España

Much has happened in the Butler household since my last post. After a seven month hiatus, I am officially back in action! However, blogging will look a little different; primarily because Alex and I are living in Madrid, Spain for the next two months. How we got here and why we are here will hopefully come through in future posts. I hope to document this Spanish adventure not only for the reader’s benefit, but also to journal and begin to flesh out future adventures.

So to begin…

After much planning and anticipation, we arrived in Madrid Barajas Airport on Friday, April 4. We lugged our suitcases and backpacks to the centrally located neighborhood of Malasaña. The neighborhood came highly recommended from a friend of a friend who lives here. We settled into our tiny studio apartment, took a stroll about the city, went to the market, and settled for a long winter’s nap.

Jet lag means you go to bed at midnight, and wake up twelve hours later. For those who know Alex and me well, you know we are early risers and attempt to be high achievers. Waking up at noon is just not cool. But apparently we needed the rest! So we finally woke up on Saturday afternoon, made a quick Saturday brunch, and marched toward Casa de Campo.

Casa de Campo is not a country house; it is an urban park west of the city. I am not sure if it is appropriate to describe the park’s size with any word other than vast! Miles upon miles of green space can be seen from the parks entry near Principe Pio. There are several attractions within Casa de Campo, including a picturesque lake, major Spanish theme park, and a zoo. In addition, there are miles upon miles of running, hiking, and bicycling trails.

We were hoping to find a rumored farmer’s market near the lake, but it turned out to be a bust. Nevertheless, we explored the city’s largest green space, enjoyed the 60°F sunshine, and marked it as a spot to frequent!

After seista, which I know I am going to love, we marched onward to the Museo Nacional del Prado. 

Esta bien! A mere 14 € opens the door to galleries upon galleries filled with classic European art. Alex provided the grand tour of famous paintings and modern day installations, and I walked along, in awe of such beauty. Works by famous artists like Carvaggio, Raphael, El Greco, Velazquez, Goya stood out, in addition to hundreds of lesser known, but highly talented Spanish artists.

We found out a few hours later that Museo del Prado is free for the last two hours of each day. That glorious tip, plus our love for European art, marks this museum as a spot to frequent. And next time, we will spend some time at the adjoining botanical gardens with a picnic!

Of course, there are still hundreds of sights to see and quaint little plazas to encounter. We shall see what tomorrow beholds! Hasta mañana! And enjoy some pictures thus far.

 Adios America!

Our neighborhood, Malasaña.

 Museo Nacional del Prado