Two weeks ago, we landed in Madrid for a wonderful Travelife in Spain of good food and wine, lots of culture and history, and just a little bit of shopping.
We had come from different places, but we all met up in Istanbul to take the flight to Madrid together.
It was a really enjoyable trip, and I could not have asked for better companions for a Travelife.
It was the middle of September, but it was just like a perfect summer day that was wonderful for walking around and exploring an elegant and beautiful city.
Almost as soon as we checked into our hotel, we were out again to visit a very local neighborhood.
We got dropped off at the Calle Cava Baja, which is a very nice street full of restaurants and bars. From here it is a picturesque walk through some of the oldest parts of Madrid until the Plaza Mayor.
There was such a happy and festive atmosphere in the air.
If you follow the news, you will know that Spain has been in a deep recession.
However, there was certainly no evidence of hardships or suffering on that joyous day in Madrid, living a Travelife.
Those people who were not standing or sitting around outdoors, drinking or talking with friends, were obviously headed purposefully somewhere.
I chose the restaurant for lunch, and I deliberately selected a very local one that was very old and also very famous for its roast lamb.
No Michelin stars or international accolades, and no fancy cooking.
This time, it was just plain good old fashioned food in a restaurant full of locals, mostly families who looked like they had been going to this place for generations.
And, boy, was it good. I will write about this restaurant in more detail in a later blog entry.
For now, let me just share with you some of the interesting photos I took of life in Madrid on a wonderful weekend, when we were there living a Travelife.
