Madrid is the first city that I travelled on my own. One thing check off my bucket list. I know I would crave for some valuable personal time after the Eastern Europe-London-Paris trip so I literally booked this just a day before I flew off from Singapore and settled accoms hours before. No plans no nothing. Just book and go. The freedom to go anywhere I want, to eat anything I want and well... just do anything I like. Don't know why I enjoy having my personal space a lot as I grow older. Maybe because... my boyfriend is always not around or just doesn't enjoy hanging out, and so on... I got so used to it and sometimes I find it a chore to have small talks with acquaintances... I just grew to be more of an introvert (INFJ to be specific with the test). It's weird.
Snippets of my trip!
The truth is I lost most of my Madrid photos due to carelessness. But luckily I have all the highlights transferred to my iPad :) People find it weird that I could spend 6 full days in Madrid alone. Firstly, Madrid is one of the most pickpocket prone cities. Secondly, Madrid is rather small and well... not surrounded by any waters. The only day trip you can do is to Toledo (the old capital of Spain). Don't know why but I wasn't bored at all.
First day I reached Madrid at night. Throughout my days in Madrid, I stayed at Mad Hostel! It was my first dorm experience. I shared it with 7 other girls. I didn't get much sleep the whole time there cos it was either too cold (aircon blowing directly at me)/ my sleep will be disrupted by travellers leaving early for their flights/ disturbed by girls coming back from bars or clubs. I don't sleep much in dorms cos I am a very light sleeper so the comfort of the bed doesn't bother me. I just need a clean toilet.
1) Walking tour organised by the sister hostel - Cat Hostel
Plaza Mayor. My fav plaza in Europe. The watercolour painting is so beautiful. I find myself coming back to this plaza again and again. In the past, people used to watch criminals being tortured in this plaza. It was a form of entertainment.
The walking tour was extremely long. I think we walked more than three hours before we finally stopped for some food. I took a lot of photos but all gone. We finally got some quick lunch at this really modern market - San Miguel Mercado.
My pretty plain paella. It seems pretty much like a tourist trap but you can really find all sorts of tapas here at pretty reasonable prices. Would recommend it if you are looking to try all spanish food at one place. It's so hard to find/ settle for an eatery in Europe. All the restaurants seldom congregate at one place like Singapore.
Almudena Cathedral. This cathedral has a really nice shrine. Now I am starting to feel the pinch of losing 8GB worth of Madrid photos. After this, I slipped out of the tour. I couldn't take it anymore. The weather was so hot and without my luggage, I didn't have my shades with me too.
After this was a lot of loitering and of course more shopping at Gran Via, the most famous shopping district in Madrid. I needed to get clothes to last me through this trip. I super duper love Inditex (Zara, Stradivarius, Oysho, Massimo,...). There's everything along this street. I even bought my USB European adaptor here from my favourite FNAC.
Had an early dinner at this small tapas bar near my hostel. I was afraid to go back too late cos the hostel is situated in small alleys. So I always have dinner far earlier than Spanish usual dinner time and this is the only place I could find for decent tapas.
2) The most beautiful palace I have visited (interior wise) - Palacio Real
Day two is mainly spent on exploring the specific attractions. I woke up really early to queue at Palacio Real. I must say I am really impressed, think italian style watercolour painting on almost every ceiling in the palace. I had so many photos that I want to show the boyfriend but grh... But my favourite part of the palace was a room with the walls fully lined with porcelain. It was so so so grand. I love it. I would like to think this is the most beautiful palace I have visited in my entire trip.
Managed to get a Taiwanese bei bei to help me get a picture. I love taiwanese tourists in Europe! Hahaha.
Fuente de la Cibeles and the picturesque Edificio De Correos.
Not so awesome Paella lunch from a chain.
3) Art with a very personal touch - Sorolla Museum.
One of the highlights of this trip was the Sorolla Museum. This is the house of the Artist Joaquin Sorolla. He drew his inspirations from his family and this house. His workshop remains untouched. I like how personal his works are and the fact that it is preserved in the house where a lot of the paintings took place. I am glad I chose this over the famous and huge Prado Museum.
4) My first stadium tour and where I was smitten by Ronaldo - Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Yay. I sat on one of this comfy chairs where the football players sat while waiting to be on the field. It's funny how these uncles pretend to be the famous soccer players.
I wasn't all that excited but it's pretty interesting to be in the house of one the most expensive football clubs. I was tempted to get the jersey as a souvenir but it's soooo expensive and I am not a crazy fan. Hahaha.
Tapas lunch at a nearby cafe. First bread tapas. I am always hungry and I need my meals on time.
4) A little Egypt in Madrid - Templo de Debod
It isn't much to be honest. But it was really shipped from Egypt and reconstructed in Madrid.
Cuties alert! This doggie just jumped into the water by itself. I guess the weather is too hot for it.
5) Beautiful finds as I went to look for another shopping district - Calles Goya
Initially I wanted to skip Goya since I have already been to Paris, the birthplace of the haute couture but someone told me that almost all the luxury brands are cheaper in Madrid and boy it was so true. Now I know where to go to get all my favourite brands in future without having to squeeze with the errhems.
Okay. Shall continue again. In the next post, I have all the photos that's in another SD card :)
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