The Parc El Retiro
by Paul2001
The Parc El Retiro is one of the best urban parks that I ever visited. Situated just a short walk from the Prado, it is a lovely shady expense where you can hide from the hot Madrid summer sun. The park is host to several large 19th and early 20th century monuments like the one pictured here of King Alfonso XII. This gives it a certain regal atomsphere that I enjoyed. There is also a large lake where you can rent rowboats if you like. Finally there are two crystal palaces but oddly enough they were in a poor state of repair when I wandered through the park.
Gastronomical Must
by Lalique
Well, if you came to Spain, then you came to the right country, the country with reach gastronimic traditions and endless variety of food to offer....
Talking about Spain, Madrid is the quitessence of everything one can find travelling around, however there are some Musts, one shouldn't miss..... one of them is Jamon, or ham prepared in a very special way.... a special breed of big is fed only by acorns and when the time comes, big is killed, and its legs are got fermented in natural conditions for several years.... depending on length of fermentation, the quality of Jamon is graded from low to a very high...
Camino Schmid
by Lorro
A great way to beat the heat of Madrid´s summers. From Madrid, ( Atocha, Nuevos Minesteros or Chamartin) take the C-8b Cercania train to Navacerrada, you have to change in Cercedilla.
From Navacerrada train starion. Take a trail that goes up behind the station building or the stairs across the tracks to the left. Once on the road continue UPhill to the left until you see the sign for Castilla y Leon( on the picture). Take the road to the left before the sign and walk towards the chair ifts to where you can get on the trail. Follow the yellow spots painted on some of the the trees, from this way its difficult to get lost as the trail is well marked and travelled. If in doubt take the lower trail always. In about 1.5 hours you will reach a more open area called Collado Ventoso. Its not uncommon to find cows and horses freely grazing around there. They won´t hurt you if you leave them alone. Its a beautiful hike and Collado Ventoso is a great place to have a picnic lunch and take a siesta in the sun.
For another option from Cercedilla there are also many hiking trails to explore!
Madrid Sunsets
by SirRichard
My favourite place for sunsets in Madrid is the square between tha Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. From that terrace you can see the whole west of Madrid, towards the Casa de Campo and it makes a quiet wonderful palce for a sunset...
Great Life Jazz
by Roadquill about El Berlin Jazz Cafe
A great little jazz club just off of Gran Via. I enjoyed a samba jazz guitarist, play with a Spanish female vocalist and a percussionist one evening and it was great. Intimate setting and reasonable price. 6 euro cover, plus 5 euro for a beer. Pretty casual
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The big cross.
Cafeeke - Tapas starter
An Arab door
"El Kilometro Cero", at the Puerta del Sol
