Tapas, Museos y mas Tapas.

Sunday. Paris.

And now we've crossed the border back into España, spending a few days in Madrid. If this city were by the sea, it would be perfect. I've never quite been to a city like Madrid — it's probably the most different from Paris than any of the other European capitals I've visited. Large, busy and bustling, and yet the same time an epitome of that Spanish laissez-faire laid back attitude, Madrid is a very pleasant city and I could easily see myself spending a semester there. What struck me is the fact that even though the city's fairly spread out and massive, it's very walkable; especially the city centre. You have a relatively impressive metro system as well (only Paris and New York could outshine it in terms of complexity and accessibility).

Cody and I stayed at a hotel just minutes away from the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol; and about a 20-minute walk from El Retiro (Madrid's version of Central Park) and that trinity of museums - El Prado, La Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Retiro, whose avenues and walkways are named after Spain's former colonies, is the perfect to spend a Sunday afternoon. Most Madrileños, however feel the same way, and that also makes it unbearably crowded — it wouldn't be surprising if you were mowed down by the amateur rollerblader, biker or the occasional baby pram. We did end up picnicking on sandwiches and wine with Marissa (one of Cody's and my colleagues at work who is studying in Madrid this semester) one afternoon during the week, and it was far more relaxed.

In addition to the Retiro, Madrid has a host of parks all over the place, including the Parque del Oeste, which is huge, hilly, far more relaxed and far less touristy. You can witness a spectacular sunset from the Ancient Egyptian temple (photos below) on one end of the park. It's funny indeed how most major European cities have their share of Ancient Egyptian artefacts and treasures.

You can't go to Madrid without visiting the Reina Sofia and the Prado, and sure enough, we did. We were treated to Picasso's obra-maestra, Guernica, and several works by Dali at the Reina Sofia; and a wealth of Bosch and El Greco at the Prado. The Thyssen, however, was my favourite. It's the world's largest private collection of art, spanning 700 years of painting and arranged in chronological order. You start with mediaeval Christian triptychs and end with Modigliani and O'Keefe with some Titian and Monet on the way.

Abhinay's culinary discoveries in Madrid included "montaditos" or tiny sandwiches whose fillings you choose; and patatas bravas — crispy potatoes cooked in a garlicky sauce. What also amazed me about Madrid's food and bar scene was how cheap it was; and furthermore, the fact that these tapas bars are ridiculously crowded 10 pm onwards, and it's a battle between finding place to stand, holding your plate of tapas in your hand along with your drink without letting either of the two fall on the floor and eventually eating said tapas. And if you think I went to Spain without having my fill of churros y chocolate, you are mistaken — I sure did.