Day 1:-
Headed to Sol ~ for a photo of the icon of Madrid
Plaza Mayor ~ the famous historical square of Madrid, think hangings, trials. Now it is home to cheesy Xmas souvenirs, as the annual Xmas fair is held there.
National Opera House
Royal Palace - had to secretly snap photos within the Palace.
The Prado Museum - The Goya Black Paintings made such a horrific impression on me that frankly everything else felt mediocre.
There was a Rembrandt exhibition as well with Rembrandt paintings that I saw in London, Ireland and France. Sometimes, I really do have to see something again to remind myself how much i had loved it initially Rembrandt's Rest on the Flight to Egypt was my favorite and will remain being one of my favorite paintings of all time.
Went to Santa Ana at night and found Botin, the world's oldest restaurant. The ceilings were low and it felt like a restaurant in an old bomb shelter. It was cosy, small, the service was excellent. The price insane. -l- At least I can say that i ate at the oldest restaurant in the world now.
Headed off to La Venecia, a must-go sherry bar and a few other bars.. I could hardly make it back to my hostel in a straight line.
When I made it back to my hostel, I was told that my room will be with 3 other gentlemen. Which was okay, I was at a hostel not a hotel. When the door opened and 3 OLD men (retirees actually, I found out over breakfast the next day) in just their underwear were walking around the room. I changed to a cheaper room despite already paying a higher price very WILLINGLY. Securing a room and a bed, I threw up in the toilet bowl.
Day 2:- Headed to Toledo, the ancient Spanish capital for a day trip.
Spent around 3-4 hours in Toledo and made my way back to Madrid. I read that there were 3-4 Xmas markets around the La Latina metro station and I wanted to find them. They were really disappointing.
Random candy shop that I came across. Looking at it would give me diabetes. If Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread house were real, this WOULD be that house.
Decided to skip dinner after a day of snacking on tapas not to mention hungover and queasy from the night before. Got lost, went shopping
Day 3:- Last Day in Madrid
Area where I was staying
Sofia, Museum for Modern Art. Saw what many people called Picasso's greatest masterpiece, Guernica
Madrid is legendary for its museums, 3 of them, the Prado, Sofia and Museo Thyssen. The last one was named as the greatest private art collection in the world. But seeing how little time I had left, plus the description of a collection having key paintings from ALL the different periods gave me a really bad Lourve flashback. I skipped the last museum and went shopping in the rain.
Ate tapas, found the Mango Outlet shop and bought a new winter overcoat for around S$50. My old Espirit one found in all my photos was so bulky that it made me look like a homeless person.
Madrid, I would go back just for the shopping again. Prices are extremely reasonable, the fashion is incredible. After going to all the museums on the first day and last day, I was honestly bored out of my mind. There is no bull fighting in Winter, the men in tights will freeze to death before he even scratches the bull. Real Madrid stadium cum museum - S$20 for that? Moving on...
My sole regret was after getting so drunk on my first night, I did not dare to go clubbing at all, which was such a waste with so many great clubs and bars around :(
