Madrid Days 2-4

Wednesday

To start off the second day in Madrid, I woke up for a quick breakfast and then fell right back asleep, trying to listen to my worn body which was exhausted from traveling. I then went with a friend for one of the best meals of my trip at a restaurant called Más del Sur, a local tapas restaurant that had very few tables, but we were lucky to have gone at the right time. We had a mix of olive oil-coated vegetables that were so tender, paired with a delicious soft cheese, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) which had the most flavorful sauce that we finished by dipping into it with loads of bread, risotto with shrimp, and a pitcher of sangria of course!

After the impressive lunch, I visited La Reina Sofia, a 20th century art museum. This one has Guernica, one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous paintings (shown below in a photo that was not necessarily permitted).

The museum also had many other striking Picasso pieces and an incredible view of Madrid.

Thereafter I went back to the market from my first day to get dinner, trying some tradition Spanish tortillas, which are egg and potato cakes - delicious!

Thursday

My third day began with a relaxing vinyasa yoga class that I found in the city! I enjoyed being a part of the daily routine of the locals practicing the traditional yoga around me. The instructor was wonderful and they made me feel so welcome.

Feeling calm and refreshed, I went vintage shopping in the Malasaña neighborhood of Madrid. I bought a pair of earrings in a store where the woman kindly informed me that in Madrid they don’t use the word “aretes” (for earrings) that I had said, instead they say “pendientes.” It was a lovely interaction because she asked me about where I learned my Spanish and helped me build my vocabulary.

I also had an interesting lunch that day, with a fruit-juice filled mocktail and a vegetable curry! Not a typical Spanish meal by any means, but it was a stunning restaurant, so I was intrigued.

From there I went with another friend from the hostel to different tapas bars to have a small bite and a beer at each stop. Here’s one local bar that had great Spanish beer and a nice atmosphere:

Friday

My last day in Madrid was bittersweet. I washed my clothes and packed up, storing my items at the hostel until my train later that day. In the meantime, I brought my book to the park from the first day and people-watched. Churros con chocolate called my name, so I answered. Then I found a very traditional “home cooked” restaurant where I was surrounded by locals. The waiter was incredibly sweet, though I had no choice in the matter when three courses were presented. However, all of the food was heavenly. They served a fresh (though drenched in olive oil) salad, lomo (Spanish cured tenderloin), and a pineapple cake. The waiter spoke with me and complimented my Spanish skills, which boosted my confidence. It had been a tough few days of trying to build courage to speak in Spanish and being greeted with English instead. So, from this point of the trip I felt steadier in my grasp of the language.

My day ended with a late afternoon train ride to Sevilla. I found my way upstairs to the rooftop and met a bunch of travelers from all over the world. More about my trip to Sevilla to come!

¡Hasta pronto! - Ellie