Day one

Day one was a complete success in every way.

We started our day early, leaving the hotel around 10:30 and headed to Starbucks for the free wifi. I know you are probably thinking, why would we go to Starbucks with all the great Spanish coffee spots, well we really only went there for the free Internet.

From there we went to Atocha train station. The station itself is impressive and worth walking through even if you aren't getting on a train. There is a huge atrium in the middle and for lack of a better word, it is simply beautiful. We went to activate our euro rail passes and get our tickets for our trips to Logroño and Málaga. Booking train tickets has proved to be incredibly easy and I highly recommend using a euro rail pass if you plan on making several train trips within Europe, whether within one country or across several.

From Atocha we started our walking journey of the city. We started at the Prado museum. It took about an hour to navigate through the intricate building that houses many of Spain's masterpieces and it was worth every minute. Although crowded, we were able to see everything we wanted to see. General admission is cheap and unless you want to see specific exhibitions it's worth just seeing the standard collection.

From there we walked to El Parque de Buen Retiro, the biggest park in the city similar to NYCs Central Park. The Park is massive, very well kept, and quite stunning. There are ponds, statues, large courtyards, and small secluded areas which allow you to make the Park whatever you want it to be. For us it was a beautiful gateway to the rest of the city. We used it as a means to get to another attraction but it really is a stand alone attraction itself.

We left the park and stopped at la Puerta de Alcala. This is very similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris except you cannot go to the top and the flame of the unknown soldier is not here. This arc is the gateway to Madrid and for tourists it's an excellent picture location. It is also incredibly close to the more famous Plaza de las Cibeles.

The Plaza de las Cibeles is by far my favorite spot in Madrid. The fountain in the middle of the huge round about is beautiful and the backdrop behind it is absolutely stunning. The post office that sits behind the fountain is in many ways the most picturesque building in Madrid. Large, white, and very ornate, it glorifies Spanish architecture.

After taking photos we marched on to the Puerta del Sol. When I was here last I remembered this to be quite the spectacle, jam packed with people and lit up for the holidays. Visiting this area in the summer was not quite the same. In light of the recent riots and protests, the Puerta del Sol was literally covered with tents. The kilometer zero sign was nowhere to be found and the area was nothing like I had remembered it. It was dirty, crowded, and not photo worthy to say the least.

We didn't stay there long and headed directly to the Plaza Mayor for lunch. Lunch in the actual Plaza was somewhat of a tourist trap. Prices were a bit higher than normal and when paying your bill, the waiters will not bring you change unless you ask for it. Knowing you are American, it is about the only place that will accept a larger tip, even if you were expecting change.

Outside of the plaza are many little alleys filled with tapas bars, likely a better choice for more authentic food. Each bar is named based on the specialty they make and it traditional to go from one bar to the next, eating the specialty tapas at each place until you have had a full meal. In the same area is the tourist hotspot Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas. When I was a kid this was my favorite place we went to. We made reservations for Monday night and I am hoping it lives up to my memories.

We continued walking and stumbled upon the Mercado de San Miguel, a local market geared towards foods you eat there instead of take home although they offer both. This market is unlike anything I have ever seen. Naturally, we stopped and had a glass of wine.

We continued our walk and headed toward the Palacio Real. Never in my life have I seen so many people waiting in line. It was way too long for us to stand in so we just took some photos and continued walking toward the Plaza de España.

From the Plaza we made our way down Gran Via, one of the main streets of the city and arguably the busiest. We continued down Gran Via, stopping in a few local shops, until we made our way back to the Plaza de Santa Ana. This little Plaza has become our favorite. We stopped and had Sangria, sat in the sun, and people watched, it was a perfect afternoon.

We returned to the hotel and went back out to the Plaza for dinner, dining at another one of my favorite spots, Cinco Jotas. It was the perfect meal after a perfect day in the city.

Today we are heading to Logroño, the center of Rioja wine country. Before we head out we will be checking out the modern art museum, La Reina Sofia, and trying our luck at seeing the Palacio Real.








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