Weekend in Madrid

Just this weekend, Lyle and I headed to Madrid to visit our friend Julie who's also doing the same program there, and because I had to pick up a few stuff. When we got to Madrid, the first thing on our agenda was to hit up the Pinoy store. We were only really looking for some soy sauce, but we couldn't help ourselves and bought more stuff. (I really wanted some corned beef, but it was so expensive. Maybe next time.)

Our Pinoy stash

Lyle and I actually missed our bus to Madrid (by 10 minutes! The bus to the bus station was going really slow). But we were able to change our bus ticket for just €5, which wasn't too bad. So we arrived in Madrid at almost 6pm already. After visiting the Filipino store we had some dinner, then met up with Pablo, one of my sister Angela's really good friends from London, who's currently doing an internship in Madrid. 

He took us to this really charming bar/restaurant called El Jardín Secreto (C/Conde Duque, 2). We had some drinks and dessert, and spent the night making kwento.

Thanks for taking us out, Pablo! :)

Julie actually lives outside the city, in a small town called Majadahonda, which is a 20 minute bus ride from the Moncloa bus station in Madrid. It's smaller but quieter, but a really lovely place.

Majadahonda, a smaller and quieter municipality in Madrid

We spent the whole Saturday going around Madrid seeing the sights. We started off at Plaza de España, which had a statue of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. Didn't manage to get a picture without any tourists...

Don Quijote and Sancho Panza

Plaza de España

Then walked towards the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). We passed through los Jardines de Sabatini (Sabatini Gardens), the gardens behind the Royal Palace.

Quiet place to read and walk around

Jardines de Sabatini with the Palacio Real in the back

We didn't really want to pay to visit the Royal Palace, so we just took some pictures from the gates. Haha.

Right by the Royal Palace is la Catedral de la Almudena. It is actually much newer than many of Spain and Europe's cathedrals, as construction began in 1879.

Unfortunately there was a special mass ongoing so we weren't able to go inside the Cathedral. Such a shame; I've been to Madrid many times over the last 7 years, but have yet to make it inside!

We walked up Calle Mayor and made it to Plaza Mayor, one of Madrid's famous plazas (and whose facade always seems to be under restoration).

We were looking for a place to eat, and Lyle and Julie agreed to try one of my favorite restaurants: Cien Montaditos. They have a range of 100 montaditos (little sandwiches) ranging from €1-2.

Then for dessert we had some churros con chocolate in none other than the Chocolateria San Gines.

Delicious!

In the afternoon we stopped by the Plaza de la Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), another famous plaza. Puerta del Sol was originally one of the gates of the city walls, and because it faced the east, was where the sun rose. Sol has Spain's Km 0, the famous clock whose bells toll for the traditional eating of the Twelve grapes, the famous Tío Pepe sign, and El oso y el madroño. El oso y el madroño (The bear and the strawberry tree) is one of Madrid's famous symbols (not sure exactly wha it symbolizes though).

El oso y el madroño

We continued walking down Calle de Alcalá and ended up in Plaza de Cibeles which has the famous Cibeles fountain, a goddess sitting on a chariot pulled by two lions (another of Madrid's famous symbols), and the Palacio de Cibeles, a beautiful marble building which serves at Madrid's City Hall.

Lyle and I managed to get into el Centro de Arte Reina Sofía for free (with student IDs and our passports showing that we were under 25; Julie was over 25 so she had to pay). The museum is mostly dedicated to 20th century Spanish art; and while Brasil got me more appreciative of contemporary art, the Reina Sofía still wasn't my thing. We did enjoy seeing Picasso's Guernica and standing in front of it for a while.

After visiting the Reina Sofía we managed to catch El Clásico in a nearby café. I was cheering for Barça of course, and thankfully, half the people in the café were too. The game was actually a bit anti-climatic because or TV's feed was delayed, and there was a nearby bar also showing the game, and so we'd know in advance if someone scored based on their shouts. (We would have changed bars but we had already bought drinks and ordered food). We walked through Retiro after the game (though it was dark by then), and had some dinner before heading back to Majadahonda.

On Sunday morning I headed to the city by myself to meet up with my mom's friend from the Philippines. I was a bit early for mass so I headed to el Parque del Buen Retiro.

Trees changing colors for the Fall

On Sundays especially the park is full with people - tourists, locals, people cycling and rollerblading, families,  puppet shows, old couples, and more - creating such a happy buzz in the park.

I walked a bit off the main areas and read a book under the shade of these lovely trees.

Then I heard mass at a nearby church and met up with my tita who was nice enough to bring me something from back home. I had a half hour or so to spare before meeting my cousin so I walked around the city some more, and passed by Gran Vía. Then I met up with my cousin (who moved from Valencia early this year) for lunch and met her two adorable daughters.

Another famous building in Madrid

I've always preferred Barcelona over Madrid, and while I still do, I've loved getting to know Madrid a bit more this time around. :)

We didn't miss our bus (thankfully!), arrived safely back in Granada at around 9:30pm, and were welcomed home by a pumpkin carved by our American flatmate, Elisa.

Happy Halloween!