Spanish Vacation: Day One

Friday afternoon: We flew out of Logan Airport to Philadelphia where we caught a connecting flight to Madrid. We ran into a couple delays so ended up in Madrid about 90 minutes later than scheduled. By Spain time, which is six hours ahead of us, we arrived on Saturday morning about 9:30am. The Puerta de Alcala in the Plaza de la Independencia. A famous monument which used to be the entrance into Madrid.

We checked into our hotel, the Palacio Del Retiro, though our room was not ready yet. The photo below is our hotel, located next to the Parque del Buen Retiro. The hotel is an intriguing fusion of history and modern chic.

While waiting for our room, we went to the dining room for a buffet breakfast. The buffet was extensive, with various breads and rolls, Iberico ham, lomo, turkey, cheeses, fruits and sweets. I ate my fair share of ham and lomo, not realizing how much ham and pork products I would get over the next two weeks. You could even order various hot dishes including eggs and omelets. There was also a superb cinnamon roll with shredded coconut and pistachios. A very good meal to start our vacation.

Our room was soon ready. After unpacking some, I went for a walk through Madrid down the Calle de Alcala to the famous Puerta del Sol. I was amazed at the incredible architecture and statuary on route. Madrid was a beautiful city.

Here are some photos I took on route.

Puerta del Sol is a very busy area with many shops, bars and restaurants. Many people were milling around, shopping, eating, people watching.

This is the famous Tio Pepe sign, a producer of Sherry, in the Puerta del Sol.

This is the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree in the Puerta del Sol. The statute is called "El Oso y El Madroño." The Madroño is a tree related to the strawberry tree.

This is a statute of Carlos III, the King of Spain 1759-88.

I decided to stop at the Museo del Jamon for a bit of lunch. This is not a museum but a combination market, restaurant and tavern. They have several locations throughout Madrid. There is a section selling various types of Iberian hams, including the expensive Bellota. The huge hams hang enticingly from the ceiling. They also sell various cheeses. There is a bar where you can have a drink and order food, from tapas to bocadillos (sandwiches).

I ordered a mixed plate of ham and lomo, along with a glass of red wine. The meal was inexpensive and delicious. I stood at the bar, savoring the silky feel of the ham. This is a great place to stop by for a quick bite.

I returned to my hotel for a short respite before venturing back into the city.

To be continued...