Excursion a Madrid

After a stressful start trying to find a workshop to book the car for a repair and routine check, we finally managed to get picked up by the bus to Mostoles where we jumped into a regional train into Madrid. The day was windy, the sun was out, and I was quite excited to be a tourist again.

To start with, a light lunch at Callao station, at Rodilla, a chain of toast sandwiches, very yummy (ate 5 of them, all with strange fillings). Then a nice walk to el Parque del Retiro, passing by the Bank of Spain and a nice post office.
The park is probably like Hyde Park or Central Park. Full of shaded alleys and little cafes and populated by fantastic creatures.

Shrek was there also but I completely forgot to snap a picture at him. In the meantime we managed to get to the statue of the fallen angel, which is apparently the only statue in the world, representing the devil.

Also managed to get a rainbow in my picturebox!


Tired of walking in the park, we took off to Puerta del Sol where the symbol of Madrid (El Oso y El Madroño)is witness to lines of tourists trying to steal a picture home. I went in a shop for abanicos (fans) and came out with 3 of them...hehehehe...(my superpower is shopping).

Not far from there was Plaza Mayor, with its al fresco cafes and restaurants. But we went down further into the old Madrid for cheaper food.

Then to digest all the patatas bravas, calamares and bocadillo de tortilla and sandwich de jamon serrano, we walked up and down the hills to finally get to Palacio Real and the Cathedral across from it. It is difficult not to notice that Spain is very catholic.


As the pink evening sky started to lower the temperature, we went to Atocha train station to catch our regional train, and also to look at the indoor garden. Then we just chilled, exhausted, happy (despite loosing my almost 3 month old phone) and very very full of tapas.