Hóla! en Madrid Part 1

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AUTHOR: Mich
TITLE: Hóla! en Madrid Part 1
STATUS: Publish
ALLOW COMMENTS: 1
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CATEGORY: Travels

DATE: 11/20/2005 03:44:15 PM
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BODY:
Delayed flights. Jetlag. It didn´t start well as I expected. The only lucky break was finding our hotel without getting lost. Hurray for small miracles. After a couple hours nap, we hit the tapa bar scene. Its similar to having coffee standing in Italy but here its eating Spain's equivalent to dimsum but with wine.


Tapa bar: Museo de Jamon (Calle San Jeronimo)


Food: Calamares and Champinon (grilled mushrooms)


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Day 1 - Cordoba - Seville


We have decided to head south of Spain. The AVE train took us 2 hours to Cordoba and another half hour in Seville. Stayed 3 hours in Corboda to visit the town cathedral - the Mezquita. Hopped on the train again for a half hour trip to Seville. Visited the moorish inspired palace, the Alcazar and a huge cathedral that has 22 chapels. It has Christopher Columbus' original tomb before it was shipped to Hispanola (Dominican Republic). After a 2.5 hour trip back to Madrid, it's time for a night cap.


Tapa Bar:  Museo de Jamon (Plaza Mayor location)


Food: Callos and Paella


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Day 2 - Toledo


After an exhausting trip yesterday, we decided to do something light and get a bit more sleep. Took an hour bus to the medieval town of Toledo. It was the main capital of Christian Spain. The cathedral has a good collection of reliquaries. I even saw a gold one with the note that it came from Islas Filipinas circa 1700. Also, a noteworthy find, a local panaderia that reminds me of a local bakery in the Philippines. We decided to head back to the city and found (gasp!) - the shopping center and the mall.


Tapa Bar: Oreja de Oro & La Casa del Abuelas


Food: Ribeiro Wine, Pulpo Gallega (Octopus), Pincho Maruno (bbq), Grilled Prawns


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Day 3 - Comunidad de Madrid


This confirmed that Joe and I had too much to drink the night before. We overlslept and stayed local. We went to the flea market, the El Rastro. I found some interesting junk such as stamp, coin and old documents. I saw an old 19th century Filipinas coin, 1882 mint. It will cost me 12 euros. I passed on it. Another document with the Filipinas name on it, it looked like a bonds document for a Tobacco company. It can be a bearer bonds for all I know but can't part my 45 euros. It even had a watermark on the paper. It seems to be an original. Also, met a Pinoy on a research grant. Lucky guy, staying in Madrid for a month.


Tapa Bar: Museo de Jamon (Calle Victoria), Nemrut (Calle Espoz Y Mina)


Food: Donner Kebop (Carne Gyros), tried something different


The night hasn't ended yet. Got to hit more tapa bar tonight.....


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