On arrival last night, we visited Plaza Mayor - a very impressive square surrounded by numerous restaurants.
and then adjourned to the nearby Mercado, which sold foodstuffs, wines and smoothies. That evening, the market was thronged with people purchasing or imbibing from the nearby stalls.
Morning: Visited the Botanical Gardens - interesting but probably not the best time of year to visit
Afternoon: Museo Reina Sophia - often missed as the Prado is the museum of choice for most visitors. The highlight here is Picasso’s Guernica.
Day 2
Yesterday, there was a 2-3 hour queue to enter the Prado! To avoid the queue, one has two options: purchase a tour or buy a ticket at your hotel. The tours were booked out but the hotel assured us that if we purchased a ticket from them, we would not have to queue.
We arrrived at the Prado at 11:00.
Our entrance was Calle Jeronimo. There was a queue but we waited a mere 10 minutes. We spent over 3 hours there and could have spent more. The museum boasts many Rubens and Goya works, one Rembrandt and a many more artists.
The museum is not easily navigated! After 4 hours taking in the delights of the Prado, we adjourned to their very impressive restaurant to lunch.
Having quitted the museum, we noted the absence of queues!! Some fresh air was called for so we retired to Retiro Park - one of Madrid’s many lungs.
It was beautifully appointed. It was a sunny afternoon, if cold, but welcome after yesterday’s continuous rainfall!
Day 3
I set out for the Cathredal and Palacio Real. A pleasant stroll down Calle Mayor had brought me to the Cathredal -a very impressive structure adjacent to the palace - the location of the marriage of the King and Queen of Spain
Having quitted the Cathredal, I entered the Palace Square. There were two very long queues - a couple of 100 in each - one for those without tickets and the other for those who had already acquired tickets ! I decided to forgo a visit!
The side of the Cathredal was visibly across the Plaza from the Palacio.
As I made my easy to the Temple of Debod in Parque d’Oeste, I noticed another entrance to the Palace. It was reserved for those who had purchased a Madrid card. (Look into the Madrid Card).
I passed the beautiful Palacio’s Sabatini Gardens now open to the public.
There was no sign at the entrance to the park but a steep staircase brought me to the Temple. It was donated by the Egyptians to the Spanish on appreciation of their aid during a flood problem.
Again there was a queue! I joined it but after a 20 minute wait only 7 people had been admitted and I estimated it would take about 2 hours to gain admission! I’d been to Egypt so I left the queue and walked around the park and saw great views of Madrid from the platform.
After a respite in the Plaza, I set out to complete my 10 highlights. I walked up Calle Alcalá - the beauty of the buildings recalked the Habsburg empire at its height.
I was arrived at Cibiles Fountain. The beauty of the fountain was obscured by the the huge volumes of traffic which traversed the roundabout. Nearby was the impressive Bank of Spain headquarters
I returned to Plaza Del Sol via the unspectacular Gran Via.
Lunch was booked at Botin
reputed a la the Guinness Book of Records, to be the oldest restaurant in the world. A friend informs me that The Brazen Head in Dublin is older!!!
We stayed at the Hotel Europa, minutes from Puerto del Sol. It was a perfect 3 star hotel in a perfect location, surrounded by shops and restaurants.
A taxi to the airport, (set price of €30 per car ), a
delay of 1.5 hours and we arrived in Dublin at midnight - 01:00 Spanish time. Madrid was wonderful - would highly recommended it as a weekend treat.
