My absolute least favorite part of traveling abroad (aside from the inexplicable lack of ice and proper soda) is the flight. This time around, our journey first took us from Indianapolis to Atlanta for a three-hour layover and Five Guys burgers and fries. We considered it our proper goodbye to greasy American food.
Our seven-and-a-half hour Delta flight to Madrid was alright, excluding the snug seat belts and the broken touch screen on the seatback in front of me. We were served two "meals" - dinner and breakfast - but we spent the bulk of the flight listening to Pod Save America and watching movies. No sleep, The Zookeeper's Wife, and Patriots Day later, we finally arrived in Spain's capital city on...
Day 1
Madrid, Spain
Highlights: Gran Vía, Airbnb hot tub
My parents, who were meeting us from Cincinnati, actually flew through New York City to Madrid. Their flight had a slight delay, so Wheat and I spent over an hour heroically fighting sleep in the baggage claim terminal before they showed up. Once all of our bags were collected, we hopped in a taxi and I did my best to mumble the address of our Airbnb in Spanish. The driver dropped us off in front of a locked, five-story building on a lively street in Malasaña, an area filled to the brim with coffee shops, tiny stores, bars, and restaurants.
We had a few hours to wait before we were allowed to check in to the penthouse that we rented, so we set up shop at Café Calentito, which was conveniently located right next door. We ordered some toast, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and porras (thick churros) and passed the time at an outdoor table. Wheat and I figured out the metro system and used it to reach the Julia Travel tourism office. While there, we bought tourist cards that allowed us to bundle multiple attractions together for a discounted price.
Eventually, the owner of the Airbnb sent someone to let us in and show us the amenities in the apartment. Guys, as far as Europe goes, it was downright luxurious. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a washing machine, a kitchen, a living room, remote control-operated blinds, and air conditioning in every room. Our host left us some treats, including breakfast pastries, orange juice, and beer. Oh, and the best part? A private hot tub and dining area on the roof that overlooked the entire city. Heaven.
By this point, we all desperately needed a nap, so we zonked out for a few hours before rousting for dinner. Since we were still recovering from jet lag, we decided to take it easy and walk to dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants. We stopped first at Pez Tortilla, a small, but apparently very popular tapas spot that specialized in tortillas and croquettes (croquetas). We couldn't find a table and my dad promptly disappeared in search of a bank to exchange money, so I took a stab at ordering and got an assortment of croquettes. They turned out to be spinach and cheese, pork, chicken curry, and ham.
When my dad finally returned, we ventured toward Gran Vía, a bustling street of upscale shops and nightlife that is often referred to as "Spain's Broadway." It quickly lived up to its name when we noticed that The Lion King (or El rey león) was playing. After a little indecision, we settled on a restaurant called Don Jamón for dinner. Most of us ordered ham and cheese sandwiches (bocadillos) while my dad ordered an omelette of some kind. The food was just okay, but sitting at an outdoor table and soaking in the atmosphere served as the perfect introduction to Spanish nightlife.
We took our time as we walked back, stopping to enjoy various shops that were still open despite the late hour. Locals and tourists alike flooded the streets, looking for the perfect spot to eat or dance the night away. Once we finally reached home, we decided to hop into the hot tub for a soak and some incredible views of the city. In the distance, a massive fireworks display started going off while the laughter and singing of partiers on the streets below echoed up to us on the roof.
I think it was right about then that I realized that Madrid was gonna be just fine.
Maravilloso blog.
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