Madrid 2023

We arrived on time at 18:30 from La Palma with Iberia at the impressive Terminal 4 Madrid Airport. Terminal4 is a distance from the other terminals but it does offer train service into the city.  The train stalled for a while part way in, but once we reached Recoletas Station, we were on foot. We had a small treasure hunt to get the keys for our apartment, going to another nearby address to collect the keys from a mailbox before settling in to the slightly bohemian one bedroom in the central Chueca, on Plaza Pedro Zerolo, close to Gran Via, a major downtown street. We went out again to do some evening food shopping at San Anton Market.

We got going a little after 9:00am to a still slumbering central Madrid. We walked down Gran Via and along Paseo del Prado towards the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. I spotted a bus with a Monet Exhibition advertisement and that  was added to the day's itinerary. There was a small queue waiting when the Thyssen Museum opened but it didn't take long for everyone to disperse in the large space.  The Thyssen is owned by a foundation of family money and the art collection is impressive. While the Prado receives much attention, the overall theme to our visit to the Thyssen was it was quiet.

Back out on the streets of Madrid, we made our way west in the direction of the Royal Palace. 

We had pre-purchased entry tickets for 13:30 but we were there half hour early, but that didn't seem to matter. We joined the herd for a walk through the Royal Palace. Photos were not permitted in the core parts of the palace. 

We walked east and then north to Chueca and  our apartment for a short mid afternoon rest.  We had 16:00 entry tickets for the travelling Monet exhibit at the nearby Cultural Centre.

We paid the small entry fee to the roof area of the Cultural Centre before heading home and dinner. The unit owner, Iñigo, dropped by as we had an inquiry about the non-functioning microwave, that he sorted out. 

It was the first night of the Madrid Christmas lights. It was so busy that some pedestrian streets were one-way, enforced by police. 

On the 2nd day, we went to the Prado and we were some of the first people in. Photos are not allowed inside, so I downloaded a few photos from the Prado website. It was busy, especially with groups. The Prado features many older paintings, some of which are gigantic. We walked through the museum quickly, stopping at paintings of interest.

Back out on the Madrid streets, we first went south to the Atocha train station, but it was under renovation. Then we meandered west through a variety of neighbourhoods returning home to the sunny apartment for a breather. 

We made a second evening walk, going a little further to the Christmas market at  Plaza Mayor. It was just as busy as the night before.

Our time was up in Madrid and Spain. We had a mid-day flight from Teminal 1. We wandered over to an airport bus stop, but ended up taking a van with other tourists for the same price. That was it.