First few days in Madrid

Madrid is such a lively place! We arrived on Saturday morning. After settling into the apartment and having a little nap, we went out to explore Old Madrid, the very center of town. There were so many people out walking around and having fun, almost like it was New Year’s Eve. Women were wearing colorful wigs. There were many families out walking around with small children. People were spilling out of bars having tapas and cervezas.

Madrilenos eat dinner late, around 10 pm. We found a quiet restaurant on the outer area and had a great dinner and a really good bottle of wine. I had mussels and gnocchi and James had a warm cheese salad and fish.


On Sunday, we meant to get up early but accidentally slept until noon. We went to the El Rastro flea market. It was a bit disappointing. The offerings were primarily new stuff and a lot of the vendors were already packing up. However, I got a lovely wallet and a cute little carved wooden owl.

Then we walked around Retiro Park. We rented a paddle boat and then stumbled upon a surreal carousel that had large bugs and beasts rather than the typical horses. The children could used gears to move parts of the animals.


Afterward we took the Metro back to Old Madrid for a dinner of tapas and cervezas. I love the tapas. That is what we ate all day for each meal! We had patatas bravas (potatoes with a red sauce), calamaris, croquettes, sautéed mushroom, a plate of cheese.


James and I both love appetizers and we feel like we have discovered a utopia where all you do is eat appetizers all day! Heh!

There is so much performance art in the street here. We have seen bands, dancers, singers and mimes dressed as Chewbacca, a silver cowboy, statues, puppets and an angel.


Madrid is a very musical city. Once we were walking past a cafe and this large table of people burst into song. People walk through the street singing and they even sing on the metro. There are amazing jazz bands in the street.


On Monday we finally saw Old Madrid in the daylight for the first time. It is beautiful. It kind of reminds me of New Orleans. There was a time in Spain’s history when it was heavily influenced by France. The streets were filled with Christmas shoppers. I visited a bead shop and bought lots of neat little beads and charms that I have never seen in the United States. We had a lunch of potatoes and calamari at a taberna that faced the Palacio Real.


After lunch we walked through the palace. Each room was decorated with fabric walls, tapestries, velvet curtains, painted ceiling, and chandeliers – an almost-overwhelming feast for the eyes. We were feeling pretty tired afterward so we had a siesta at the apartment.


We made reservations for dinner at a restaurant called Botin. Botin has a very interesting history, having been open since the 1700’s. Hemingway placed a scene in one of his books in this restaurant. While we were there, a troupe of singers came in and sang beautiful old Spanish songs. The sangria was yummy.