Madrid - Hola, Capital of Energy

Touchdown in Madrid and the first thing I met? The metro system.

Oh boy, Madrid’s metro is like a high-speed treasure map—Linea 8 to Nuevos Ministerios, switch to Linea 10, hop off at Principe Pio, and finish with the Ramal line. Easy? Sure. Glamorous? Let’s say my hair didn’t think so.

After 15 hours in the air, our first mission was crystal clear: get to the hotel, drop the bags, and revive ourselves. We were staying at the Opera Room near Calle de la Flora, just a short hop from the heart of Madrid.

The check-in process looked like a puzzle at first. No reception desk, no keys… just a locked door. Turns out, it was all digital—the door could only be opened via a special website. A few quick authentication steps later (and a minor panic wondering if my Wi-Fi would behave), we were in!

Showers worked their magic, and within minutes the kids were snoozing like champions. Mum’s evening plans? Postponed. Sometimes, jet lag wins.

Day 2: Fresh Legs, Big Sights

We woke up feeling human again and decided to start the day with a short 500m stroll to the Royal Palace. It’s not just a palace—it’s surrounded by sprawling gardens, dotted with statues and fountains that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a painting. The weather was perfect—clear blue skies, just right for our OOTD shots (ahaks!).

Right next door, we spotted more architectural treasures like the Cathedral de Santa María, the Museum of the Almudena, and a few other grand buildings that seemed to glow in the morning light.

Football Dreams (and Gift Shop Damage)

In the afternoon, we made our way to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home turf of Real Madrid. Standing in front of it made me feel both tiny and unworthy of even owning a football. Unfortunately, the stadium was under construction during our visit, so the famous tour was off the table.

But we didn’t leave empty-handed—oh no. The gift shop was open and calling our names. Let’s just say… my wallet left a lot lighter, but our bags left a lot fuller. Visiting this stadium was our main purpose to Spain Trip!

Our journey continues to Seville ->