Day 7,8: Madrid, Spain

Continued from Day 6: Segovia.

The final leg of our trip was Madrid!

The square was originally planned by Felipe II and his architect Juan de Herrera, but was inaugurated in 1620 during Felipe III’s reign, whose statue sits proud in the very centre of the square.

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The square is surrounded by three-storey houses with balconies looking out onto the square and still lived in by the fortunate few. Located at the north end of the square resides the Casa de la Panadería building, supposedly named after the bakery it replaced.

Next stop was one of Madrid’s oldest and most beautiful markets, the Mercado de San Miguel (The Market of San Miguel) has undergone a stunning major renovation. Within the early-20th-century glass walls, the market has become an inviting space strewn with tables.

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People get their food and drinks from the different stalls located at the perimeter of the market, and consume them at one of the various tables in the center of the market. DSC08529 DSC08532 DSC08533

We stopped by Chocolateria San Gines for hot chocolate and churros for a good break. The hot chocolate without milk is delicious and so thick, perfect for dipping.

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According to the Guinness Book of Records, Restaurante Sobrino de Botín is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating from 1725.

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Suckling pig. *Oink oink*

El Corte Inglés de Castellana, the one-stop shopping paradise, is located at Paseo de la Castellana, in central Madrid. Its modern spaces and sales concept put it at a cutting edge of innovation, positioning it as the most modern and dynamic department store in Europe. 

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There is a group of dedicated international professional consultants with specific training and mastery of languages such as Chinese, Russian and English. Simply feel at home as you splurge! Visit the tourist information desk and the friendly staff can advise you for VAT refunds, shipments of merchandise and many more. For non-resident foreign tourist, get yourself a 10% reward card in addition to the tax refunds, where you can redeem the balance in your following purchases.

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Whether you are a football fan or not, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour is definitely worth the visit. The entry ticket is 19.00 € for adult, which takes about 1 to 2 hours tour. 

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Santiago Bernabéu Stadium with a current capacity of 81,044 spectators looks spectacular. In the tour, you will get to walk through the changing rooms, player’s tunnel, coaching area, football field, press room and lastly the souvenir stores to take home the official jerseys.DSC08667 DSC08668 DSC08670 DSC08674

We ended the day appreciating Flamenco dance at Tablao Las Carboneras during dinner time. Flamenco is a Spanish art form made up of three parts: guitar playing, song and dance.DSC08700DSC08706

 

All good things have to come to an end. It was a great trip exploring beautiful world heritage sites, culture and meeting interesting people along the way.

Special thanks to Spain Tourism Board for this invitation to Madrid.

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