FUN-travel: Madrid to Toledo, Spain

August 20, 2012 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Madrid to Toledo, Spain 

Trip Day 37 – Thursday, August 16 – Madrid to Toledo, Spain

What I LIKE

  • 7:30 Starbuck’s for wake up
  • nice cool morning
  • ready for next adventure
  • 9:30 taxi to Hertz downtown location instead of airport

  • save time & money
  • $10 vs $30 Euros
  • 9:45 arrive
  • get Mercedes instead of Ford (last car was uncomfortable for long rides)
  • should have better seats
  • Garmin is working
  • very easy to get out of Madrid
  • two turns & into underground tunnel 3 lane road
  • 11:30 arrive Toledo
  • Parador is 40 yrs old & very charming
  • fabulous views of town from veranda
  • quick lunch of club sandwich on veranda

  • take taxi $7 Euro to old town
  • explore Toledo – more narrow cobblestone streets that wind up and down the hill
  • go into Santo Tomé – simple chapel has El Greco’s famous painting “The Burial of the count of Orgaz” – incredible as it looks 3D
  • 3:00 beer break – free tapas is tasty – hot mushrooms stuffed with ham
  • 5:00 taxi back to Parador
  • siesta
  • 8:45 dinner on veranda – order “typical” menu items from region – white beans & clams – sautéed bass with vegetables – dessert of sorbet trio – apple, mango, watermelon – only $32 Euro – wine from Antonio Banderas Winery (so we’re told)

Toledo From The Parador

What I DIDN”T LIKE

  • have to schlep bags across and down the street to parking garage 3rd level
  • no elevator on top floor
  • have to carry bags down steps
  • no one in garage to help
  • really dark & hard to see
  • Mercedes control panel & controls are confusing & don’t make sense
  • it’s much hotter in Toledo

FF (FUN-fact) – Renting cars at the airport is much easier. No garages, luggage carts are there and you have access to all major freeways. In hindsight, it’s worth it to us to spend more on a cab for less hassle and stress.

FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – Day 3

August 20, 2012 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – Day 3 

Trip Day 36 – Wednesday, August 15 – Madrid, Spain

The Prado

What I LIKE

  • big puffy white clouds bring cool breeze in the 70’s
  • not as hot as last week – over 100 + then
  • 10:15 – Prado Museum – the greatest painting museum in the  world – features more than just Spanish artists
  • 12:30 lunch @ Mexican restaurant on Calle Ventura de la Vega
  • chips with 3 kinds of sauces, pico de gallo, nachos with real guacamole & Plato Pastor – pork dish roasted with spices – YUMMY!
  • 5:15 – massage @ Fusiom – 3 blocks from hotel – Thai & Indonesian
  • so cool out I have to put on long pants & a jacket
  • 8 pm head out for dinner on Plaza Mayor @ Los Gallos

Plaza Mayor Entertainers

  • brimming with tons of people, mimes & entertainers
  • order spinach salad with pine nuts, tomato, & prosciutto – asparagus with aioli (still full from big lunch) – nice red wine

    Plaza Mayor

  • one of the best waiters we’ve had do far!

What I DIDN”T LIKE

  • it’s a holiday so Starbuck’s doesn’t open until 8 am

FF (FUN-fact) – Bread at Spain eateries is like baggage at the airport. It will cost you!

FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – Day 2

August 19, 2012 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – Day 2 

Trip Day 35 – Tuesday, August 14 – Madrid, Spain

What I LIKE

Neptune’s Fountain next to Westin

  • Starbuck’s wake up coffee
  • 10 am – walk to El Corte Ingles for haircut for Chris (they have separate men’s & women’s salon)
  • walk to Retiro Park – Madrid’s central park
  • then thru shopping district north of park
  • 1 pm – lunch @trattoria – pizza & salad
  • 3:00 – beer break & siesta
  • nice walk through town & Puerta del Sol
  • streets brimming with people & entertainment
  • 8:45 dinner @ Lieu – recommended by concierge (said it should be a Michelin star restaurant)
  • 1st “tapas” – aperitif in test tube vial on ice
  • 2nd “tapas” – gazpacho – very light & refreshing
  • 3rd “tapas” – olives & fresh baked bread
  • starters – mussel chowder & chilled tomato & cheese with clear broth
  • entree – tuna with finely chopped vegetables pureed
  • great wine – El Lagar de Isilla – 100% Tempranillo from Duero region
  • since we saved $44 Euro on hop on, hop off bus we splurged on dinner!
  • 4th “tapas” – 4 teeny, tiny dessert bites

