Travelling has always been something that I wanted to do as a kid and from a very young age my parents allowed me to venture out on my own. I think it’s the unknown of a new place, the people, the food and the culture that excites me. There is always something to look forward to when you get to visit someplace new and foreign. When I started this blog, my vision was always to capture our many camping adventures since it is what we enjoy best as a family. Our camping trips would always include so much more though. Fishing, canoeing, taking the boys to adventure parks in the area, hiking and sight seeing. However, this webpage has to evolve. There is absolutely no choice! We have been on so many new adventures since we have been in Oman. Unexpected? DEFINITELY! However, we make the best of our short time in a country that has opened and continues to open the doors to so many places in the world that are just a short flight or not so short drive away.
In my line of work I am also very fortunate to get to go on business trips all around the world and one of these past ones was a very short but enjoyable trip to Madrid, Spain. Of course I jumped at the opportunity because, having come from a Spanish background where my great-grandparents migrated to Trinidad from Northern Spain it was an opportunity of a lifetime to plant my feet on Spanish soil.
Two days in Madrid was just not enough and I would definitely love the opportunity to go back and finish the items on my bucket list. Before leaving Oman I got some first hand recommendations from one of my colleagues, however, once again, two days, which also included business meetings were not enough. If you are thinking of Madrid I would recommend no less than five nights. However, being on my own I was still able to make the best of my short time in Madrid.
When we travel we select our hotels or even campgrounds based on what we want to do in that area. Getting recommendations from Jose and also doing my pre-trip research I knew for me Madrid was the place to go shopping. I stayed at the Villa Magna. A five-star hotel (highly recommended) that overlooks the Calle Serrano (a high-end shopping street in Madrid). The Villa Magna also opens its doors to the El Corte Ingles which is a one-stop shop for any and all brands of clothing and shoes and also houses a wonderful gourmet food market at the lower level and hair saloons at the fourth floor. This was how I spent my first night in Madrid.
After a full day of meetings and site visits I spent my evening walking the promenade at the Plaza Mayor, shopped at the La Favorita Sombreros Gorras for a traditional Spanish hat and then stocked up on some amazing Jamón Ibérico de Bellota at the Mercado De San Miguel. The Mercado De San Miguel is a one of a kind market. A glass of wine in one hand and some tasty tapas in the other, it was just…….hmmmmm sooooo zen! Whow whow whow take me back please!!!!!
I had chocolate con Churros (churros with chocolate) as it was highly recommended as a “must-have” in Spain. Whow, just amazing!
After my solo romance with chocolate con Churros I walked the La Calle de Serrano in the cool evening serenity and did what I do second best (first is being a mom and wife of course)….I shopped! Oh my, the luxury is unbelievable. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Brooks Brothers, Carolina Herrera, you name it, you can find it on Calle Serrano. I did manage to put my credit away at a certain point though….hahahaha
After my second day of business meetings and a lovely lunch of tapas I did some more shopping at the El Corte Ingles and at the Supermercado El Corte Ingles. This was a great opportunity to stock up on wonderful gourmet items for all your tapas needs and everything that goes with it. After that I had my hair done at one of the saloons on the fourth floor which turned out to be the best haircut that I have had a very long time.
That same night I waved adios to beautiful Madrid and headed back to Oman but not before a luxurious stop over in Qatar for breakfast.
Madrid in two days? It is “doable” but not recommended. I would have loved to sit at a Spanish restaurant and have some delicious Cocido Madrileno (chickpeas stew….recommended by my colleague Jose), visit the Jardines de Sabatini, Templo de Debod, walk the Paseo de la Castellana, visit Parque del Retiro and so much more. So dear Madrid, I will be back!
