The Splendor of Madrid and Toledo, Spain

Hola again! We received much positive feedback from our readers on parts 1 & 2 of our Spain family vacation as we visited my son who was studying in Barcelona. So here is hoping you find this part just as inspiring. Off we go to Madrid and Toledo!

Madrid

Having completed our stay in Seville, my husband and daughter boarded our train to Madrid. First, I would love to remind our clients how it is such a pleasure traveling via train through Spain. My first experience riding the trains many (many) years ago while traveling as a college student (on a student budget) certainly left me with fond memories but the cheap overnight tickets we purchased did not make for comfortable rides. One of the many benefits of being an adult is you can travel much more comfortably, plus the trains in Spain have certainly upped the game since then.

Madrid, the capital of Spain is in some ways like being in New York City, but the air is crisper, the streets more pristine and a little more navigable by foot, as long as you don’t get too sidetracked with all the plazas. But then that is why you are in Spain: getting a little distracted is part of the game.

There are so many amazing museums to visit, ranging from the modern art of Reina Sofia, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which spans art from the 13^th to 20^th century, to the iconic and must see National Art Museum El Prado. If you only have the time to see one, then Prado it is. This museum is second in fame to the Louvre in Paris. Our tour guide assured that we not only saw but understood the significance of some of the most important works of art by the great European masters such as Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Raphael and more. Their art provides us with a glimpse of what life was like in those times, along with giving us a deeper understanding of the culture and history of Spain.

Royal Palace, Madrid

Did you know that the Spanish still have a king and queen? While they may not get the same level of press as England, the Spanish royalty is much ingrained in the country’s history. So a tour of the Royal Palace was next. You won’t catch a glimpse of the King because the royals no longer reside here. The palace is now primarily a museum; on occasion they will even close it to hold diplomatic dinners.

I have visited a few famous palaces in my day, including the Palace of Versailles in France, so I did not expect to find anything extraordinary. But I have to say my family and I were impressed. The Royal Palace is stunning and meticulously maintained. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour guide as we strolled thru elegant state rooms. Settings of china dating back generations were beautifully on display.

Enjoy the City Like a Local!

I had pre-arranged for a scenic tour of the city so that we would be better acclimated to the city right off the bat and know where to return as we explored further by foot. I have found that some of my clients also enjoy us arranging a private city tour to lesser known, less touristy sights. There is nothing like having a local professional guide help you to explore a foreign city like a local.

Afterwards it was time to enjoy some tapas for lunch. We just couldn’t get enough of the appetizer sized meals known as tapas in Spain. I think “patatas bravas” (perfectly cooked and slightly spicy with a touch of the local bacon) was my family’s personal favorite. “What restaurants can you recommend?” clients sometimes ask. Well, sometimes you just never know where your day will take you and part of being a traveler is discovering what is just around the corner at that point of the day. So don’t hesitate to explore those hidden little “hole in the wall” restaurants. Walk up to the menu and see if anything appeals to you. Sometimes those are real hidden gems. It’s called serendipity my dear friends!

Madrid is easily walkable and grabbing a taxi was never an issue. The city has many lovely green spaces with the most famous being the “Parque del Buen Retiro”. This public park was once owned exclusively by the royalty. It has a spectacular lake, plenty of areas for lounging and beautiful gardens that date back to the renaissance. Our only regret was that we were there too early in spring to see the flowers in bloom. We strolled through the park until we finally located the “Crystal Palace”. Yes, you heard right, a palace made of crystal. We decided that the line outside was too long, however, so after taking a few pics of the exterior, we moved on to the next sight on our check list.

We still had much to see, including the boulevards of Gran Via, the Paseo de la Castellana, and the Salamanca quarter; even walking past Las Ventas bullring and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of the world-famous football club. Naturally, Spain is known for its many lovely plazas including the most famous landmark, Puerta del Sol, one of the busiest spots in this capital city. Watch out for the traffic, look both ways.

Toledo

After a couple of days of the city we were ready for some small town sights again. And my planned day trip outside of Madrid to see Toledo was next. I recall Toledo being a personal favorite of mine when I was a college student exploring Spain, so it had made my “must revisit” list.

The famous Greek painter “El Greco” gained his fame while living and painting in Toledo, Spain so the charming small town is proud of their claim to fame. It is a little touristy but still worth the trip. I enjoyed once again exploring the small winding cobblestone streets of this town, while encountering some of his works of art, particularly the Church of San Tomé, which contains his masterpiece, the Burial of the Count of Orgaz.

And then there was the beautiful and intimate Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca. It is one of oldest synagogues still standing in Europe.

Our last visit was to the gardens of the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, built in the 15th Century.

So like all good trips, they eventually come to an end. We take the education, the memories and a much enjoyed respite from our everyday lives. And equally important, we relish the time we spent together as a family soaking in all the warmth and beauty that Spain had to offer. Are you inspired? Let’s get you to Spain!

Your Vacation Consultant & Honeymoon Specialist