Retiro Park

What I DIDN”T LIKE

  • no salon @ Westin due to renovations – need my nails done & a massage!

FF (FUN-fact) – Tapas in Spain is like a “box of Cracker Jack’s.” You know you’re going to get a surprise, you just don’t know what it will be.

FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – 3 Days

August 19, 2012 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Madrid, Spain – 3 Days 

Trip Day 34 – Monday, August 13 – Madrid, Spain

Royal Palace

What I LIKE

Royal Palace

  •  8:30 am – wake up
  • back on “Spain time” – (get up late, eat lunch with wine/beer late, siesta & repeat, go to bed late)
  • free internet & it’s fast
  • have coffee @ Starbucks’s on corner
  • 10 am – decide to explore Madrid by foot
  • El Corte Ingles for big bowl of fresh fruit & nuts only $5 Euro
  • find good fan store – Casa de Diego – good quality $30 Euro
  • 12 noon – end up @ Royal Palace – sumptuous & magnificent – over 2000 rooms with luxurious tapestries, chandeliers, priceless porcelain & bronze covered in gold leaf – 3rd-greatest palace in Europe
  • 2 pm – lunch @ El Anciano de Los Vinos – nice cold beer – free tapas of potato, onion, olive, pepper, eggs & tuna salad – stuffed mushrooms of garlic pesto & ham, shrimp salad
  • Madrid is very easy to walk
  • decide to not use “hop on, hop off” bus
  • save $44 Euro!
  • 8 pm – walk to recommended restaurant
  • a bit lost and find “international” street
  • Indian, Italian & Mexican in the same block!
  • opt for Indian Aroma – dal makani – garlic nan – chicken vindaloo – shrimp rice – FABULOUS taste treat!
  • another nice bottle of Ribera del Duero

Royal Palace

What I DIDN”T LIKE

  • breakfast not included & want $22 Euro per person (it’s normally $36 PP)

FF (FUN-fact) – El Corte Ingles is a huge department store (8 floors in Madrid) that sells everything you could ever want or need. The basement includes a grocery store, gourmet shop & cafe.

FUN-travel: Lyon, France to Madrid, Spain

August 18, 2012 by · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Lyon, France to Madrid, Spain 

Trip Day 33 – Sunday, August 12 – Lyon, France to Madrid, Spain

Animated Figures

What I LIKE

  • arrive airport 9:45
  • 12:15 flight to Lisbon
  • upgraded to Biz class for free!
  • 11 seats – 1 empty & attendant lets me seat belt my carry on
  • my gold United status gets us into club lounge
  • 6:15 pm arrive Madrid
  • all bags arrive with us
  • taxi to hotel only 20 min & $30 Euro
  • arrive Westin Palace – beautiful in all its glory
  • 8:30 venture out across street to side walk cafe
  • 2 beers, 2 salads, & hamburger tapas only $7 Euro!
  • bells chime every hour on building across street  & animated figures come out
  • head down street to locals restaurant – free tapas – marinated mussels with vegetables & nice wine only $28 Euro
  • heavenly bed

What I DIDN”T LIKE

  • can’t confirm & check in until 10:30
  • no non-stop flights to Madrid
  • tiny commuter plane only has 45 seats total
  • 11 “biz class”
  • carry on won’t fit in overhead bin – has all my personal belongings & computer
  • no extra lock!
  • 2 hr layover in Lisbon
  • $5 Euro food not so good

FF (FUN-fact) – The Westin Palace is celebrating its 100th anniversary.