Madrid

Dec 30, 2019…

Our buddies from Santa Fe, Kent and Bob, came to Spain for a visit so we took the train to Madrid to meet them at the airport. We all stayed overnight at the historic Palace Hotel (50k points per night), one of those grand, overblown hotels with a sumptuous lobby like in a 1930’s musical, but when you get off the elevator on your floor, it’s just ordinary hotel rooms. The breakfast however was a real treat. The lobby was a nonstop parade of nations.

Palace Hotel

We attempted our standard whirlwind 24 hour tour of Madrid for the boys but of course they had jet lag and we didn’t. Additionally, there were so many holiday visitors in town it was almost impossible to see the hotspots. Parque Retiro was do-able and very lovely, as was Plaza Santa Ana, but we couldn’t get anywhere near the Plaza Sol, the heart of the city. Mercado San Miguel was no fucking way but we accomplished the highlights of the Prado Museum.  One new discovery: the fantastic rooftop bar at Círculo de Bellas Artes, which is a repurposed cultural center off the Gran Via. It costs about €4 cover charge but worth it for the view. Go at sunset if possible but it’s lovely at night as well.

Rooftop Bar at Círculo de Bellas Artes

Then on to Malaga in the quiet car of the high speed train (tix at Renfe.com at about €75 each way). If it’s offered, you should always request the quiet car on a Spanish train. After we got settled I passed through 4 cars to get to the club car and it was like stepping from the public library into the midst of a hockey game. Kids were screaming, phones ringing, people laid out in the aisle; barking dogs would not have surprised me.