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TRIP REPORT: Madrid for New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve in Madrid

Two of our three young adult kids met us in Spain. We all hopped aboard the train from Sevilla Santa Justa to Madrid. Our original plan was to spend a full week in Madrid (which I think this city needs) but one of our girls really wanted to experience Sevilla so we split her week between the two cities.

We had the most amazing time in majestic Madrid!

Arrival
We arrived via AVE train in the slick Madrid Atocha Station and followed the signs on the top level to get a taxi. There were plenty lined up and we were off in no time.

Our Apartment
After much deliberation – as is my way – we chose a lovely three-bedroom vacation rental through Minty Stay. It was a 3-bedroom, 3-bath apartment on Plaza Santa Ana in Barrio de las Letras. It was a perfect location for our first trip to explore Madrid. The apartment was in very well-kept building, a modern, gorgeous interior staircase. We had beautiful floor-to-ceiling window doors that opened to small balconies. Minty Stay was very responsive and met us promptly upon check-in. Here is their website for reference: https://mintystay.com/en

Vibe
We were immediately in awe at the beauty of the city architecturally. It felt like Paris to me – grand, elegant, and well-dressed! It’s a big city and was full of life. And even though it was quite cold, there were people sitting at café tables in the plazas, walking the streets and in all of the restaurants. It was very crowded and bustling. Christmas lights were unbelievable! We walked everywhere!

Restaurants

TriCiclo
Our first night was at this amazing restaurant! It had a beautiful calm atmosphere with soft lights and intimate tables. We started with the most gorgeous cheese board and negronis. Three hours later we finished after an outstanding dinner, dessert topped off with a glass of champagne. Highly recommend!

Restaurant Berlanga
A beautiful walk across El Retiro Park brought us to this lovely warm restaurant. A couple of us ordered paella in advance. The others ordered steak tartare and lamb cutlets. We finished with Expresso Martinis and lemon sorbet. The restaurant was full and the rooms were lovely. This was a perfect place to spend the afternoon on New Year’s Eve.

Cervecería Alemana
My husband and daughter are huge Hemingway fans so we had to visit Cervecería Alemana for lunch one day. Located in the Plaza Santa Ana, it was just a few doors down from our apartment. A loud, bright room with average food, it served its purpose. The restaurant still has a table reserved for Hemingway, right next to the window.

Pizza and burgers
The end of a four-week trip, my husband was in the mood for hamburgers. The girls found the most atmospheric small spot, although I don’t remember where we were exactly. We also ended up in a charming Italian restaurant one night for pizza and wine. Both are solid American staples mixed in some delicious Spanish restaurants.

Restaurante El Madroño
Of course, we had to have Madroño liquor, made with the fruits of the Madroño tree, the symbol of the city!

TO BE CONTINUED ...

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Circling back to finish this Trip Report!

Sites/Activities

Arts and Crafts Fair on Paseo de Recoletos
This exhibition of artisan gift items was a great way to spend a couple of hours. There were not a lot artists but plenty enough to find a few items to take home. There were ceramics, jewelers, leather goods, paintings and sketches and a few other arts and crafts. I bought a numbered lithograph of a Madrid street scene with Plaza de Cibeles in it It’s in my foyer for all to see!

Naviluz Christmas Bus
Tickets went on sale on November 16 at 9:00 am Madrid time. I immediately hopped online but had some credit card trouble. 12 hours later, I tried again and had no problem! Tickets seemed to be selling fast but we were able to get the day and time we wanted. I believe buses depart every 10 minutes. We sat on the upper deck and took a slow drive in traffic-filled Madrid. But it was a nice way to get our bearings and see the gorgeous Christmas lights.

Historical Walking Tour: The Madrid of the Austrians
We took a fascinating walking tour of El Madrid de los Austrias. This old city center’s origin goes back to the sixteenth century when the Habsburg dynasty decided to transfer the imperial court to Madrid. Our guide was a fabulous storyteller about the line of Hapsburgs kings ending with Charles II. We loved wandering through the narrow streets, and seeing the old plazas, shops, palaces and churches.

Historical Walking Tour: The. Bourbons in Madrid
The Bourbons sat on the Spanish throne in the year 1700, and they are still ruling over the country today. With the Bourbon influence came a classicism style, and the restructuring of urban spaces. Starting at Puerta del Sol, we walked the opposite way of our first tour. We went through the streets of Alcalá and Caballero de Gracia, and saw some of the beautiful neoclassical architecture. Puerta de Alcalá is magnificent! We walked through Parque de El Retiro and learned about the funding and building of the many museums, libraries, promenades, fountains, academies and gardens were all built.

Both of these tours were fantastic. We really could have used another day to go back and trace our steps, wandered these beautiful bustling streets and enjoyed some of the wonderful discoveries.

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The Prado Museum
We all love fine art museums and, by now, you know that we love guided tours. We bought tickets in advance to the 90-minute English tour. The tour only looks at a handful of key works, but the explanations of the paintings, and tips on what to look for and how to view them were outstanding. Highly recommend this trove of Spanish masterpieces.

Just a tip if you take the English-guided tour. It is necessary to first choose a date for a General entry (unguided visit) ticket then under complement your visit, purchase a second ticket for the English tour. Both tickets are timed tickets so be sure your general entry ticket is at least 30 minutes before your tour ticket. Granted it was New Year’s Eve, but the lines to get in for general entry were very long and we almost missed the guided tour. The English tours are currently offered twice daily: 11am and 1pm. The gift shop at the Prado is fabulous!

Parque de El Retiro
We could not have asked for a better today to enjoy this stunning Unesco-listed public park. Blue skies, sunshine and people strolling about soaking it all in. This expansive, 19th-century park has cafes, manicured hedges, a boating lake & rose garden, numerous fountains and statues, an impressive monument to Alfonso XII. and lots of paths to follow. It was a wonderful nature reprieve from the city.

Closing
We absolutely adored this elegant grand city. As we packed up to depart for the U.S. after a month in Spain, we reflected on the cold but sunny December weather in Madrid, world-renowned museums, stunning architecture, palaces and cathedrals, beautiful parks and the incredible food scene that we were so lucky to enjoy. I hope we can return to Madrid again -- a bit off-season -- and explore the city more deeply.

ADIOS ESPANA

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Great report. We're thinking we might go to Madrid very soon.