Entry No. 13: Madrid
As promised, here's a glimpse of my travels to the wonderfully brilliant España. This trip marked my first visit to Spain and it felt much overdue. The sun shone warmly, the r's trilled deliciously and the sangria and mojitos went down almost too smoothly ... I simply can't wait to revisit this fabulous land. Scroll down for my top tips for honeymooning to Madrid. ;o)
O.M.G. Seriously, O.M.G. Best Spanish Omelette evaaaaahhhh. And, eee! ... The owner happily shared his recipe with us ... I think he saw us gushing over the amazingness! ;o)
We had to squeeze in a flamenco show and it was so worth it ... my crummy photos do the dancers no justice {which is why I'm only sharing one!} ... So glad we found an exquisite little hole in the wall for the show that felt so perfectly non-touristy! Passion, angst, fire .... it made me feel a bit more alive. And I loved the intimate setting ... comped drinks were a plus, too!
Adios! ;o)
CB's Top Tips for Madrid, Spain:
- Plaza Mayor. Even though it's a no-brainer and it's in all the guidebooks, I still feel it's worth mentioning. When you walk up to the Plaza and see it through one of the gorgeous arches, it's a sight that will make you sigh ... truly beautiful. Spend some time here ... have lunch, look in the shops ... and come back at night. It's fun and a fabulous spot for people watching.
- Flamenco dancing - fun, festive and could be romantic, too. I LOVED the place we went to. It felt authentic ... it wasn't expensive and it wasn't filled with tourists. The drinks were good and the olives were even better. It was all acoustic ... there was a man on guitar and another on vocals and I had to keep reminding myself that this was LIVE music - it was AMAZING. There were also four dancers - 3 women in traditional costume and a guy who was pretty mesmerizing. If I could only recommend one thing to do in Madrid {or Spain, for that matter}, this would be it! Here are the details: Las Carboneras Tablao Flamenco / Plaza del Conde de Miranda 1, Madrid / 91.542.86.77 for reservations.
- When I was planning my trip, everyone I knew recommended the Reina Sofia museum ... I'm a big fan of modern art but somehow, this museum just didn't hold my attention. Admittedly, it may have a little to do with the fact that I don't *love* Picasso sooooo if you're a big Picasso fan, run to the RS. Otherwise, I would recommend the Museo Del Prado ... I was in heaven here. Every room was filled with masterpieces that I remember studying in college and writing lengthy papers during all-nighters ... I was truly in awe and blown away and I could have easily spent six more hours in this incredible museum. My favorite? Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights ... it was in one of the first rooms I walked in and when I turned around and saw the small crowd around the incredible triptych, I felt serious chills. Seeing that work in person was indescribable for me. So glad we squeezed the Prado in on our last day. :o)
- Lobo's! If you're a ballet flat fanatic like I am, you simply must visit. It's an adorable little jewel box of a store and they also sell traditional espadrilles and great leather boots. For more info, check out my post here.
- Finally, there are a few food/drink items you MUST try if you visit. You will thank me {hopefully!} ;o) Here's what I recommend: A Spanish omelette with Sangria or cerveza ... Gazpacho with sparkling water for a light brunch ... A Horchata for a mid-day break {cinnamon/milky/cold/so refreshing on a hot day} ... Paella ... gahhhh .... and mojitos as often as you can manage! Enjoy, loves!
If you have any tips, insights, suggestions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Happy Honeymooning!
Did you miss the other entries of CB's Travel Journal? Click here to catch up! ;o)
All images by moi.
