Page 21 - KeepDreaming096

Left to right:
The Royal “
Palace of
Madrid and
it's sprawling This Museum
gardens. is a work of
Take your
tastebuds on art itself – you
a tapas tour at
the San Miguel can get lost
Market.
The Crystal exploring its
Palace in El
Retiro Park. gardens for
almost as long

as you spend

inside.
”

clock whose bells mark the
traditional eating of the Twelve
Grapes and the beginning of
a new year. No matter what
time of day you arrive, there’s
always something going on at
La Puerta.
El Retiro Park, as you may
be able to tell from its literal
name “The Retirement Park”,
becomes very popular in
the latter stages of the day,
particularly with tourists,
but at almost 1.5km , you
2
will never feel crowded. Like
the Palace you just saw, the
art itself – you can get lost to find a bite to eat, but if Royal Palace of Madrid. This Park once belonged to the
exploring its gardens for you’re at a loss, there’s always Palace serves as the official Monarchy of Spain, until the
almost as long as you spend something waiting to be residence of the Spanish late 19th century, when it
inside. eaten at San Miguel Market. royal family, however these became a public park. On its
Not too far from Madrid’s Consistently rated as one of days it is mostly used for grounds are gardens, statues
Golden Triangle of Art is the the most popular parts of a state ceremonies. Containing & other monuments, galleries,
city’s “Golden Triangle of visit to Madrid, this gourmet 3,418 rooms, it is the largest an artificial lake, and venues
Public Spaces” – okay, we tapas market serves up palace of its kind in Europe. which host a variety of events.
made that up, but not for no cheese snacks, drinks, sweet From here, it is just a One of the most popular spots
reason. treats, and almost anything short walk to Puerta del in Madrid, it is here you can
Start off in Plaza Mayor, else you could hope for. Sol – literally the centre of pace yourself on a leisurely
once the centre of Old Madrid, Once you’re full, walk it off Spain, as it is the hub of walk at any time of day, or
built during the reign of Philip to Plaza de la Armeria, where the radial network of the let one of the Park’s many
III. No matter what time of one of the city’s most iconic country’s roads. La Puerta rickshaws give you a tour –
day you’re here, you’ll be able landmarks lays in wait – the also contains the famous neither is a bad choice.

20 Travel & Cruise Weekly Keep Dreaming 096 Travel & Cruise Weekly Keep Dreaming 096 21