The Vibrant Spanish Capital

Looking Back On Our Long Stay In Madrid

Madrid is the center of Spain, both figuratively and literally!

Apart from being the capital city and the cultural and economic powerhouse, it is also geographically located almost right in the middle of the country.

This was perfect for us, because we were able to stay in Madrid for an entire month while also having convenient access to other parts of Spain.

We travelled to Barcelona, Segovia, Córdoba, and Seville during our time here (individual newsletters for all of them are on the way). Our train connections were made extremely easy by Madrid’s location and infrastructure.

However, this was just an added bonus. Madrid itself might be our favorite place, not only in Spain, but in Europe! There is so much to love about this city. The history, the landmarks, the food, the year-round warm weather, the intense soccer fandom.

But, if I had to place my finger on the biggest reason I love Madrid, it would be the vibrant social life!

The reason I refer to it as “social life” rather than nightlife is because the tapas bars and city plazas are just as busy during the day as they are for dinner and late night drinks!

Madrid is jam-packed with tapas bars, which essentially just means restaurants that serve a variety of small plates and drinks.

Tapas are the ultimate social tool. Nothing is better than meeting up with a group of friends, and ordering waves of small plates to share.

First of all, it is just a nice pace for socializing, and there is an undeniable connection when sharing food. It is fun to try everything and compare what you liked the most.

But also, it is a lot more affordable! When everyone splits the bill, you end up having more food for less money.

Plus, I kind of buried the headline here. Spanish food is DELICIOUS!

While it varies greatly by region, some of the staples include padrón peppers, jamón, huevos rotos, croquettes, chorizo, tortillas Española, and of course, paella!

The peppers are pretty self-explanatory, but they are served in a very specific way. They are blistered in a hot pan, and topped with rock salt. They are not spicy, just a nice and fresh flavor.

Jamón is perhaps the most famous member of the traditional Spanish tapas lineup. It directly translates to “ham”, but this isn’t just any ham. It is a dry-cured ham that comes from acorn-fed pigs from the Iberian region. On the menu, it is usually referred to as “Jamón Iberico”.

This stuff is INCREDIBLE! However, since the requirements of production are so specific, it can sometimes be a little pricey. It will usually be towards the top of the price range on a tapas menu.

A good way to have jamón without breaking the bank is to order “huevos rotos con jamón”. This directly translates to “broken eggs with ham”.

Huevos rotos is the ultimate hangover food, but can also be enjoyed without any alcohol involved. It is pretty simple: freshly cut fries topped with semi-scrambled eggs and (if you wish) freshly shaved jamón!

It’s a nice and hearty tapas dish that usually isn’t too expensive, and one of my favorites!

Tortillas Española was a new discovery for us. It has a completely different meaning than the Mexican tortilla that we think of as a wrap for tacos and burritos. The translation is actually “Spanish omelette”.

It is a puffy egg and potato bake that can be sliced up like a pizza and shared among friends.

Paella is the national dish of Spain, and is actually quite different from a tapas style meal. Instead of sharing many small plates, the table shares one very large plate!

I’ll talk more in-depth about the history of paella and how it’s made in another newsletter, but I’ve already been babbling on about food for quite some time. In a nutshell, it is a rice dish topped with an array of shellfish and it is nothing short of a spiritual experience.

We also enjoyed many “Tinto de Veranos” to accompany our food. This is a tasty and simple variation of sangria that is basically just red wine mixed with sparkling lemonade. It is the perfect Summer drink!

While the food would certainly be enough to keep me around, Madrid is also full of awe-inspiring architecture and beautiful park space. It is an aesthetically-pleasing city, and it is clearly structured for people to be able to spend as much time outside as possible.

The largest park in the city is called Parque de El Retiro, and it is a never-ending maze of beautiful gardens and open park space. It is a perfect place for a picnic, or a rowboat ride at the pond!

Also, in typical Spanish fashion, there is a night club in the park that stays open until 6 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and I am proud to say that, even in my old age, I made it until 5:30 am one night!

There is so much to love about Madrid. It is a vibrant and historic city that never stops having fun. The social scene is second to none, the food is unique and affordable, the passion for soccer is palpable, and the people are so welcoming.

Many tourists flock to Barcelona and Seville, but I can’t stress enough that skipping out on a few days in Madrid would be a huge mistake!

The Spanish capital will welcome you with open arms.