Yesterday we took a train through the Spanish countryside and arrived in our final destination of our trip, Madrid. The majority of today was taken up by a tour of the city, and a very excellent tour at that. My family and I were lucky enough to have yet another great tour guide, he was incredibly knowledgeable about his city, its buildings, and various paintings in the local art museum, Museo del Prado.
We first looked at the bull ring, where fights take place between two hundred and three hundred nights a year, but I'll save more details of that for Tuesday night, when we attend a bull fight. The bulk of our morning was spent at the royal palace, which was an incredible sight to see. Unfortunately no pictures were allowed to be taken inside of the palace, but believe me when I tell you every square inch of this place was amazing. The same goes for the museum, no pictures were allowed inside. As annoying as that is, I totally understand, and it just gives you more of a reason to travel to Spain.
Our guide took us to a restaurant today and helped us order specialties of the restaurant and the area, which was absolutely amazing to say the least. Being in Spain has made me appreciate food culture a lot more, and makes me want to never stop eating awesome food.
Bull fighting arena! I absolutely cannot wait to see the bull fight Tuesday night... and cameras are allowed!
The Royal Palace. It was enormous, somewhere near 2,500 rooms.
Lunch at Cinco Jotas, or 5Js, and they make all their own meats.
Top left: Tomato bread, which is very popular in Spain, and a variety of meats. The darkest of slices is blood sausage, it was delicious. My favorite of the pieces of meat is the striped looking one in the top right of the plate, and it is meat from a pig that is only fed acorns. It is similar to prosciutto, but even more delicious.
Top right: Squid with squid ink rice and garlic mayo.
Bottom left: Mixture of french fries, egg and spanish sausage. Very similar of huevos con picadillos. It's SO good.
Bottom right: I can't really remember what it was but it involved ham, potato and chili sauce and it was also delicious.
This street performer was terrifying. When my sister dropped in her euros, he said "gracias" in the creepiest voice and snapped his goat mouth at her multiple times.
Museum of ham! Are you kidding me? Where are these in the US? Why don't I live in Europe? Food culture is incredible here. Also, why am I not Anthony Bourdain?
The royal family used to have coronations at this beautiful church and now, as our tour guide described it, it's a church for pretty people and soccer players to get married.
Amazing photography Lauren. I lived in Madrid for 8 months and only have these caliber of pictures in my head :) Simply beautiful. If I had to bet I would say the bottom right picture of food would be Croquetas de Jamón. Very creamy and delicious. Enjoy the rest of your time in Spain!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I go home tomorrow, but have had such an amazing time. I hope to come back at some point.
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