Madrid - So Old Yet So Modern

* Pictures noted are from bottom to top - After our 10 hour flight from Johannesburg with the less-than-wonderful service offered by Iberia, we arrived early morning in Madrid. With a little extra effort we took the modern Madrid metro system including 2 transfers arriving within 100 yards of our hotel. We gratefully checked in early to our small, but clean room located along a quiet back street. Aside from our bed constantly rolling away from the wall (rollers on wood floors), the hotel's modern interior design within the older exterior was lovely, the breakfasts fresh and wireless internet in the room even better. The location of our hotel on the Grand Via was so convenient we never had to use the metro or buses since most places of interest like Plaza de Mayor (picture 1), Prado, Royal Palace (picture 2), etc. were only a 10 to 15 minute walk. And walk we did - everywhere.

Throughout our week's vist we wandered the clean, safe, decorative streets (picture 3), enjoyed late dinners at 10.30 pm (sunset wasn't until 9.30 pm), drank many pitchers of sangria, ate tapas at the many plazas filled with outdoor drinking, eating and people, who like us, enjoyed being outside in the summer night air.

Highlights of our stay included 3 guided city walking tours with a stop at the convent in the Plazuela del Conde de Miranda, home of the famous 'cookie nuns' where our group was fortunate enough to visit during their limited selling hours. We followed established procedure by ringing the bell outside a small wooden door in a room inside the convent. A voice answered (in Spanish, which thankfully our walking tour guide spoke) telling us what cookies were still available for purchase. We decided to try a 1/2 kilo (smallest bag) of their simple cookies. The door opened and a lazy-susan type of device presented itself for our payment, after turning again, it came back with a bag of freshly baked cookies (picture 4). The whole transaction was done without seeing the nuns who belong to the San Jeronimo's closed order. What a delightful experience and the cookies were delicious!

Other activities included a city bus tour (picture 5), we shopped at the large department store El Corte Ingles on their big annual sale day to buy a few replacement items, visited the Prado to see their permanent collection, the Tyhyssen Museum for their special Matisse exhibition, and watched the crazy Gay Pride Parade (pictures 6 & 7) as well as 'enjoyed' with thousands of others a loud rocking concert in a plaza near our hotel as a part of Mardid's Gay Pride Week.

For our dining experiences we tried to keep as close to a local flavor as possible eating at places that were very established or known for special Madrid items of delight. These meals included a few pieces of very popular greasy beer battered cod and tasteless potato croquettes from a local tapas/bar where there was a constant line out the door (picture 8). We also visited other restaurants famous for their delicious roasted lamb cooked in a special wood stove (picture 9), and another for their lamb stew, as well as many other nice restaurants and neat tapas bars or cafes in the beautiful plazas where many times we took the waiter's suggestions for favorite and delicious tapas treats. Not to be forgotten was the beautiful newly renovated San Migual Market off Plaza de Mayor (picture 10) where fabulous fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, pastries, etc. were in abundance. The Market was busy and offered a great atmosphere to consume some fresh oysters, champagne, cherries, and peaches (picture 11). While the concept was similar to Napa's Oxbow Market, the environment was hip and much nicer to enjoy.

All in all we loved Madrid - so much energy and excitement! Once again we were surprised how our time came to such a fast conclusion as we packed to prepare for our flight to Barcelona.