Cervantes, Churches, and Chocolate

Madrid seems, to me, like the Paris of Spain, a very European city. Like Paris, Madrid has wide, tree-lined boulevards and numerous circles. Plazas are the heart of city life—cafes and gift shops spring eternal. We went on our city tour, which stopped at the Plaza de Espana with the Cervantes Memorial (the Spanish love Cervantes, he’s everywhere) and Don Quixote with Sancho Panza in front.

Plaza de Espana

 Our next stop was for a photo op at the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) with a view of the gardens and the Campo de Moro. I was going to walk around in the park later, but there is so much to do in Madrid! 

Palacio Real with gardens in front

After the bus tour, I got off at the Prado Museum of art, where the line is humongous. I walk the main streets and stop in a couple plazas to check out the activity. The architecture of the buildings is amazing, and I can look at it with new and enlightened eyes because of the class I’m taking back in Copenhagen. The people and the sunshine are wonderful; there’s so much energy in the center of the city. I stop at the Mercado de Miguel and grab some delicious snacks to walk with. It’s like a Reading Terminal or Quincy Market, only with Spanish food and wine. Yum. 

El Mercado

I also try chocolate con churro, which is a churro (think thin crispy donut) dipped in hot chocolate, only this chocolate is the consistency of chocolate syrup, and about as rich. I could have ordered the chocolate con leche, with milk, but I wanted to try the traditional.

I stop in the Madrid cathedral on a whim, because I like churches and I always enjoy seeing the art inside. This church was beautiful! I discreetly took some photos while they were having a Palm Sunday service. 

Front of Cathedral--beautiful colors

Ceiling of the Cathedral continues the color theme

To top the day off, I bought an ice cream and ate it while I walked through some of the parks nearby. 

I made my way back to the Plaza de Espana, did some shopping at the little market they had there (like Eastern Market in DC) and then headed back to my hotel on the metro for a well-deserved rest from a great day in Madrid! The next day we drove down to Seville and stopped in Cordoba to see the Mezquita--next post!