Madrid

Aug 4-7, 2023
AC824 YYZ-MAD, UA261 MAD-IAD, Aug 8 AC8619 IAD-YYZ

As Tom was still very much in kitty care mode, with a long weekend and me short on Air Canada status flights, it was a perfect excuse to take advantage of an inexpensive business class fare to Madrid. Although we’ve been to Spain multiple times, we hadn’t made it to Madrid yet. While it would have been great to have Tom along, I very much enjoyed exploring and setting up for Tom to visit in the future.

Apr 5

After enjoying the Signature Lounge Service and lie flat seats on the overnight flight, I grabbed the subway and get an early hotel check in. Refreshed and ready for a hot, sunny day, I set out on foot to explore the city.

Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree in Sol Square

Tio Pepe sign in Sol Square

Plaza Mayor

Mercado de San Miguel

Plaza de la Villa

Monument to victims of the attack against Alfonso XIII

Church of Santa Maria de la Almudena

Opposite side of the Almudena Cathedral

Looking at the Palace from Plaza de Oriente gardens; unfortunately too late to visit

Monument of Philip IV of Spain in Plaza de Oriente

Church of San Gines de Arles

Although it was a great day, I was a little disappointed that I missed the last entry to the palace, so I planned to come back on Sunday. I instead found some food not too far from the hotel and got some rest.

Aug 6

For the second day I chose to focus on museums and parks. This helped me to manage the August Madrid heat and to see some world class art. I walked to the Prado Museum early enough to be there right when it opened, and worked my way back to the hotel for a mid-afternoon break.

Edificio Grassy, some of the classic architecture on Gran Via

Park in the centre of Prado Blvd

Obelisco - Monument for the Fallen for Spain

Statue greeting the entry of the Prado Museum

Neptune Fountain

Prado Museum Exterior

More modern art in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Picasso - 1945 Monument aux espagnols morts pour la France in Reina Sofia

Tower of Church of Holy Cross

Sabatini Garden behind the Royal Palace

Plus Ultra Building Carillon doing its regular performance

Plaza Murillo

Touring the Real Jardin Botanico

Pabellón Villanueva in Botanico

Bonsai Garden

Making my way through the Garden and almost ready for Tapas

Fuentes de las Cuatro Estaciones

Court: Congreso de los Diputados

Plaza de Cibeles

Canadian Tim's Culture in Madrid

Chocolate Napolitana, my favourite local pastry

Plaza de Espana

Monument to Miguel de Cervantes

Full of tapas and Chocolate Napolitana, I headed back to the hotel for the evening.

Aug 7

I had relatively early flight home on United via Washington, Dulles. The flight to DC was on time and very nice. However, we landed just before a storm shutdown the airport. My original flight was canceled and the flight I moved to was delayed several times. I decided to cut my losses and stay overnight.

Storms in the Washington area extended the trip home

Cats clearly disappointed with my delay

Aug 8

After working from the hotel and the airport lounge, I was able to travel home on the evening flight to Toronto and back to Tom and the cats.