PART UNO:
11 THINGS TO DISCOVER IN MADRID
“De Madrid al cielo” (“After Madrid, heaven”)
If you think you have covered ALL of Madrid … “ooh la la” how wrong you can be. Well I assure you there are much more to explore!
Time flies by, easily forgetting about time when you are living in one of the most vibrant city in these part of Iberian peninsula. Its as if God must have poured in his exuberance when he was weaving Madrid centuries before into the beating life it is today.
A melting pot of refined ancient culture, of arts, the greatest in sports and modern beauty. All walks of life flocks to this city to draw inspiration from it.
Well isn’t it well known of this saying …… “De Madrid al cielo” (“After Madrid, heaven”)
Let’s discover 11 more things in Madrid where Life Is Beautiful.
1. Only The Best found on the Main Shopping Streets of Madrid
Gran Via
Being in a city that never sleeps, one ought to also look as good if you are going up and about. The best shopping street areas to unleash your shopaholic side are found in Calle Fuencarral, Gran Vía, Calle Preciados and Serrano. Around here you will find from sneakers to suites, from designer soaps to luxury watches and much more!
“To go to bed at night in Madrid marks you as a little queer. For a long time your friends will be a little uncomfortable about it. Nobody goes to bed in Madrid until they have killed the night. Appointments with a friend are habitually made for after midnight at the cafe.” ―By Author Ernest Hemingway, Excerpt from the book “Death in the Afternoon”
Walking along Calle Fuencarral, discover the shops!
Unleash your shopaholic side ….you earned it.
Grand Via at dusk. The night has just begun.
2. Egyptian Sunsets with Madrid Sky
The much photographed Temple de Debod. Experiencing a little part of Egypt in Madrid’s backyard. Photo Credit to Vitae Etcaetera.
To have an Egyptian taste in Madrid while enjoying a wonderful sunset (it is said that the sky of Madrid is one of most beautiful in world) just go around Templo de Debod, located next to Plaza España. This temple is a present from the Egypt to the city of Madrid. It was first dedicated to the God Amun and later on to the Goddess Isis.
3. Best Tortilla de Patata
The work of art – Tortilla de Patata. Photo Credit Rubenvike.
Of course if you ask any Madrileños where can you find the best Tortilla de Patata, they will tell you that “la casa de mi abuela!” …. in other words their grandmama’s is always the best!
One cannot leave Madrid without trying Tortilla de Patata! Some like it “poco cuajada” (runny eggs on the inside), while others they like it “muy cuajada” (cooked firm on the inside).
The “tortilla de patata” is one of the most typical food in Spain. You can find delicious tortilla de patata around the area of La Latina, how simple an omelet can be but so delicious and valued by the local people in Madrid! It can be a hot topic for a debate too! Below are some of the best places to sample these ….. but don’t be afraid to explore and just walk into any taberna that catches your interest.
Which restaurant? Juana La Loca
Where? Plaza Puerta de Moros, 4, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Juana La Loca has been well known among the locals as well as international crowd as one of “the” place. The food here are as authentic as it gets. Famous for pincho of tortilla de patata with onion confit
Which restaurant? La Buha Taberna
Where? Plaza de la Cebada, 10, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Tortilla De Patatas found in La Buha Taberna
Which restaurant? La Bola Taberna
Where? Calle de la Bola, 5, 28013 Madrid, Spain
La Bola Taberna! Is also another hang out place which you cannot miss.
4. Sundays in La Latina ….The tradition is known as a tapeo – or bar crawl.
Sunday chill around the area of La Latina. Photo Credit Tandem
After visiting the second hand market of El Rastro, the Madrileños use to hang around La Latina every Sunday for “tapas”. Explore this area during lunch time and go from bar to bar enjoying a drink and a “tapa” (small bite that is usually offered when purchasing a drink). Mingle with the locals and enjoy the great atmosphere that can be seen this day of the week!
La Latina starts in the South-West part of Madrid city center, South of the ancient neighbourhood of Opera and the cathedral, West of the diverse neighbourhood of Lavapies. And I guess La Latina is a good mix of both: tradition and diversity, with the tapas and fiestas to make the mix work.
Walk from El Rastro on Sundays to Mercado de La Cebada … if you’d like to explore more.
Something Very Important To take Note: The Bars and Restaurants usually operates from 12 noon onwards till 12 or 2 in the morning!
Tapas Bar with different types of tapa to choose from.
Mercado San Miguel
How to refuse such glorious food …
5. The Retiro Park
Estanque del Retiro (“Retiro Pond”).
Parque del Buen Retiro or simply the Retiro Park. Where lovers enjoy doing nothing but enjoying each others company and children run and play freely …. soaking up sun.
Retiro Park, the main and biggest park of Madrid, is always a good plan to walk around and lose yourself into this park of more than 15,000 hectares and more than 15,000 trees. Some important spots are like the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez where there are wild peacocks roaming around, The Bosque del Recuerdo or known as the Forest of Remembrance in loving memories of 192 souls, La Rosaleda or the Rose Garden in Retiro Park has hosted many weddings solemnisation, perhaps you are able to witness one as you stroll along the park. Last but not least Estanque Grande, where you can rent a little boat and enjoy the good weather while rowing on this lake.
La Rosaleda or the Rose Garden … where many have come to profess their vows. The perfect romantic setting!
Stay tuned for PART DOS (Part 2) ……
Source from:Comunidad De Madrid
