Wow, what a start to my four days in Madrid, Having arrived at midday and settled into my little room in the Hostal not far from my friend Sergio’s place, I decided to head out for a snack. I wasn’t due to meet Sergio until the evening and was impatient to do so. Luckily, our paths were evidently destined to cross much more quickly !
I crossed a busy intersection and looked ahead, seeing a person who looked just like Sergio, coming towards me. Oh, I thought, there are probably lots of young, good looking Spaniards who look similar ! He came closer with a beaming smile, at which point I realised that ‘por casualidad’ ( coincidentally) it was Sergio. What were the chances? Many years ago I had my nose broken by a golf ball which was hit in my direction -millions to one chance - and here I was in the middle of a massive, crowded city meeting my good friend on the street. Much much nicer experience than the golf ball, I must say! Wow, it was so incredible.
In the evening, We walked and walked, and talked and talked. We had so much to catch up on and so many common interests, languages of course being the main factor. Actually, it was hard to focus on the details of the different places we saw. This first photo of us was taken at the Temple of Debod, imagine 2,200 years old, gifted from Egypt in 1968.
I had been down to look at the gardens in the Plaza Espanol in the afternoon. What a gorgeous place and what elaborate, grand buildings! One place I knew I wouldn’t be going was up the lift to the top floor of the hotel, to walk out on a glass floor balcony at the top. Yes, I am a coward!
Look up! That’s what you have to do to see how magnificent these towering blocks are.
Yet, tucked into quiet side streets are very ‘ normal’ streets with pleasant cafes and bars, looking very inviting out of the sun.
Sergio had realised from the many photos I had sent, that I was a nature lover, rather than big city lover, and so we spent our first evening visiting several of the huge parks in the heart of the city. Gorgeous, cool, lush places, where people of all ages stroll, sit and ‘Charla’ chat, or play. Who would know that we are in a teeming capital with 6,8 million in the centre and suburbs! More than we have in all of NZ!
It was fabulous to amble along, enjoying hours with my friend who I had met exactly one year ago at the Polyglot Gathering.
The main station, Estacion Principe Pio, in Madrid, now a bustling place for bars, takeaways and cafes.
Our final place, which I particularly loved was yet another magnificent palace, set amongst fabulous gardens and forests.
Great place for another selfie, this time with me looking rather hot and sweaty after our walk in the over thirty degree temperatures. I had to laugh ( or inwardly cry) when I suggested we could perhaps have a drink. ‘What already? ‘was the answer even though it was 8.30! I quickly had to adapt to Spanish habits of eating well after 9 pm and heading to bed about 12.30 or 1.
So we continued our walk through the wonderful palace gardens, so cool, and with the last rays of sunshine lighting up the beautiful tree trunks. It was a fantastic introduction to this massive city!
Hay fever centre! Arches of the most amazing jasmine. The scent was overwhelming.
10.00 we were standing in line for ages for dinner. I really felt I was getting to know Spanish culture better. Thanks Sergio.
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