Spain Day 11 - More Madrid!

We started the day a bit later and I was certainly grateful for the extra rest. We were all still dragging and I think the last two hectic weeks have caught up with us. And I have to admit, it has been nice to end our jam packed trip with two leisurely days of touring. Mr. RRR stayed back to relax some more while the girls and I walked over to the Palacio Real. The palace was grand and opulent and we were amused by all the tiny unnecessary rooms and the extravagance of the palace.

We needed to recharge already (it was only about 11:30!) so we stopped at a nearby cafe for some cortado and Mitch decided to feed the chubby little birds that had gathered around our table. We made quite a grand exit when Mitch broke a plate getting up. Our waitress was already annoyed at us for trying to unload all our Euro coin so we made a hasty exit.

After a long indecisive walk to find some lunch we grabbed some quick take out items and had lunch outside the Thyssen Museum. We split up and Mitch and I headed to the Italian Renaissance rooms and eventually dragged our way to the ground floor where we met up with RRR and Sharpie and collectively decided we were all in need of a siesta.

We napped and headed to the Plaza Mayor for a drink before dinner. We split a pitcher of sangria and it seems Mr. RRR has now mastered the art of ordering Tanguray and tonic in Spanish. (His Spanish was pitch perfect!)

We went to dinner at the famed Botin restaurant, whose claim to fame was that it was a haunt of Hemingway's. They are also known for their suckling pig, we shall see how it compares to Segovia's Jose Maria. The restaurant was pretty touristy and we were seated in the basement dining area where we ordered some appetizers.

We started with the mushrooms in a garlicky oil with tiny slivers of firm jamon. We also ordered the artichoke hearts and grean beans, all served with a bit of salty ham. RRR and I split the suckling pig and a chicken dish, tasty thigh meat in a slightly creamy sauce with tender rice.

The pig was pretty good; thick crispy skin on the outside and stringy bits of pork on the inside. However, I have been spoiled by Jose Maria and he is by far the victor in the battle of suckling pig supremacy.

We finished up and sauntered back to the hotel with a final pit stop for some helado. I somehow got a second wind, so RRR and I headed out to the Plaza Oriente and sat down at the Cafe de Oriente for an after dinner drink. Fittingly I had a glass of Tio Pepe white sherry, a bit dry for my taste but a nice nightcap nonetheless, and RRR had a coffee and a glass of wine. We discussed our trip highlights and how Madrid was a city that really was beyond our expectations.

In all our trip planning, I had spent the least amount of time researching Madrid and I really didn't know what to expect from this city. What I found was a place that was very reminiscent of Paris, that simply oozes culture and is filled with food, shops and museums just waiting to be discovered.

Finally, it was off to bed and getting ready for our big travel day home.