Madrid, the heart of Spain. There is no end of things here to love, places to go, sights to see. There’s art galore, quiet parks tucked away in this metropolis, cafes to satisfy all cravings and quirky neighbourhoods to get lost in. There’s food and festivals and antiques and all the shoes a person could ever want. So how does a gal go about picking just three favorite things?
Well, let me try…
1. Endless cafe hopping
Whether you’re looking for a cafe con leche, the best red velvet cake, a stiff cocktail or a vermouth & tapas, Madrid has it all. The bar and cafe scene is unending; some people have their favourites, but whenever I’m in Madrid, I never sit in one spot for long. A beer here, a vermouth there, and all the snacks in between. My next favorite is always just around the corner. Curious about the coffee culture in Madrid? Read this article I found.
2. Endless art
Maybe it’s the fun, interactive art installations of La Reina Sofia you’re after, or the classics of the Prado, or even the lesser known gems of small galleries, tucked away down side streets. No matter, you will find what you’re looking for, and you will have fun while you’re at it. You might even come across colourful characters like this outside said museums.
3. Endless neighbourhood exploration
I lived in Madrid for 6 weeks a few years ago, and I have visited Madrid on a handful of separate occasions. I have spent a considerable amount of time there, and yet I feel like I’ve only just begun to dig my way under the surface of this city’s intricacies and neighbourhoods. My heart will always be with Malasaña, but Lavapies is equally charming and stacked with bars and cafes. I have heard of people who were robbed or mugged in Madrid, but I have never felt anything but safe and welcome here. The city is completely walkable and inviting.
These are reasons I love this city, but most importantly, these are three reasons (among a pile of others) that make this place completely liveable and magnetic. I will never get over you, Madrid.
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I was inspired to write this post after reading Rika’s post on Kyoto as a submission for Accor Hotel’s “A Tale of Three Cities” contest. I enjoy writing for contests like this because of the different ideas for publishing content and telling stories. For full entry details, follow this link.
Oh, and ps… the shoes… I couldn’t resist.
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