Lively Madrid -- a Beautiful Weekend Escape

We were treated to sunny skies on the other side of the Pyrenees during our weekend getaway to Madrid,. It was my husband's birthday, so we decided to take our first trip to Spain to this lovely bustling city -- one of the biggest in Europe.

Pyrenees Mountains bordering Spain and France

The first thing to note about Spanish cities is that things happen on a different schedule than most other places. Here in Geneva, Switzerland we have adjusted to specific strict hours for restaurants, and most stores close at 6 pm. In Madrid, restaurants serve lunch between 1:30 and 4 pm, while dinner begins after 9 pm. Social activities linger well into the early morning.

Plaza Mayor

Our hotel Villa Real, a Derby Hotel within the portfolio of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, was well-situated on Plaza de las Cortes -- within an easy walking distance of parks, palaces, squares, markets, restaurants, and other attractions. We anticipated using the metro, but ended up being able to walk everywhere we wanted to go. Our room at this boutique 5-star hotel was large and comfortable with all the amenities we needed. The included daily breakfast was a perfect start to each day.

Full mood over the Square

The hotel was a 30 minute taxi ride from the airport, and check-in was a breeze. Friday evening, we decided to head out for tapas, which is an excellent way to sample a variety of local cuisine. You order several small plates and share with your companions. We had some nice blood sausage, garlic shrimp, and fresh local mushrooms with a bottle of local house wine. Spanish wines are a great value, and it's hard to go wrong even with so-called "table wine".

We spent all day Saturday on our feet checking out as much of the city as we could see in one day. From Parque de El Retiro with its large crowds of people enjoying the sun to the pretty Cristal Palace to Plaza Mayor with many outdoor cafes to the wonderful shopping streets around town. It was a great day getting to know our way around.

Cristal Palace

Saturday night dinner at Marina Ventura was wonderful. It was a special occasion so we splurged a little. We started with some amazing local cured ham (Jamón ibérico) which is a local delicacy in Spain. For the main course we enjoyed a delicious Paella Valenciana with rabbit and chicken. It is supposed to be as good as the real thing from just a few hundred km away on the Mediterranean coast. A bottle of  Roda Reserva Rioja was the perfect accompaniment. We meant to hang out at a rooftop bar enjoying views of the city, but were pretty exhausted after exploring all day.

Some nightlife in Madrid

After sleeping in on Sunday, we headed out to El Botin -- the most famous restaurant in Madrid. The restaurant is older than the USA, having been established in 1725. We had to go for the suckling pig, roast baby lamb, garlic soup plus a half pitcher of sangria. The food was outstanding, and the service spot on. Reservations are highly recommended.

There is always a line at El Botin

Roast Baby Lamb

Suckling Pig

Sangria

Happy in Madrid

El Botin

We ventured out for more exploring to check out the Mercado San Miguel. We were hoping to shop, but discovered it was only a place for eating, drinking, and socializing. Having filled up on our glorious lunch, we could only take photos and observe the fun atmosphere of the place.

Madrid has so much to offer, and our trip was too short. Our next visit will include greater depths of understanding of the local culture as well as branching out to see the nearby countryside, villages, and vineyards. Hasta luego!

Cajun Encounters Swamp Tour

What a fun weekend! We had a genealogy group visiting New Orleans, and they stayed very busy! The Astor Crowne Plaza (on the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets) served as host hotel while the group participated in a private city tour, explored the World War II Museum, visited Oak Alley Plantation, walked the Ghosts and Spirits Tour in the French Quarter, wandered through the working warehouse of Mardi Gras World, had brunch on board the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat cruise, and got up close and personal with the gators at Honey Island Swamp!

New Orleans has so many wonderful activities and excursions, but I realized I hadn't yet gone on Cajun Encounters' Swamp Tour. On Saturday, my husband and I were picked up right on time at the Hampton Inn on St. Charles Avenue (not far from home) by one of their 25-passenger shuttle buses. It was a comfortable, air-conditioned ride downtown to meet up with the bigger, 33-passenger bus that would take us the 45 minute ride through the city, across Lake Ponchartrain, past Slidell -- to the Honey Island Swamp. The driver announced informative anecdotes along the way to keep us entertained and aware of our surroundings.

Upon arrival, we checked in and were escorted to our flat-bottom boat by Captain Anthony. Anthony's thick Cajun accent lent a special authenticity to our experience. We heard stories of the wetlands and saw an abundance of wildlife including alligators, blue herons, turtles, and wild pigs. We learned about the cypress trees, Tupelo honey, and the way of life on these slow-moving waters. The boat could easily navigate fast or slow, through wider canals, and smaller waterways -- allowing us to get up close and personal with the creatures of the bayou.

Just before our tour, I learned that one of my clients had lost a priceless item in a coin purse on the bus. After a phone call and some digging around, the staff were able to locate the item; and they happily delivered it to the host hotel. The quality of the experience from the booking process to the swamp tour to the follow up service -- I could not be more impressed with the team and operation of Cajun Encounters. Thank you!