Our Moscow Adventure: Madrid, Spain

Finally! We made it to Madrid!! The first thing we absolutely loved about Madrid was the weather - sunny, not a cloud in the sky and warm (around 70 degrees) perfect weather! The gloomy weather of Moscow was beginning to get to us....Above is a picture of a statue based on Madrid's coat of arms, el osso y madroño, a bear eating the fruit of an arbutus (strawberry tree)

Enjoying a bite to eat in Plaza Mayor - the popular dish....Paella (which is a rice dish made with meat, fish, and veggies) The rectangular, cobbled Plaza Mayor, whose official name is Plaza de la Constitución, was first constructed as a market square in the 15th century and later referred to as the Plaza del Arrabel (Square outside the Walls). Plaza Mayor was always been the place for festivities and even executions; hangings took place here until the end of the 18th century, with spectators observing from the balconies around the square. In the 1960's the plaza was pedestrianised and you can gain entry to the plaza via nine archways.

Here we are walking around Old Town Madrid. All of the streets are narrow and all of the buildings have narrow windows that open to a balcony. Very quaint and great town to just walk around!

Jim in the Plaza de Armas. The Plaza de Armas is the huge square located between the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral. Many special events occur in this plaza throughout the year.

Friday night I signed us up for a tour called Adventurous Appetites here is their website... http://www.adventurousappetites.com/ James the guy at around 4 o'clock was our tour guided and took us on a brief walking tour of the city to see all the popular sites. Then we basically bar hopped from one Tapa's bar to the next. Tapa's originated in Spain and are given out to people for free when they order drinks. It is believed that eating something small while drinking will allow you to drink more and get less drunk....I don't know about that.

Above is the most popular Tapa's dish. It consists of Queso (sheep's milk cheese) Chorizo (sausage flavored with paprika) Jamon Serrano (salt curred ham dried in the mountain Serrano air) and bread. However, on our Tapa's tour...we were much more adventurous...to say the least. Some of the many Tapas we tried were Callos (Pig Stomach), Chopitos (Cuttlefish), Pig Pancreas, and Sea Barnacles - Who said we are picky eaters?!?!

Walking around town.

Here I am in a store/Tapa's bar called Museum of Ham. Those are pig legs for sale. Every restaurant around Madrid had pig legs hanging and slicing them to eat! It was delicious but quite bizarre at the same time.