New Year in Madrid 2007!!!

Madrid
4th to 9th January 2007!!!




On Thursday the 4th of January my folks and I went to Madrid, we went to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary! We arrived early in the evening, we got in a taxi and arrived at our hostal, Hostal Castilla II, just off from the Puerta del Sol and just next to the Plaza Mayor. Once we had freshened up and unpacked a little, we went to the plaza Mayor for a bite to eat and for my first Mahou, which I first tasted in the summer when i visisted the city with my best mate Ryan, and it tasted as good as i remembered! Lol! After we had eaten a few typical spanish tapas, we went for a walk round this vast city, luckily thanks to my last visit to Madrid during the summer, i was able to help navigate my folks round the city with a little ease lol! We ended up walking upto Gran Via, down to Plaza Espana, and ending up at the palace, was amazing looking at the palace with the huge Christmas tree outside the main walls!

The first night ended with us finding a tradtional spanish bar which we ended up going to nearly everyday, for either some food or a night cap, it was very close to the Hostal and perfect for getting back quickily if in a rather unstable state should I say! Lol!






The second day started with us finding somewhere for breakfast, we found yet another tradional bar, which we ended up going to every morning for Churros y lomo con huevos! Cracking breakfast, could get used to having that every morning, but think i would have to get used to buying bigger cloths if that was the case lol!
We had decided to vist the Museo de Reiena Sofia, where Picasso's most famous painting is held, Guernica, (The picture to the right).




It is an amazing place, an old building joined with a really modern state of the art building, place everyone should visit!!!



After a few hours walking round, studying the piantings and sketches, we decided to find somwhere to have lunch, we stayed close to the Museo Reina Sofia, and after few hours rest, we walked back to the Puerta Del Sol, and found somwhere for a coffee and relaxed for a while, before walking down to Ciebles, where the Cabalgata was being held!




This is the celebration of the 'Los Reyes' the 6th January, which celebrates the arrival of the three kings to Jesus in Bethlehem. This for Spanish people is the true christmas and gifts are given and famalies come together!



The Cabalgata is the huge proscession which contains many floats and people in costumes, and sweets are trown into the crowds to the children, and i must say adults were enjoying catching the sweets just as much as the kids lol!

It is amazing to see, there are thousands of people, and streets like Gran Via and Calle de Alcala were closed, not many people can say they have walked down the middle of these streets, which on a normal day are the busiest streets in Madrid!!!

The night ended with a amazing meal at a restraunt we found, and a walk round this amazing city yet again, and a night cap at our favourite bar!




On the Saturday we visited el Prado, a place i visited in the summer with Ryan, Sara and Ana, but its a place you can visit hundreds of times and still learn and see something new!!!

And if you have student card use it, you get 50% discount on entry!!! After spending a few hours there, we decieded to have a walk round Retiro, the hugh park in the centre of the city, many refer to it as the lungs of the city, it was remarkable in the summer, and just as
breath taking in winter!!!







Later that day we ventured to Colon, where we found a cafe called, Cafe Gijon, a place which has a long history, and where you can find, authors and artists! And they serve a mouth watering Chocolate mint cake!!!


On Sunday after having our churros and cafe con leche we walked to el Rastro, a famous market held every Sunday, with thousands of people and stalls! It has everything you need, you think of something and you'll find it!!!






The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying the cities sites and delights!!!

Later that evening I arranged to meet Ana, a very good friend i made last year at UCLAN, it was great seeing her, catching up and learning about how different uni life is in Spain compared to England!!!



Monday was spent experiencing the sales of el Corte ingles, a huge deparment store found all over spain, however, I think Madrid has the largest percentage! Lol

After buying an extra suitcase because of all the extra shopping we did, we had lunch and walked round taking in for the last time the delights of the city!

We had our last Spanish meal in a restraunt we found on our second night there, as you can see from the picture above, we ate well!!!

Was an amazing time, it was my second visit to the city, and i can definately say it won't be my last!!!