MADRID: a lovely city (Travel experience and photos)

Last year I fulfilled my dream, visiting Europe. He had high expectations, he planned to travel to Spain, France, England and Italy; But a banking problem reduced our budget and we had to settle for visiting the first three countries I mentioned. As a result of the change of plans I was a little disappointed and I came to think that my trip would be a failure; 7 days that I had planned to spend in the Spanish capital, they became 21 days; what allowed me to know this magical city.

What should I visit if I go to Madrid?

Before leaving Venezuela, I structured a list of attractions to visit; Of course I had to extend it when my stay extended. But, if your stay is short, these are the most important attractions of the capital city of Spain:

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From left to right; Royal Palace, National Library, Plaza de Sol. Own photo

Sol
Kilometer 0 of Madrid, here you will find the statue of La Osa and El Madroño.
Royal Palace
It is the official residence of the King of Spain; However, they explained to me that the current kings do not live in it, but in the Palacio de la Zarzuela, located on the outskirts of Madrid.
Gardens of Sabatini
They are the gardens of the Royal Palace, designed by the architect Francesco Sabatini; That's where his name comes from.
Prado Museum
It is one of the most important museums in the world, as well as one of the most visited; Here you can appreciate works of art by Goya, Velásquez and many other well-known artists

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From left to right; Plaza España, Gran vía and Plaza Mayor. Own photo

Plaza España
There are two large fountains and right in the center of the square is the monument to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.
Gran Vía
An authentic open-air shopping center, and at the same time the most well-known and bustling avenue in Madrid.
Plaza Mayor
The most emblematic square of the city, located in the center of Madrid, a few meters from the Puerta del Sol square, and next to the main street.

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Inside and outside of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Own photo

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Sports Venue home of the Merengue Team, Real Madrid.
Plaza Cibeles
Surrounded by avenues, there is Plaza Cibeles and the Communications Palace; known for being the venue of Real Madrid.
Templo de Debod
An Egyptian structure that was given to Spain as thanks for its call to save the temples of Nubia. It has an antiquity of 2200 years and was moved from Egypt to Madrid in 1968.

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Landscapes of El Retiro Park Own photo

El Retiro Park
You will definitely retire from the stress and routine of walking through this park, as well as El Palacio de Cristal, a beautiful structure ideal for taking photos.
Almudena Cathedral
Besides having a beautiful architecture, it is of great relevance in the Catholic religion, since it was the first church consecrated by the Pope outside of Rome

Experiences that you can not miss in Madrid

-To shopping in Sol
-Eat a sandwich at the Museo del Jamón
-Up on the cable car and see the best panoramic view of the city
-Tour Bernabéu: Even if you are not a fan of Real Madrid, this structure has a lot of football history to tell; I, being a fan of Manchester United, enjoyed every minute of this trip.
-To enjoy some cañas and tapas at a local bar
-Visit the 100 montaditos

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Buying in Gran Vía y Sol. Own photo

How did the Spaniards treat me?

The treatment seemed very warm, they are pleasant and very kind people. On several occasions they were concerned about the situation in my country, offering me their best wishes and blessings. However, not all the color of roses; being in the 100 montaditos, I ran into a rather xenophobic man who unloaded his frustration with a young Peruvian who was attending to him. In all countries of the world there are those who feel superior to others, so I did not give much importance and continued with my belief in the human warmth of Spanish.

Recommendations

There are several museums in Madrid and usually have a special time in which the entry is cheaper or free. For example, at the Museo del Prado, from 6PM you can enter without paying.
It is common to run into pickpocket thieves, so you must be very attentive to your belongings in crowded places.
At the Barajas Airport there is an internal metro station, so if you are looking to save on transportation, you can choose this option before the taxi.
Electricity service is usually expensive; so, if you do not want additional surcharges on your bill, be careful with appliances that generate heat.
Mobilize yourself on the subway and walk as much as you can, in every corner of Madrid you will find a landscape worthy of a postcard.
Tap water is portable, it is unnecessary to spend on bottled water.
Take advantage of the clothing offers per season, you will find good clothes from 1 euro.
Technological devices are usually expensive, avoid making this type of investment.

Once you visit this city of contrasts, there is no turning back. Madrid, without a doubt, is a city that managed to captivate me with its people, its culture, its food and its landscapes. Despite having fulfilled my dream by going, I will fulfill a dream again when I return.