Joint Visit to Madrid - 08 to 11 April 2013
The visit started off on Monday 8th with the party - six from Carnoustie (one via Edinburgh) and the remainder from Maule - meeting up at the Mercure Hotel. On the first evening we partook of a stroll into the city to get our bearings and to get a flavour of what we would like to do. This concluded at a small bar/restaurant where we had dinner and our first taste of Spanish cuisine.
Then it was back to the hotel for a nights rest prior to setting out the following morning for our first full day exploring this great city. The picture on the left shows our party about to set off.
Then it was back to the hotel for a nights rest prior to setting out the following morning for our first full day exploring this great city. The picture on the left shows our party about to set off.
On Tuesday we set off bright and early and our first stop was at Atocha Station which is the main railway station in Madrid. Sounds like a strange one but the purpose of this brief stop was to view the tropical rain forest which is in the main station reception area. We then progressed to the botanical gardens nearby (a theme developing here?) and spent some time walking there. Both very interesting.
Following lunch in a small very out of the way tapas bar we carried on and walked through some of the smaller side streets and soaked up the atmosphere before arriving at the Plaza Espana a large open square which was filled with vendors and street performers of all sorts.
We finished our wanderings at the Prado Gallery where a large number of classical paintings are on display by various famous Spanish (and other) artists. An excellent visit followed by dinner at another bar where we had a great evening including watching Real Madrid beat Galatasaray in the European champions league quarter final. As the Spanish are quite keen on their football this would have been impossible to avoid that evening.
Following lunch in a small very out of the way tapas bar we carried on and walked through some of the smaller side streets and soaked up the atmosphere before arriving at the Plaza Espana a large open square which was filled with vendors and street performers of all sorts.
We finished our wanderings at the Prado Gallery where a large number of classical paintings are on display by various famous Spanish (and other) artists. An excellent visit followed by dinner at another bar where we had a great evening including watching Real Madrid beat Galatasaray in the European champions league quarter final. As the Spanish are quite keen on their football this would have been impossible to avoid that evening.
On Wednesday we started off at the Reina Sofia art gallery where they display modern art including a number of Picasso originals. Following our visit there we then went to the Parqe de Retiro where we saw the Palacio de Cristal - pictured right - and the Palacio de Valazquez. This is a beautiful large park which makes you forget that you are in the middle of a large city it is so peaceful.
For lunch we decide to stay with the Spanish theme and went to the James Joyce Irish Pub!! Following lunch we participated in a spot of retail therapy before a visit to Real Palace which can only be described as amazing.
On Thursday we spent the morning checking out the sights in the morning before having lunch prior to our departure to the airport to return home.
Madrid is a fascinating city and we saw loads more that covered here. It is a city which is buzzing at any time of day or night. On returning to our hotel in the late evenings there was still loads to see. Some of us even found ourselves at a film premier complete with films stars - all Spanish - and TV cameras outside one of the cinemas. There is some amazing architecture in Madrid and along with markets, street vendors and performers which all added to the experience which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A few further pictures of the visit are shown below.
Madrid is a fascinating city and we saw loads more that covered here. It is a city which is buzzing at any time of day or night. On returning to our hotel in the late evenings there was still loads to see. Some of us even found ourselves at a film premier complete with films stars - all Spanish - and TV cameras outside one of the cinemas. There is some amazing architecture in Madrid and along with markets, street vendors and performers which all added to the experience which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A few further pictures of the visit are shown below.
