Hi everyone, I'm back. I wish I could have stayed longer because I was just getting into the swing of things when I had to return.
Thank you everyone for your help.
So, I left home and caught the train from Huddersfield to Liverpool ok and found the bus to Liverpool airport right outside Lime Street station (thanks spike1).
The easyJet flight was fine if a bit orange. When I arrived at Madrid I collected my bag and went through the doors straight to the Aerocity desk where I told them I was there and then a minibus came and took me and a Spanish couple.
I stayed at
HOSTAL CRUZ SOL which was really good. It was just outside Plaza Major. I had a room with a small balcony (I changed rooms after two nights, but the second room was just the same). The room was bright and it had A/C and a television (actually I discovered it was possible to sit on the toilet and watch the TV at the same time, but you didn't want to know that). The people in the hostal were friendly and I used a card to get into my room when I wanted.
There was a beer machine in the hostal and I used it once to buy some Amstel beer for €1, it wasn't very nice, Spanish beer is nicer.
I went to the cafe underneath the hostal for churros and chocolate.
I walked everywhere I went. I wasn't avoiding the Metro. I wanted to walk so I could see things on the way and see where I was going.
I went to the Bernabeu (Real Madrid) twice. To get in you have to go on a tour, so the second time I took enough money with me to go on it (€9). It didn't cost anything to go into the Calderon Stadium (Atletico Madrid) but I could only go into the seating area of the stadium to have a look. It took me about half an hour to walk to each place from my hostal.
I went to the Reina Sofia Museum and saw a Dali exhibition and a Roy Lichtenstein exhibition.
I mostly ate food I bought at El Corte Ingles. Just bread and croissants and cheese and jamon mainly. (I kept getting emails from Mum telling me to eat fruit so I managed 2 apples whilst I was there
). I mainly drank batidos and water. I had an odd drink called Soja, I think it was kiwi and apple soya drink - I liked it anyway.
I spent time in the evenings just wandering around. I went to Cafe Jazz Populart and saw a Spanish blues band called Naco Goni and Bluescavidas. I had no problem getting in. I had to pay a cover charge on my first drink (coke €4.50). I was the third person in and stayed until 1.15am. I felt ok going by myself.
On my last day, Aerocity picked me up and also another 5 English people.
I was happy all the time I was in Madrid and wasn't worried about anything at any time. It was great.
And now I'm home .. and planning my next visit. I want to show some friends around next time.
Regards.
Ruben.
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