saw the 4 floors of art. The important to budget travel is to approach ahead. When it comes along to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new spots we have never been before, the fact of expense and budgeting is generally in the back of our heads. Planning and expending our travel budget correctly is a consideration for most families. Curbing spending and charges, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to confirmed success and fiscal liability. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking regarding protecting money while travelling is simple: Even if your personal finances is extremely small, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also remembering that while traveling, no matter whether on a price range or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel bill!. This museum contained modern art from 1900 to 1980 and most of it I didnt like. However, the highlight of the Reina Sofia was Picassos Guernica.
Guernica is the Basque village in which Franco allowed Hitler to test his new air force to bomb the town in April 1937. The village was completely destroyed and the massacres began to open the eyes of people. Picasso received news of the bombing in Paris and immediately began work on his abstract, Cubist style masterpiece depicting his views of how things looked that day. From bulls watching the tragedy to mothers mourning their children and the brokenness of his symbolism, Picasso depicted the tragedy in Guernica as he could best describe it.
Various exhibits in the museum showed Picassos drawings of his masterpiece. While the museum was full of modern art and included works of Salvador Dali, Picassos Guernica was the highlight and a reminder of a tragic event in Spains history.
After finishing up at the Reina Sofia, we backtracked from the Palace and walked the route back through the Plaza Mayor. More than anything Plaza Mayor is a sight of history. While it is not quite touristy with its restaurants and shops, it was home to bullfights, royal pageantry, and the Inquisition. Wandering through the Plaza Mayor and the surrounding streets, you pass through the old market, a convent, el torro bars, restaurants, and old buildings. While none of these places are major sights, it is a nice tour of one of the most historical plazas in Madrid.
After a busy morning and afternoon, we headed for a bite to eat at Fres co. This is a very unique and cheap buffet place to eat where you can get pasta, some Spanish specialties, desserts, and a drink for 8 euros. It wasnt the best food I have eaten but it was filling and a great experience. Almost everyone there was a local out for lunch. Wandering through the red light area towards the Gran Via was an interesting sight as well. Not a bad area but the shops are for people with more expensive shopping interests in mind.
Walking the streets of Madrid, I have not been impressed by the city. The weather hasnt helped but nothing about the city has been exciting. The Prado, park, and palace were nice but just something about the city, layout, and sights dont really interest me.
Lessons Learned In a large city with a lot to see, plan your time accordingly. Make a list of the sights you want to see based on your level of interest in them. Dont try to get to every sight on your list. Give yourself some free time to walk around and enjoy without being so focused on a map, closing hours, and directions. A city is much more than just its sights. If you dont soak in the culture and the people around you, your trip will become a check list of items at a grocery store rather than a place to experience and enjoy.
Part V - Toledo and more of Madrid
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