I flew from Atlanta to Madrid with a connecting flight in Miami on Oct. 7th, 2009. It was my first time in Spain and I was ready to travel. It was a trip of many firsts for me as I was traveling alone for the first time in my life for the initial part of my trip. I had to find my way to the Petit Palace Londres hotel in the center of the city after a taxi ride that dropped me off at the wrong hotel. Fortunately, I wasn't very far away from the correct hotel and I was able to wander onto the correct street with the vague directions the receptionist had given me from the hotel I was dropped off. As I was about to ask for directions again until I found the door to enter the hotel and that was going to be my home for the week. I checked in and settled into my room within 30 min., but it was a long trip to get to this city! It took 2 hours to get from Atlanta to Miami, but there was a 3 hour delay along with a 4 hour layover in Miami. I didn't get on the plane to Madrid until 8:30pm and we flew to Madrid by 11am the next day. I was really exhausted from just getting there and I didn't sleep at all on the flight so I was quite tired. I decided just to lay on the big comfy bed and sleep to get the much needed rest to have energy to travel. Nothing goes as planned because I laid there for an hour at least and couldn't fall asleep. I was getting restless in the hotel room, so I just decided to begin my travels immediately and not waste any more time. I was very ambitious with walking to the Prado Museum for 3 hours to see every piece of art I could before they closed and then I walked over to the Parque Buen Retiro because it was not very far from the museum. I didn't get far into the park only reaching the double stairwell fountain because my feet were tired from all the walking. I sat on a stone bench and took in my surroundings and people-watched for a little while. Then I decided to head back to the hotel before it got dark to rest before dinner as they eat late, no earlier than 9 pm. I finally was able to take a nap and I decided to get some tapas for dinner. I ended up getting some bacalao (cod) croquettes from Casa Labra, which were very good. However, I got my first taste of the tapas eating environment and I was not impressed to say the least. I found it was a very small bar that had way too many people jammed in trying to buy tapas or drinks (mainly beer). The place was so crowded it was hard to even find a place to stand without being in the way. The small tables were filled and I was reduced to eating off a ledge in the corner of the room standing with random people around me who were also just standing and eating next to each other. I decided this was not where I wanted to be and so I ate really fast, taking my last croquette in a napkin to eat on the walk back to my hotel. I didn't enjoy eating this way because it was so uncomfortable with the noise and lack of space. I returned to my hotel to enjoy a nice hot shower and I went to bed listening to the sounds of the people and cars that passed by below in the city that never sleeps.
ut there was a 3 hour delay along with a 4 hour layover in Miami. I didn't get on the plane to Madrid until 8:30pm and we flew to Madrid by 11am the next day. I was really exhausted from just getting there and I didn't sleep at all on the flight so I was quite tired. I decided just to lay on the big comfy bed and sleep to get the much needed rest to have energy to travel. Nothing goes as planned because I laid there for an hour at least and couldn't fall asleep. I was getting restless in the hotel room, so I just decided to begin my travels immediately and not waste any more time. I was very ambitious with walking to the Prado Museum for 3 hours to see every piece of art I could before they closed and then I walked over to the Parque Buen Retiro because it was not very far from the museum. I didn't get far into the park only reaching the double stairwell fountain because my feet were tired from all the walking. I sat on a stone bench and took in my surroundings and people-watched for a little while. Then I decided to head back to the hotel before it got dark to rest before dinner as they eat late, no earlier than 9 pm. I finally was able to take a nap and I decided to get some tapas for dinner. I ended up getting some bacalao (cod) croquettes from Casa Labra, which were very good. Ho
wever, I got my first taste of the tapas eating environment and I was not impressed to say the least. I found it was a very small bar that had way too many people jammed in trying to buy tapas or drinks (mainly beer). The place was so crowded it was hard to even find a place to stand without being in the way. The small tables were filled and I was reduced to eating off a ledge in the corner of the room standing with random people around me who were also just standing and eating next to each other. I decided this was not where I wanted to be and so I ate really fast, taking my last croquette in a napkin to eat on the walk back to my hotel. I didn't enjoy eating this way because it was so uncomfortable with the noise and lack of space. I returned to my hotel to enjoy a nice hot shower and I went to bed listening to the sounds of the people and cars that passed by below in the city that never sleeps.
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