few days in madrid

Hello to anyone reading this!  Only a short trip this time but I thought I´d post as I´m in an internet cafe and my time hasn´t run out yet... Mostly keeping notes for myself but read away!

So I´m in Madrid then..  Arrived saturday night on a very quiet flight from Bristol, had lots of space to curl up and read my Madrid guide and have a bit of a sleep.  Only brought hand luggage this time as its a short trip which was great when I got off the plane and just got to walk straight out through customs and get on the metro.  It was almost more hassle than it was worth going through secutity in Bristol though!  Had to put my handbag in my rucksac (only 1 piece od handluggage allowed), take out all my liquids/gels/pastes etc and put them through separately and take my shoes off too!  All so I could get to the other side, extract my handbag and put all the liquids back in there. Whatever, I went through so many airports when I was travelling last year and no where was the secutrity so strict!!! Anyway, shouldn`t complain really, end result, very quick and easy journey with no waiting around to pick up luggage.

Anyway, Linsey met me at the metro station at Plaza Espana (she´s already been in Spain for a week) and we went back to our hostal.  (Hostal Astur on Gran Via, excellent location, very clean, has the most beautiful old lift going up the centre of the stairwell).  Had a chilled evening in a restaurant across the road and went to bed feeling very full.

Yesterday we did what you´re supposed to do in Madrid on a Sunday, we went for breakfast - coffee and croissant then went to el Rastro, the Sunday market in La Latina.  There were soo many people there, we wandered through the stalls of clothes (mostly T-shirts and baggy trousers) and jewellry and random kitchen and power tool stalls.  Oh and the very popular rubber tubing stall, if only I had come last week, I needed tubing then....  We wandered into a few little courtyards lined with antique shops, very pretty.  Spent a while looking in one that specialised in oriental stuff, they had some beautiful chests and things, I´d love one to keep all my treasure in... one day!  Kept wandering and somehow ended up back at Plaza Major, headed back a bit away from the most expensive tapas bars ever to find somewhere for a bit of lunch.  We went into a busy one and pushed our way to the bar, ordered a few dishes of prawns, calmares and patata bravas (mmmmm) and a a glass of beer, yum.  After that we continued our wander over to the Huertas area, through lovely streets full of trees and balconies overflowing with plants and lemon trees, stopping for a glass of cava in the sun in Plaza de Santa Ana, very relaxing and holiday like. 

Next stop was the Museo del Prado, this I think is another thing to do in Madrid on a Sunday.  Entry is free after 5, we arrived at 4.30, the queue was massive and it was hot!  So we waited, it was all a bit confusing, then at 5 they let us all in, excellent.  We looked around for a hour or so, it´s all old jesus paintings, not really my kind of thing, but worth a look and the building is lovely.  Anyway, a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, then it started raining so we made our way back to the hostal along the slippery streets! 

Dinner was a few dishes in a few tapas bars, mmm, I like this way of eating, it´s relaxed and you can just eat until you are full.  Oh and then have some cake!  Well it was a nice way to round off an excellent day.

So now it´s Monday lunchtime, just had more coffee, croissants and freshly squeezed zumo de naranja.  The weather forecasters have changed their minds and are no longer predicting rain all week. So we have sun, yay!  Most museums are closed on a Monday so shopping it is!  Time to pick up some more cool clothes that no one back at home will have!

Sorry that was so long!  Will write more in a few days or possibly will fill in details when I get back.  Yay Madrid!