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Madrid February 2012 – Wilkie Tour #50
On arrival in Madrid we took the metro to our hostel near Gran Via.
The first of a number excellent value for money meals was taken nearby
– a Menú del Día selection of mushrooms & pork, lamb chops, chocolate
cake and wine all for 10 Euros! After lunch we walked up to Plaza
Chambers for the metro museum (free entry), which was not surprisingly
housed underground in a disused metro station. To continue the
transport theme we went from the Bilbao metro station to Delicias for
the train museum in a disused railway station. After picking up our
pre-booked match tickets for the Atletico Madrid v Valencia game at an
ATM opposite the museum we visited the Prado at 6pm for free entry. We
ate between Gran Via and Sol – again an excellent, cheap bar set meal
of fish soup, tortilla & tiramisu.
On the Saturday we walked to Plaza Mayor via Sol and visited the
Isglesia de San Isidro, the Basilica de san Miguel and the Catedral de
la Almudena, then walked back to Del Prado to visit the San Jeronimo
church. Back to Plaza Mayor for a set lunch (paella, salmon, baked
apple and wine). Took the metro via Tirso de Molina to Atocha for
free visit to Museo Reina Sofia (art gallery), enjoyed viewing some
works by Dali and Picasso (including Guernica).
Back to Sol for the train to Getafe for the local derby vs Real Madrid
that evening. Collected our pre-booked tickets from the ground. Very
cold night, poor game, Real won by a headed Ramos goal in front of a
less than capacity crowd. Games against Real command a much higher
ticket price than any other league game, most fans can't afford to go,
so there are a lot of tourists in the crowd. Took the train back for
supper at Vivares (set meal of sphagetti bolognese, tortilla,
cheesecake and wine for less than 10 Euros).
The free entries had been researched prior to the trip to balance the
high price of the match tickets that we tend to experience in Spain on
recent visits. The game at the The Vicente Calderón Stadium was 40
Euros and 60 Euros was the cheapest ticket to see Real Madrid at
Getafe!. The cheap menus were an unexpected bonus, particularly as we
were in the Spanish capital city.
On the Sunday we made a return trip to train museum, then took the
metro out to the Estadio di Stefano to watch Real Madrid II in the
Spanish second division. We were lucky enough to be handed
complimentary tickets (normally 10 Euros) on arrival and took our
seats in a splendidly appointed purpose built stadium. The Real second
team triumphed 6-0.
Back to Vivares for another meal of the day (paella, lasagne, tarte
and wine). Visited the Ritoro park, crystal palace and lake with
various entertainers dotted around, then back to Atocha for siesta
before on to Atletico via bridge over the river Manzanares for a 0-0
against Valencia. Disappointingly the two footballing teams cancelled
each other out, despite the presence of Falcao, Soldado and Jordi
Alba.
Although we attended 3 football matches in Madrid on this trip, our
itinerary demonstrates the rich, diverse cultural experiences of
Wilkie Tours and goes some way to explain the attraction for the
resourceful Wilkie Tourists!
**** END ****
On arrival in Madrid we took the metro to our hostel near Gran Via.
The first of a number excellent value for money meals was taken nearby
– a Menú del Día selection of mushrooms & pork, lamb chops, chocolate
cake and wine all for 10 Euros! After lunch we walked up to Plaza
Chambers for the metro museum (free entry), which was not surprisingly
housed underground in a disused metro station. To continue the
transport theme we went from the Bilbao metro station to Delicias for
the train museum in a disused railway station. After picking up our
pre-booked match tickets for the Atletico Madrid v Valencia game at an
ATM opposite the museum we visited the Prado at 6pm for free entry. We
ate between Gran Via and Sol – again an excellent, cheap bar set meal
of fish soup, tortilla & tiramisu.
On the Saturday we walked to Plaza Mayor via Sol and visited the
Isglesia de San Isidro, the Basilica de san Miguel and the Catedral de
la Almudena, then walked back to Del Prado to visit the San Jeronimo
church. Back to Plaza Mayor for a set lunch (paella, salmon, baked
apple and wine). Took the metro via Tirso de Molina to Atocha for
free visit to Museo Reina Sofia (art gallery), enjoyed viewing some
works by Dali and Picasso (including Guernica).
Back to Sol for the train to Getafe for the local derby vs Real Madrid
that evening. Collected our pre-booked tickets from the ground. Very
cold night, poor game, Real won by a headed Ramos goal in front of a
less than capacity crowd. Games against Real command a much higher
ticket price than any other league game, most fans can't afford to go,
so there are a lot of tourists in the crowd. Took the train back for
supper at Vivares (set meal of sphagetti bolognese, tortilla,
cheesecake and wine for less than 10 Euros).
The free entries had been researched prior to the trip to balance the
high price of the match tickets that we tend to experience in Spain on
recent visits. The game at the The Vicente Calderón Stadium was 40
Euros and 60 Euros was the cheapest ticket to see Real Madrid at
Getafe!. The cheap menus were an unexpected bonus, particularly as we
were in the Spanish capital city.
On the Sunday we made a return trip to train museum, then took the
metro out to the Estadio di Stefano to watch Real Madrid II in the
Spanish second division. We were lucky enough to be handed
complimentary tickets (normally 10 Euros) on arrival and took our
seats in a splendidly appointed purpose built stadium. The Real second
team triumphed 6-0.
Back to Vivares for another meal of the day (paella, lasagne, tarte
and wine). Visited the Ritoro park, crystal palace and lake with
various entertainers dotted around, then back to Atocha for siesta
before on to Atletico via bridge over the river Manzanares for a 0-0
against Valencia. Disappointingly the two footballing teams cancelled
each other out, despite the presence of Falcao, Soldado and Jordi
Alba.
Although we attended 3 football matches in Madrid on this trip, our
itinerary demonstrates the rich, diverse cultural experiences of
Wilkie Tours and goes some way to explain the attraction for the
resourceful Wilkie Tourists!
**** END ****
