This morning we went to the police station at 6am to pick up my report for my phone. Let's just say walking Madrid's streets at 6am on a Saturday morning was an "experience". But it was the only way to not waste time waiting in a queue. It only took 10 minutes and we had my report. Them we caught a taxi back to the hotel. So have done everything I can do now!
We had breakfast then headed off to Retiro Park, where there used to be a palace and a zoo. We walked the whole park with it's lovely pathways, gardens and fountains. We saw cute little chirpy birds, squirrels, scam artists (I'm onto you people, get away from me!!!!!) and really enjoyed relaxing in the park. There was a lake and we hired a boat and rowed around for 45 minutes. It was so much fun! We got the hang of it pretty quickly :)
Then we had a look at the Alcala gate and the Palacio Cibeles which used to be the post office here but is now an art gallery. We went to the observation deck and had a look at the view. I wouldn't call Madrid 'pretty', but it's always interesting seeing all the thing you've done from afar and how far you have walked.
Then we walked up the Paseo Recoletos and enjoyed lunch in the sunshine! All we got was a sandwich, an omelette, a drink each and a serve of octopus and somehow the bill was 52 euros. I queried it and the waiter had overcharged us by 15 euros. Lucky we can add (unlike the waiter!).
Then we decided to use the tourist bus tickets the policeman gave us yesterday when we were reporting my phone stolen. It was one of those hop on hop off ones with an audio commentary and a booklet about the area you're in. There are two routes, old Madrid and modern Madrid. We had been everywhere on the old route so hopped on the modern one. We went past the soccer stadium we will be attending a match at tomorrow as well as lots of modern buildings, embassies and houses. Was relaxing on the top deck of the double decker bus!! Thanks policeman!
Then we went to the Prado Museum. I'm a student but Billy just has a youth card, not a student one. But I've become quite good at holding his card a bit under mine so that lazy ticket sales people don't check it and charge us both student prices. The guy on the ticket booth here checked them though, and just as I was getting more money out to pay the adult rate he told us he would let us in for free because we are young tourists. Hooray for free art galleries!! I thought Billy would be bored stupid here but I actually think he enjoyed it even more than me! We saw works by all the Spanish masters and went in just about all the rooms. We spent 3 hours!! Saw Goya, El Greco, Velasquez, Rubens etc...! We got given a brochure that had the main masterpieces in it and what room they were in so we turned it into a game where Billy had to guess which painting inside a room was the masterpiece haha.
Then we walked back to the hotel, got some takeaway pasta for dinner and some groceries. Paid for expensive wifi tonight because I don't really want to walk around at night here if we can help it. There was a really loud protest in the streets again before and there's a huge protest all day tomorrow (thank goodness we are day tripping to Toledo!).
Had a much better day today, probably one of the most fun since Billy has been here.
So nice try gypsy but am definitely sure now you aren't going to ruin my holiday!
Love to all,
Claire
Xoxox
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