8 Days in Madrid - Beautiful!

The most memorable moments about my adventure were the day excursions to differnt cities. If you have the time, schedule non-tour trips (the adventure is finding it yourself). I found Salamanca, Segovia, Toledo, and the small town of Escorial.

Quick Tips:

Madrid is home to hundreds of hotels. Many taxi cab drivers will not even recognize your hotel name unless, you provide them with an address.

The menus of the day (El Menu del Dia) at the restaurants will not only be appetizing to you, but will save you some euros. If restaurants do not post it outside, ask within.

Best Way To Get Around:

The most efficient way of getting around Madrid is by cab. However, if you stay at a hotel that is centrally located, walking is your best bet. I was very impressed by their transit systems (trains and buses). The metro - "the subway" - is also an excellent way to explore the city.

The Best Western Premier Santo Domingo has reasonable accommodations for singles, doubles, and suites.

The hotel is rated four (4) stars. Please remember European stars and American star ratings are different.

My room (a single) was not very large, but it made it up for it with bathroom space. I had an interior view, which didn't bother me all that much, since the days were spent sightseeing. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the service was excellent.

The staff at the Best Western certainly made us feel like we were at home. They found solutions to every request we made. As a hotelier, this speaks volumes of a hotel.

This was my first gastronomic experience in Madrid!

We sat down for tapas and beer. The Manchego cheese, jamon Serrano, gambas (shrimp) al ajillo, and anchovies dipped in olive oil were spectacular. The anchovies were much better than the ones on pizzas!

The atmosphere of being in the plaza, overlooking history while eating amazing food and drinking San Miguel Beer (while hearing stories about Spain) from our server, Antonio, is and will be unforgettable.

Dining in Las Cuevas is a feast for the senses. You are taken back by the fact that the host is literally walking you into a "cave." However, it adds so much to the dining experience. I highly recommend the paella. It literally is the best paella (yellow rice, mussels, oyster, clams, and chicken) I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. The Red Wine of the house is also as palette pleasing as the food. The minstrels serenade you with traditional Spanish music while your taste buds are blown away by spectacular Spanish cuisine.

If you ask anyone in Madrid which club to go to, they will answer - KAPITAL.

Kapital is a four-floor dance club with some of the best music I have ever heard. The image that sticks out the most in my mind was the time the club was getting full. It was 3am.

Note to travelers: Spanish clubs get full before 4am. Go around 1:30 or 2am to get in.

Prices for drinks range from 8 to 12€.

The museum is a must! It is home to some of the most extroardinary pieces of armory and tapestry in all of Spain.

The views from the court are absolutly awe-inspiring.

Parallel to the palace is the cathedral, which maintains Spain's historical look from the outside, but within, it's a bit more contemporary than most of the cathedrals in Spain.

Museo Del Prado hosts some of the most spectacular pieces of art by Goya, Velazquez, Tenier, Rembrandt, and so on. It's is an art lover's dream! Even if you don't love art, you will certainly appreciate these masterpieces.

You walk through more than 20 halls filled with centuries-old artwork.

We were very fortunate, as we went on a day that was free to the public. They normally charge about 6€.