...then a 2 hour flight and 3 subways later and we had made it to our last destination: MADRID!
We checked into our hotel for the evening: Hostal Marlasca, which was about 2 blocks from the popular Puerto Sol square...
Would I spend a week in this hotel? No. But was it sufficient for a quick nights sleep on a tight budget? Sure! The room was very spacious and even came with a typical wrought iron Spanish balcony that looked out over the street...
However, for the record, that street was BOOMING until....God knows when! Let's just say wayyyyyy past 2am! If you were staying here in the summer and NEEDED to have the window open, I'm not sure how much sleep you could actually get. Unless loud, partying crowds are a lullaby to youJ
Anyways....for our one last night out on the town, I had booked Scott & I an evening with the Adventurous Appetites Tapas Tour....
If you have one day, one month or one year in Madrid...do yourself a favor and TAKE THIS TOUR! We had an absolute BLAST from start to finish! From their website, they promise to "get off the tourist track and experience the authentic 'Madrilone' ambiance." They did just that and did a spectacular job! I can't say enough wonderful things about this tour or our tour guide, Paul....
He was knowledgeable, super friendly and knew JUST what spectacular goodies to order for us from each location. We knew we were in good hands. Paul also informed us that the bars that we visited do NOT like to be splashed all over the internet in an attempt to keep their bars 'local' rather than 'tourist hot spots.' Refreshing, right?? So out of respect for these bars & the tour...I won't name the places we visited, but will show you the FABULOUS array of treats we got to sample that night.
Our first stop was a rowdy and friendly place tucked in a side street...
We each took turns pouring hard apple cider the way 'Madrilone's' do...aka. it was a bit of a mess (GREAT CALL on wearing a nearly WHITE dress to the tourJ) And considering this stuff was too strong that I could barely SMELL it...Scott got the evening off to a good start with BOTH of our glasses of 'finely poured' ciderJ
And then it was time for our first tastes of Madrid...and oh man, were they good! Boiled potatoes with paprika, egg omelet (which my egg-hating self passed on), but the BEST was a spread of some REALLY 'potent' cheese (the bowl in the back) smothered on the toasted bread and topped with the sausage....oh man, WAS THAT GOOD! It was flavor overload between the stinky cheese & spiced sausage...primo comboJ
After the first bar, Paul gave us a great tour and brief history lesson of Madrid (extra PERFECT when you only have 23 hours in your locationJ) ...
Like Rome, Madrid was a beautiful city made only better when illuminated at night...
After our walk, it was time to get back to businessJ Our next location was SUPPPPPPERRRR bustling and Scott could NOT get over the packaged meats that decorated its ENTIRE perimeter!
We got to sample chirizo sausage & marinated Spanish olives (potent little buggers...but highly addicting!)...
(hahahahhaa...as you can tell: these went over wellJ)
After this PACKED place, Paul (THANKFULLY! I will always be grateful!) called ahead to our next 2 locations and secured us peaceful & quiet seats in both locations. (thanks for lookin out for the pregnant chick, Paul!!)
And these were some of our BEST bites (even though the ones we already HAD were spectacular:). First up were cheese & mushroom croquettes. Neither Scott or I are even a mushroom FANS and we liked theseJ (I guess anything battered & deep friend and filled with cheese will be jusssst fineJ)
And here was my favorite bite of the tour, as well as my most 'adventerous': My favorite was the super tender pulled pork, caramelized onion & brie flatbread. We also sampled another flatbread with smooth goat cheese (and I honestly forget what elseJ)...but they were both delicious...
And my most adventurous??? Yes...I did the damn thing, and when in Madrid: I actually sampled the blood sausageJ Talk about mind over matterJ And it tastes NOTHING like the NAME suggestsJ Almost like ALL SPICE flavored RICE would be the best way to describe it. They served it over sauteed apples on toast. I only had a bite...but I must say that it was NOT THAT BAD AT ALL!
And at our last relaxed location, we sampled octopus over boiled potatoes (yummy)...while my 'brave' self could eat blood sausage, but was afraid to sample the 'russian roulette' of hot peppersJ Paul said you never knew when you were going to get a scorcherJ
We also sampled some outstanding battered eggplant with honey. Not ONE ounce of the usual "spongy/eggplant" taste. It was lightly crisp, savory & sweet with the honey drizzle. Superb!
And last but not least, some pork chops & 'crisps' to round out the night. We all left with full stomachs and smiles on our facesJ
I also need to mention how much we enjoyed the group we toured with! We met a nice couple from Switzerland, a mother visiting her daughter who was studying in Barcelona and a mother/daughter from England (not to mention Paul was from Ireland!)...so it was a cool way to meet nice people from all over and share a great & unique evening!
And the night didn't even end thereJ The entire night Paul had been giving everyone suggestions of great bars & restaurants to try and had ZERO problem with taking us on our choice of one last 'unplanned stop' of the places he had shared. So while most of the group headed to a sherry bar...Scott & I, as well as the mother/daughter from Barcelona, decided we wanted to wind our night down here:
Can you blame us???
And what's the best cure for a hangover in Madrid??
Oh yes...HOT CHURROS! Thin, super crispy sticks of fried dough DIPPED in that glorious European hot pudding chocolate. Yes...it's as good as it soundsJ
And after bidding a 'hasta luego' to Paul and our 'churro' friends...we headed back to our hotel for some shut eye. Although we were pretty much the only ones doing so, as the streets were still HUSTLING AND BUSTLING at 2AM!
So imagine our joy when we woke up at 9am the next morning and got to explore around the city in near total PEACE!
Everyone must have eaten their 7am churros and passed outJ hahahahahhahaa
The one thing I was completely FASCINATED by the next morning was just how spectacular all of the bars & restaurants were!
They looked beautiful lit up at night, but it was once we got to wander around in broad daylight where you could REALLY tell how unique each one was....
And while most were still closed for business, we did get a few peeks at their gorgeous interiors...
...particularly the place we stumbled on for breakfast:
I could not stop gaping at the dark wood/stained glass interior...
...beautiful stone archways...
...framed tapestries. (Remember: This. is. a. bar.)
Even the menu was a work of art!
And as our one last European splurge, we sampled some Spanish cappuccinos....(no bitter taste at all)
While Scott ordered up a Spanish omelet...
...and yes, a chocolate stuffed croissantJ
...while I just could not resist one last indulgence of good ole' Spanish churros & chocolateJ
Hey! If they want to call this breakfast...who am I to argue?? J
So after we thoroughly indulged ourselves in the last of our Madridan delicacies, we strolled around some more before heading off to the airport.
And by this point: I can't say that it was 'sadly' by any meansJ We were READY to come home and I'm STILL quite thankful to have that 8+ hour flight home behind usJ hahahahahaha...Wonderful trip and glad to be home. I'd call that an all around successJ hahaahaha
So I believe I will have one more 'travel' blog for you to give you a peek at all of our budget saving tips that we used. I'll try to post that tomorrow so I can share our Halloweeeeeeee goodies with you next week! I CAN NOT BELIEVE that it is next week already! How crazy time flies!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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