City Break - Madrid (part two)

With 4 full days to explore Madrid I decided to use my feet, always reckon the best way to see a City is by walking and to be fair its a City that doesn't let you down, some lovely plazas and many interesting buildings.

Before travelling i'd purchased a guide book that had a few recomended walking routes so i followed them with a few of my own variations with of course a few coffee stops.







Obviously as I had a Metro ticket i used the trains to get to and from the starts of the various walks.

First full day i spent around the Medievel district which is the main city centre, my first route took me from the Sol plaza along the road to Plaza Mayor, then down some steps in the south west corner of the square.

The route took me around many churches, small Plazas and along many narrow streets with cafes and taverns along the way. Also visited a couple of indoor markets along the route (good place to find a toilet because Madrid is a little short of public toilets).

After a Lunch lunch i arrived at Isobel Plaza then along to the Palace and its amazing grounds. Did intend to go in the Palace but the queue was riddiculous so gave it a miss and just got a few pics from the outside.

Next day I started at Plaza Espanya on a walk that took me along the Gran Via and its amazing buildings eventually came to a big roundabout where i turned right along a road full of museums eventually finishing near the botanical gardens.

Take note if you go straight on at the roundabout (near the arch) about 50yards on your left is a cracking Irish Pub called the James Joyce, had done my homework and had lunch there.

Must admit should have gone back one night as they had live music on but was a bit away from the hotel and involved changes on the metro.

Did take note the the Spanish Naval museum was along the road incase i ran out of places to visit or it started raining. Just interested to hear the Spanish version of events during the Armada.



Third day the weather had cooled (first two were hot and sunny) so it was off with shorts and on with the Jeans for a visit to Retiro which is a big park.








Spent lots of the day in the area and was plenty going on, a couple of footie matches for a start which i stopped off and watched for an hour or so while recharging the batteries.



Although Madrid is walker friendly it has a lot of subtle hills add to that all the stairs to get to the Metro my legs were starting to feel it.

Also that day was a big charity cycle ride going on around the city, many ending up in the park, bits of entertainment (music) scattered about.
Turned out a nice relaxing day.

On last full day I got metro to the Bernabou (Reals stadium) for a couple of photos, didn't do the tour though as on principle not going to pay anything towards Ronaldos wages, will leave that to the many Japanese tourists that were there.

Afterwards got Metro to Lago where there is a massive lake you can walk around with many lakeside restaurants.

Not just the lake the area is a a massive area with lots of bike and walking trails, a big one around the area is 15km so any keen walkers take your boots.
Its what i would call dry scrub land but i did walk a section (2km or so) to the Casa de Campo (near the Zoo) metro stop before getting train back to the city centre.

Nightime twice i went into the City and twice tried a number of the bars close to my hotel. Was a Irish Pub (Molly Mallones) within 10 mins and lots of other interesting places including a couple of Rock Bars.

Must say as a solo traveller i found Madrid and the people very friendly, everywhere i seemed to stop ended up talking to someone which doesn't always happen.

I would recommend anyone to visit, very nice and i would say safe place for us tourists.

On my return home i set the alarms off at both Madrid & Heathrow, had my hands, belt and shoes swabbed then tested in a machine.
I asked if it was drugs at heathrow assuming i'd touched something in a bar but was told it was explosives that was alarming.
However the chap at heahrow said it was a very low reading and could be anything such as some soaps or shower gels causing the alarm.

City Break - Madrid (part one)

Got another excellent deal through my Avios points for a 5 night break in Madrid another City that was high on my bucket list so decided to give it a go travelling totally solo.




 The deal included connecting flights from Manchester to Heathrow then on to Madrid and back via the same route plus 5 nights (thurs to tues) in the 4 star Sercotel with breakfast.

Obviously travelling on my own did a bit of research before i went including checking the fixtures before I went hoping that either Athletico or Real would be at home was delighted to find they were actually playing each other on the Sunday night while I was there.
Got a ticket so as a big footie fan was one of the highlights of the trip. Not been a good neutral i decided to support the team in red against the team in white (and believe me thats not easy) but no way was i gonna support a team with Ronaldo in it, cant stand the bloke.
Also the fact the match was in the Caldron (Athletico's stadium) and i was in the middle of there fans made it a good decision.
The match was a cracking game in a great atmosphere as you would imagine between two of europes top teams, finished a draw 1-1 but we did miss a penalty so a moral victory, lol.

Went early for a look around the ground and between the nearest metro station and the stadium found a lovely little cafe, biggest baguette i've ever had stuffed with gammon with a pint of beer to swill it down, cost 6euro 50cents thats what i call value.

Anyway back to the start of the holiday and the journey first despite me driving to Manchester at 6am the M62 was a pain and very slow moving in parts, got to airport a bit later than planned but checkin and security was very quick so still had time for a bite to eat for breakfast.

On arrival at heathrow the plane pulled up at the gate and the tunnel that attatches to the plane for us to get off broke down, we were stuck on the plane for 30 minutes while they found some steps to take us off at the back door.
Fortunately i had 3 hours between flights but other people with tight connections were in a bit of a panic.
Had a pint in Wetherspoons waiting for my gate to be called and got chatting with a nice Irish lady from Basingstoke who was also travelling Solo. She was going to Paris, was shame not to Madrid as I'm sure we would have had a few laughs and would have been someone to eat out with.

On arrival at Madrid i decided to use the Metro to get to the hotel which took about 45 minutes with one change. I bought a 7 day pass for 35euros as it covered my complete time there including transfers both ways. In hindsight i should have got a 5 day pass (25euros) and just a 2euro single for one of my transfers as only used the one journey on arrival and leaving. You live and learn.
Must say the Metro system is excllent, very clean, trains are regular and easy to use with the lines numbered and colour coded.

My hotel was near the San Bernardo stop which was on two lines with a few bars and a excellent sandwich and cake shop close by.

Checked into the hotel and was told room 608, went to the room and was just about to sort my things out when i noticed a bag on the table. Checking the wardrobe it was full of someones things so quickly left. Checking the papers they gave me i should have beenin 609 but the key wouldn't work so had to go back to reception who admitted there mistake.
Hotel was excellent with a very adequate breakfast, rooms were comfy and although i was in a single room the bed was reasonable size (small double).

As i'd arrived in the evening after freshening up i decided to eat in the hotel bar with a couple of beers. To be fair as 4 star hotels go the prices were reasonable (beer 3euros).

Did have an issue Saturday night with people in the room above me making lots of noise between 1am & 3am. They had the window open (smoking) so i opened mine and asked them politely to shut up (well as politely as yorkshiremen do). They did improve but still continued so eventually reported it to reception, the man had a listen and went straight up to tell them, never heard another murmour.
In all the hotels I've been in its first time i've had to report but it was well over the top.