Madrid

After a couple days in Barcelona, the guys and I hopped on a quick plane flight to Madrid.    It was an amazing city and our hotel situation was much, much better.   Here are the highlights:

1.  The Architecture

I found Madrid to be a little more modern looking than Barcelona.  The streets were wider and the buildings taller, but similar amazing architecture with gothic influences. It seemed maybe a bit more cosmopolitan with lots of shopping.  Believe or not, a pair of Levis was nearly $100 at some places here!  Aside from the prostitutes on our street, I felt completely safe.  We stayed in the Gran Via area, which I highly recommend;  it's really nice, right off a metro and walking distance to just about everything. 

2.  El Tigre
El Tigre is a bar that came highly recommended from numerous people.  Here's how it works: you buy beer, sangria, or, in our case, a gigantic caipirinha for 9 euro and you get free, amazing tapas thrown at you nonstop.  Not just measly servings either, I'm talking about healthy servings of some of the best tapas I had in Spain. 

 

3.  More Castles! 

Maybe it's my childhood infatuation with Disney princesses, but I just love these castles.  I am amazed with the history behind them and the thought that royalty were living and partying in some of these before the United States was even the United States.  It's very humbling as an American to be in a building that existed even before your country was even "discovered".   In Madrid, we went to the Palacio Real, which is still used today for formal events and such.

4.  Plaza del Sol and Plaza Meyor
Two great plazas in the city to people watch, lounge, drink, and soak in the city sights and sounds. 

5.  Chocolate and Churros...mmm...
The best part is that it's not chocolate milk, but chocolate that you use to dip your churros in.  While it's rich and a bit heavy, it's definitely worth a try.

Dislikes about Madrid:

Once again, the smoke everywhere; catching the flu (and subsequent attempts at getting medicine in these 'farmacias'); yet another cancelled flight and getting stuck in Madrid overnight with aforementioned flu and lack of medicine.