Our first day in Madrid was spent pigging out, starting with our breakfast at Plaza Mayor, lunch at Mercado de San Miguel and walking around the centre of the capital city with the necessary in between stops—sitting at cafés and bar terraces for drinks and watching people.
We shopped a little bit as well which is unavoidable because the centre of Madrid is exploding with shops. Sometime in the afternoon we went back to the hotel to deposit our shopping bags. Tired from our walking activity, we took a quick nap to re-charge before coming out again to further discover the streets of Madrid.
Anyway, let me show you the centre of Madrid with my fotos below:
Madrid is full of these kinds of bar taverns. I find them just so charming. This is one of my fave foto.
Cafe terraces everywhere.
Personal ads on walls of telephone booths and kiosks. Blondine and I sat here for a cup of coffee.
One of the busy shopping streets in Puerta del Sol.
We had a quick drink here at this elevated cafe with the view to the Theater.
All these pictures taken nearby Plaza Mayor. The uppermost foto is the nice street Calle Cava de San Miguel, lined with mesones (tavern restaurants).
Ham (jamon) shops are practically everywhere. The Museo del Jamon is one of the popular touristy ham shops. We have no intention of buying or eating here, just checking the place out.
Left picture is the Arco de Cuchilleros that connects Calle Cava de San Miguel to Plaza Mayor.
Kids enjoying themselves, one is trying to get some attention by wearing a short cheerleader skirt.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and is an autonomous region as well with 21 districts namely: Centro, Arganzuela, Retiro, Salamanca, Chamartin, Tetuan, Chamberi, Fuencarral-El Pardo, Moncloa-Aravaca, Latina, Carabanchel, Usera, Puente de Vallecas, Moratalaz, Ciudad Lineal, Hortaleza, Villaverde, Villa de Vallecas, Vicalvaro, San Blas and Barajas where the airport is located.
Travel Period: June 2011
Destination: Madrid, Spain