Weekend in Madrid

It’s a fairly lengthy trek on the metro from the airport across the city to our home for the weekend near Puerto de Toledo, but once there, our first sortie into the Old Madrid area around the apartment reveals a terrific area of classically narrow Spanish streets and tapas bars, very promising. 

After a couple of beers in the setting sun we find ourselves in El Bombin, which is just about the best tapas bar ever. A little reminiscent of Bilbao’s pintxo bars, the bite size tapas are spread along the counter, and one small tasty bite with each drink is perfect. Taste buds explode, the bar is full of Madridians, no other tourists. Perfect. 

Saturday morning. Close to our apartment stands Basilica San Francisco, a big and beautiful ancient construction set in delightful rose gardens now in full colour. Swifts and swallows fill the air with noise, the deep blue sky a perfect backdrop to the sweeping views across the city. This Old Madrid district is just fabulous, the chatter everywhere is Spanish, the rustic cafe where we take breakfast just typical of this area’s authentic feel.

We gravitate to the royal palaces where an important pageant of some kind is taking place- military formations, dignitaries, crowds of spectators, even TV cameras, we have no idea what it is but it’s clearly important. Part of the ceremony involves each dignitary kissing the Spanish flag, one by one.

Back in the atmospheric Old Madrid district, we make our way to Santa Ana, and El Rastro, full of cool tapas bars and tables in the sun. We do it all justice, including a razor clam tapas, a new food! 

Our evening beer and wine tour takes in several more terrific bars around these atmospheric streets before we end up back at El Bombin and again it’s just brilliant. This surely is just THE best tapas bar ever, and, excitingly, a brand new food for the second time today, baby eels. El Bombin is even busier than last night, again all Spanish chatter. We really do seem to be off the tourist trail here and we couldn’t be more delighted with our neighbourhood. 

And so on to Sunday. We’re following the lead of the locals with breakfast, the staple being slices of semi toasted bread on to which you spread pulped tomato and extra virgin olive oil, and wash down with strong coffee.