Madrid

see all photos »

We took a high speed train from Barcelona to Madrid  Saturday afternoon.  Because we woke late, so had to skip our trip back to the Market on Las Rambles where we we going to load up on food for the train ride.  The kids liked the 3 hour train ride, with the AVE hitting top speeds of nearly 190 MPH speeding past a scenic high plains landscape.

In Madrid, we walked from the Atocha train station to our hotel. Although only a few blocks away, although it seemed a long distance because we were hungry and carrying our backpacks.  We did our best to avoid looking like tourists, pretending to be a band of traveling gypsies instead. Ian bit the head off a pigeon to prove the point. We quickly checked into our rooms and were off to explore the City.

Siestas & Sangria

see all photos »

Now in each town you learn a few new important things and today we learned that Sangrias come in grande (1-2 liters) and poco half liters.  When I asked for a sangria and he asked poco or grande, I naturally said grande, not knowing I had ordered a liter of sangria for myself.  Of course Jeff was happy to help me finish it off.  We also ordered several tapas.  Similarly, when ordering food portions can be ordered as tapas, 1/2 portion or full portion.   We ordered full portion, which would have served twelve.  But we enjoyed every bite before going back to our rooms to nap so we would be ready for a midnight stroll.

see all photos »

Siestas are a must in Spain if you fully intend to enjoy it.  The night life doesn't even start until 10 pm and gets busier until about 2 am and then starts to wind down.  We managed to take complete advantage.  We started out for dinner at about 10:30.  Enjoyed a fabulous, mouth watering dinner of paella and suckling pig.  We also had a mixed salad and beans with ham. Fabulous!  Emily and Ian were especially great in that they not only tried everything but savored it!  Of course no meal is complete in Europe without a trip to get gelato.  The kids got gelato and we strolled the plazas until almost 2am.

Plaza Mayor
see all photos »

It was difficult to get up Sunday morning.  We didn't rise until almost 10. We quickly rose and made our way for a traditional Spanish breakfast of churros dipped in chocolate and cafe con lecha.  The kids had fruit drinks---Emily couldn't get enough of her milk and mango.

Early Sunday afternoon we made our way to the Prado. We attempted to see all the major artists, and did note 'masterpieces from El Greco, Velasquez, Goya, Titian and Rembrandt. Hard to tell what the criteria that separates a masterpiece from an ordinary painting. American Idol's phone-in voting system apparently hadn't been invented yet.

Street performers as statues-Prado
see all photos »

After  a short nap we were back on the town for more sightseeing and food.

Our hotel was conveniently located within a short walk to Plaza Mayor and Palace Real.

Plaza Mayor is certainly famous, but seemed to be a modest sized square populated with outdoor cafes and curio shops. Madrid certainly has many of them.

The Plaza Real was more unreal than real.  We had a wonderful time wandering around the grounds.  An enormous complex, from the peak of Spain's Imperial reign.

Exterior of Prado
see all photos »

Tonight is an early night because we want to be on the road by 9am tomorrow.  We're traveling to Toledo and then on to Granada.  A big day but we're really having a fantastic time.  We will be serving up lots of Spanish dishes when we return to Austin.