Madrid

I had the opportunity to live in Madrid for 6 months and travel there a couple of time again. I can say that it sure is one of my favourite cities in the world.

The capital of Spain is well known for its football teams, Real Madrid C.F. and Club Atlético de Madrid. Since being a child I always dreamed of being at the stadium of the Galacticos, Estadio Santiago Bernabau.

Several legends have walked, played and retired at this famous ground and I must say that it is rather beautiful. It is located on the Castellaña, one of the longest roads in the centre of Madrid right next to the Nuevos Ministerios area. The pitch itself feels rather small given the imposing nature of the stands (or maybe the nature of the legends that have walked on it).

After a short sight from the stands, we can head into the museums of the Real Madrid. It houses all the trophies it has won over the years. One can find every prestigious trophy here be it the UEFA Champions league, FIFA Club world cup, Copa del Rey, etc.

Given the big names that have played are, you can also find the golden boots, golden gloves and even Ballon D'Ors of some legends such as Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the grandest of displays shows the 12 UEFA champions league trophies that the club has won, the most by any club. I spent a solid 30 minutes admiring these trophies and trying to capture the history they boast.

The museum also shows the history of the club, right from its origins to where it is now.

It is very digital, well documented and interactive. One can also see the jerseys from different years signed by the first team. The archives also contain thousands of pictures and videos of moments of triumph in the club's history. One can argue that the club has achieved a lot that even their nearest rivals have not.

Since I went to the tour in 2017, I was able to see the dressing rooms of the home and away teams. It is difficult to explain how excited I was to see the lockers of Ronaldo, Kroos, Bale, Marcelo, Ramos, etc.

The view from the stands is perfect. It seems so that you can watch the game well no matter which stand you are on.

Another moment that had me trembling with excitement was the opportunity to walk through the tunnel at the Bernabau and arrive at the dugout. Took me a while to take in that I was sitting where several footballing legends made their careers from.

I also managed to grab rather blurry image of the conference room that is open to the media persons for press conferences, player unveilings and presentations. Imagine that it was the room where Luis Figo was unveiled at Real Madrid after a record transfer from Barcelona in 2000. An almost entire day was well spent inside the stadium.

While living in Madrid, I also found the opportunity to visit the Estadio Vincente Calderon, the previous home of Club Atlético de Madrid. I must say that the fans are crazier than those of Real Madrid and the home games are rather a spectacle at the Calderon.

The centre of Madrid is the Plaza del Sol, a place that truly never sleeps. I was at Sol for the countdown of New Years 2017, and it was as if the streets were exploding with fun. On regular days, you will always find performers, street hawkers, protesters or just tourists filled in the area. Adjacent to Sol is the Plaza Mayor, a huge plaza surrounded by beautiful buildings on all its four sides. The plaza is home to several performers as well and you could spend hours at Sol or Plaza Mayor and not get bored.

Walking towards the Palacio Real de Madrid, the official home of Royal family of Spain, you would cross the Teatro Real, a renowned Opera house. The Palace itself is massive and takes a full day to cover by foot.

A student discount and entry to the Royal Palace is worth it. The palace has exhibits from different ages of the Spain and one can also see how the current monarchs live. The palace also has the Cathedral adjacent to it. Spain has some really beautiful cathedrals and the previous monarchs spared no expense at this one as well.

When in Madrid, one must never miss the opportunity to go the Museo del Prado. A guided tour walked us through the streets of Madrid, explaining the likes of Velazquez, Cervantes and Picasso until we arrived at the Prado. The Museo del Prado is home to famous works from Francisco Goya, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt and Velázquez. The museum offers free-for-all entry hours during summer and always has discounts for students.

Another famous museum is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where several of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali's works are showcased. The famous Guernica is also housed within the museum but taking photographs of the famous painting depicting the struggle during the civil war is not allowed, however they can be keenly observed.

Walking to the Parque de El Retiro, you will cross the Plaza de Cibeles and the Fuente de Cibeles which house the City Council of Madrid, another picturesque place in Madrid. The City council is where major celebrations also take place, such as New Years, Easter, Madrid Pride parade and victory parades of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or the Spanish National team on winning international donors.

Just at the entrance of the Parque de El Retiro, we can find the Puerta de Alcalá. It is regarded as the first modern post-Roman triumphal arch built in Europe, older than the similar monuments Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

The Parque de El Retiro is a massive park with a lake inside called Estanque grande del Retiro (pictured) and other monuments such as Palacio de Velázquez and Palacio de Cristal. You can always go for run, catch some beverages/ice cream or simply relax at the park.

The Templo de Debod is another favourite spot of mine in Madrid. Pitched atop a small hill, it was originally built in Egypt in the 2nd century BC and was gifted by the state of Egypt as a token of gratitude to Spain in 1968 where is was reassembled to its current location. It offers amazing views both of the temple and of the city of Madrid fro its viewpoint.

It is compulsory for one to visit the Gran Via and its boutiques when visiting Madrid. Starting from the Plaza de Espana (another magnificent plaza) and stretching until the Circlo de Belle Artes (offers another wonderful viewpoint), the Gran Via is home to several fashion houses, theatres, restaurants and offices.

On one side lies the centre of Sol and on another, the party district of Malasaña. I highly recommend the nightlife here and in Chueca and the tapas bars all around the place. I am still of the opinion that the nightlife here is unmatched elsewhere in Europe (well, maybe Berlin).

When visiting Madrid, I definitely also recommend the Takos al Pastor for their innovative tacos and the Chocolatería San Ginés for its Chocolate with Churros. Both places have long queues and a considerable waiting time, but I assure you that it is worth the wait. The Chocolatería San Ginés is a 100+ years old cafe open every day of the year for 24 hours everyday. It has been visited by celebrities from all across the world and is a popular tourist spot.

Madrid is a vibrant, ever-alive and beautifully built city. There are several other places to visit and things to do in Madrid, and I do not think a single post would do justice to the vibe of the city.

Spain is a traveller's paradise and Madrid is treasure cove of surprises all around the city, a big thumbs up and honest recommendation to it!

#Madrid #Spain #España #EstadioSantiagoBernabau #RealMadrid #BallonDOrs #UEFAChampionsLeague #Galacticos #VincenteCalderon #AtleticoMadrid #Sol #PlazaMayor #PalacioRealDeMadrid #TeatroReal #MuseoDelPrado #Cervantes #Goya #MuseoReinaSofia #PabloPicasso #Guernica #Raphael #Rembrandt #Dali #Velazquez #RetiroPark #PlazaDeCibeles #PuertaDeAlcala #PalacioDeCristal #EstanqueGrandeDelRetiro #TempleOfDebod #GranVia #PlazaDeEspaña #CircloDeBelleArtes #Malasaña #Chueca #ChocolateríaSanGinés #TakosElPastor