Are you ready to walk the streets of Madrid with me today? Yes?
Perfect. It's not difficult, just join me in this post. Although I should warn you about a few things... This walk took place a few months ago, on June 23, 2023, to be precise. Try to gather some superpowers and skip back a few months. Also, it would be good to prepare sun cream because we would be spending the day outside, under the sun. Oh, and bring some water, maybe a blanket too, to rest in the shade of the trees in one park for a few moments.
Let's go then.
It happened that I was in Madrid as I had a performance the previous day in one event. It went all very well and later, the evening was spent in the home of the director and organizer of the event (about that I hope a post will come, hopefully in the next few months). You know how it goes, dinner, a few drinks, no sleep and the next morning you wake up with a headache. I took a painkiller already in the morning but I had to take another one a few hours later as I was still with the same pain. However, it didn't stop me from my plan to visit a few places in Madrid.
I slept in the Hotel Opera, which is located next to the Royal Theatre. The first thing to visit was The Royal Palace and the Cathedral Santa María la Real de la Almudena. Also, the park that surrounds the palace. It was all just a few minutes away from the hotel, it was a very good location I got. Then I picked up my belongings (all in one backpack) and went on this walking adventure. It was already midday by then.
I spent some moments in Plaza de España and decided to go on foot (instead of taking public transportation) to the park, El Retiro. I took the Gran Vía street: just huge tall buildings, no shade, an infinite number of shops and a lot of traffic.
Gran Vía became long and tiresome, so from this corner, where the exit of this metro station was, I took a different street.
From here I went to the Puerta del Sol. It is a famous square where you can find a spot, a so-called kilometre zero of the radial network of Spanish roads. There is also a famous sculpture of Bear and the Madroño Tree and this building, the Royal House of the Post Office.
Now, we are going to take the street Alcalá and pass by a beautiful building, currently a hotel, Four Seasons.
On this same street, I saw and listened to several street musicians and even one little chamber music group, exactly where this pretty building was. They played one very popular composition, Canon in D by Pachelbel.
I was still walking, don't think I took the metro this time either (the previous day yes, and it was so comfortable and fast). What we see here, on the top of the building is a sculpture, "Las Cuadrigas".
Maybe all these tall buildings, the heat, the people made me feel ready for lunch. Probably the early afternoon hours suggested the same. Very close to the Spanish Bank, actually in front of it I found a restaurant and charged my batteries with the help of water, food and coffee. And a sweet dessert.
After lunch I so badly needed a little nap, but no time to waste when you are in Madrid. I arrived at Fuente de Cibeles and the building you see in the background is the New City Hall. The traffic never stops, no way I could have a photo without cars.
A few steps from here you can see the well-known Puerta de Alcalá.
To correct me - you could see. But it was under work, so all we have now is this view. It's fine, at least we can go to the park and maybe have that little nap?
This is the entrance to the Parque El Retiro, from the side of the Alcalá Gate. Just yesterday I was reminded how much I like these huge parks in big cities. If I lived in a place with such green parks, I would like to spend there some time, every day.
I am sorry, I need some minutes of rest and later we will continue with the walk, ok? 😁
The park was nice and there were also some statues we could meet here, but this time I will take you to the Estanque Grande El Retiro (Retirement Pond)
You could rent out a little boat and row in the pond if you wanted. I was already a bit thin with time so I had to speed up this walk. The truth is that I also wanted to see the museums Prado and Thyssen, and more things but then I was almost late for my train. So, I am speeding up the pace of this post too :D
Rested and walked in the park, passed by the Botanical Garden (I would need to wait in line and also buy the ticket, so let's skip it now) and by the building of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Finally, a sign I am close to the museums I wanted to see. Unfortunately, this time we will not visit their interior and the artworks they display.
Looking to the right, Prado museum:
And looking at the left, but you have to cross the street, Thyssen museum:
There were a few artists in front of the museum. They reminded me of some Hivers, from Cuba, like 
After the museums, I got a bit lost, I walked in one way but had to go in another, so this building... I have no clue what it was.
The same happens with this one, I don't know what it is. But it was the moment I realized that I had to find a metro station and go as soon as possible to the Chamartín train station, which was not so close.
Even the people from this building could not stop the time and make this walk a bit longer. Already waiting for the metro, with the ticket in my hand, I changed my mind, ran back to the street, stopped a taxi and flew to Chamartín to take my train. If not, I would stay in this city. Which would not be a bad idea, as I like it a lot! 😂
