January 19, 2018
We're Back! In Spain with the Madrid Kid
“The Spaniards were seated at a table by the hearth, dominating the room with their mustachioed handsomeness and aggressive good cheer.”
― Dawn Patitucci, The Queen's Prophet
A short and sweet (we hope) start to our 6th (has it been that long, really?) anniversary celebration once again in Spain.
Paul traveled to Spain in his misspent (my opinion only) youth with a high school group that (supposedly) had a chaperone. During this excursion, besides a number of mildy illegal and morally questionable activities, he was dubbed "the Madrid Kid."
Forty years later, in a more refined and sedate condition, he returns and celebrating (I hope) six years of matrimony. (Law, me!)
We had a great flight out of JFK (only 6 hours!) into Madrid and spent the first part of the day resting at the airport Hilton. THANK YOU taxpayers for providing us with free accommodations at this pleasant hotel near the airport. (Hilton points from Paul's work travels). We highly recommend this hotel for passers-through or even as a place to stay as the metro is only about a 15 minute walk.
Thankfully, although 32F on arrival, by afternoon it was 60F. YES! I am so sick of single digit Fahrenheit temps!
After a nice nap,we took a walk in the Barajas neighborhood of Madrid. Fortunately for us, we have been in Madrid enough times to be familiar with this very Spanish neighborhood. We woke up and took a walk to El Capricho Park....which was closed. WallyWorld strikes again!!!
Overall, a short but enjoyable sojourn in Madrid, Barajas only. We think Barajas, the airport neighborhood is underrated!
We're Back! In Spain with the Madrid Kid
“The Spaniards were seated at a table by the hearth, dominating the room with their mustachioed handsomeness and aggressive good cheer.”
― Dawn Patitucci, The Queen's Prophet
A short and sweet (we hope) start to our 6th (has it been that long, really?) anniversary celebration once again in Spain.
Paul traveled to Spain in his misspent (my opinion only) youth with a high school group that (supposedly) had a chaperone. During this excursion, besides a number of mildy illegal and morally questionable activities, he was dubbed "the Madrid Kid."
Forty years later, in a more refined and sedate condition, he returns and celebrating (I hope) six years of matrimony. (Law, me!)
We had a great flight out of JFK (only 6 hours!) into Madrid and spent the first part of the day resting at the airport Hilton. THANK YOU taxpayers for providing us with free accommodations at this pleasant hotel near the airport. (Hilton points from Paul's work travels). We highly recommend this hotel for passers-through or even as a place to stay as the metro is only about a 15 minute walk.
Thankfully, although 32F on arrival, by afternoon it was 60F. YES! I am so sick of single digit Fahrenheit temps!
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| Nice rooms. Nice Views. Free of charge. The staff are really accommodating! |
After a nice nap,we took a walk in the Barajas neighborhood of Madrid. Fortunately for us, we have been in Madrid enough times to be familiar with this very Spanish neighborhood. We woke up and took a walk to El Capricho Park....which was closed. WallyWorld strikes again!!!
We did get to watch kids playing soccer at a redoubt near a park and returned to our room just in time for sunset.
The rest is all food porn! Last time we were here, we found a wonderful Galician tapas restaurant near the airport called OKELA. Not only is the food authentic, but the staff is attentive, makes great suggestions and makes this place a pleasure of mind, body and taste buds. We make this a regular stop.
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| Nondescript externally, this is a little powerhouse of Galician tapas! |
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| When is the pirate happier than with a"grog" of gin and tonic Spanish style'---large and in charge? |
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| It is our anniversary trip so to quote the bard, " A loaf of bread, a jug of wine and THOU!" |
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| Ceviche limones. Lovely. Equal to that prepared by Marcia Badillo-Chavez which is quite a compliment. |
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| Acorn fed Iberian ham.So thin. SO amazing. |
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| These red beans Galician style are so good. We order them EVERY time we are here. The waiter asked repeatedly, "Seriously, you want to eat these at night?" We'll see what happens! Hurricane Parris ala Madrid?? And YES, Chad Helms, Paul does intend to wear this SAME shirt for several consecutive days! |
"Madrid, as a residence, is disagreeable and unhealthy, alternating between the extremities of heat and cold, or, according to the adage, tres meses de invierno y nueve del inferno: three months of winter and nine of hell."
Richard Ford, A Handbook for Travellers in Spain, 1855
Paul's Ponderings: Great to be back in Spain! Easy trip over on Delta (thank you frequent flyer miles), a nap, and then a great dinner at Okela. This was our second trip there and it was as good as we remembered it from a year ago. Tomorrow it's off to La Palma and the start of great hiking soon afterwards in the Canaries. Much more to come in the next 2.5 weeks as we visit La Palma and El Hierro.
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