24 Hours in Madrid — c.b.bliss

The Overview

My time in Madrid, Spain was brief — less than 24 hours. I thought I’d have more time, but a cancelled flight just wouldn’t let me be great.

Was I disappointed? Yes. Did I let that deter me from soaking up as much food, drink, culture, and history as I possibly could in the time that I had? Most certainly, not!

THE DETAILS

This journey begins at the Brussels airport. Since my early morning flight to Madrid was canceled I found myself with lots of unexpected time on my hands. After staking out a prime spot for some good people watching, I settled in and educated myself on the proper way to pour a Stella Artois. Apparently there are 9 steps that could pass for a mashup of a Pentecostal church sermon and an episode of Game of Thrones.

My original plan was to spend the morning exploring Madrid on my own before meeting my food tour group for an evening excursion. That later flight pushed my arrival time into late afternoon which left me with just enough time to check into my hotel before heading into the city center.

I stayed at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference Center, near the airport. They had the coolest amenity for international travelers. They provide guests with a smartphone to use for free during a stay.

The Tapas, Tavern, and History tour started at Plaza de la Villa, one of the oldest squares in the city. From the moment I stepped from my Uber, I knew that I was going to love this city. The vibe was electric and continued to intensify throughout the evening. In my head I was already started planning for a return trip.

Our 8-person tour group hailed from a mix of U.S. states – New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and North Carolina. There was also an American expat now living in Dublin and a natural born Dubliner who was in town for a soccer match.

Oliver was our tour guide. That’s the guy in the blue & white shirt with the prominent, yet inconspicuous red Devour bag. He led us through the streets of old town and kept us engaged with nuggets of history and local lore.

Along the way, we ate delectable tapas and sampled various drinks at:

The jamon iberico was melt in your mouth good.

As the tour came to a close, we gathered at a local bar for a few more rounds of Spanish vermouth.

I passed up the offer to continue bar hopping with the group. Instead, I did a laughable thing. I went back to my hotel room and was asleep by midnight.

After a much needed night’s rest, it was time to head back to the airport for the long flight home. After checking-in I usually make a beeline for security. These stunning ceilings had me slowing down and gazing up to appreciate its artistry. It made it that much harder to say goodbye to a city I barely got to know.