Monday (Madrid)…

There is something oddly freeing about beginning your day with no luggage. Certainly no fretting over which outfit will fit the weather…will the clouds burn off…will it warm as expected? Nope. Doesn’t matter.


It will be another feeling altogether if my bag doesn’t show up by evening.


Began the day with coffee and croissants from a nearby Starbucks. Then off to the Prado. What a beautiful morning to be outside. Everything feels so lush. Breathe deeply and take it in.


The Prado. One of the nice things about a return trip to a large, iconic museum is that you can take a step back and focus on the things you really like. For us, we are continuously fascinated by the Prado’s collection of El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. But we also enjoyed an (appropriately) small exhibit on miniatures. Classic European museums are wonderful for sparking artistic creativity.


El Retiro. We’ve visited this grand park twice before. Once on the cusp of summer, when fountains are dry and people only walk at dusk when the 100+ temperatures subside. And once in winter, when (again) the fountains are dry and people only walk during the brief midday sun. So autumn in the Retiro is a true delight. The fall colors are starting to pop. The grass is green and fragrant. And once-quiet gardens are filled with the splash of fountains.


On the good news/bad news front, my luggage was found…but it will not be delivered to Madrid until after we leave in the morning. I’m sure I will see my clothes eventually 🙂


We had dinner tonight at Lateral on the Plaza Santa Ana. Really wonderful tapas…one more night of tapas before we head home. Wonderful meatballs; chicken brochettes; a dreamy tortilla; and a surprising quesadilla that rocked.


Walked through familiar streets from past trips. A couple of beers at Liquid. Madrid feels very comfortable. Like a conversation with an old friend. A great way to end our trip.