Ola Madrid!

In Retiro Park - once the private domain of royalty

The closest of the campgrounds was full thru Saturday night so we camped at Camping Bungalow Arco Iris for two nights and we weren't impressed. I can overlook alot but hot showers are a must! We followed Rick Steves guided walk through Madrid’s historic core - the pictures in the photo album provide the highlights and info.

A bar and a bullfighting museum in one - only in Spain!

We were so happy to find that Google Maps was able to report on Madrid’s bus and Metro routes to help us navigate! Just one small hitch - it wasn't updated on closures so many recommended routes weren't correct.

On Saturday, Dermot was anxious to see the Munster v. Saracens rugby game, but we heard the drums of a procession and, at his insistence, stopped to see it.

Madrid 1 photos here

Then we captured the last few (disappointing) minutes of the game in one of two side-by-side Irish pubs. It was time to try tapas bar hopping and we popped our heads in several and sampled the food in a few before heading back to camp through the somewhat sketchy Lavapies district. We later read it had been quite a shady place and was being revitalized. That’s what you get when you ask Google Maps to find the quickest way! We had also parked in a somewhat questionable area on the outskirts of town and wanted to walk back while there was still some daylight left.

Crystal Palace at Retiro Park

Easter Sunday was spent catching up with family in the closer Camping Osuna. We spent the next few days visiting all the top sights and museums in Madrid except the Royal Palace. Seems the royal family was there but the website didn’t indicate it would be closed so we couldn’t plan around it. 

The Centro de Arte de Reina Sofia was a very good museum with the famous "Guernica"by Picasso. I highly recommend it. The Prado Museum was huge and had many major works by major artists. Photos aren’t allowed inside but its a much more enjoyable museum experience when people aren’t trying to get selfies with the art. Also highly recommended.

Dermot with art at Reina Sofia

Madrid 2 Photos Here

The photos are spilt into two albums for technical reasons (I messed up). So the second set is in the link above.