Just as we were getting ready to meet our guide, Javier stopped us under a cluster of tall trees and said, “Do you hear those birds?” Sure enough—there they were. Loud, squawking, bright green parrots nesting right in the city. I’d seen them the day before in Barcelona in the Gothic area, and near the Sagrada Família.
Javier explained they’re monk parakeets, originally from South America. They’re everywhere. Not native, not quiet, and totally at home in Spain’s big cities.
Next stop: Museo del Prado. It’s one of the most important art museums in the world—and they take that status seriously. Photos? Strictly not allowed. I was only allowed to take one of a statue at the entrance, and that was it.
Bob gave me one of the funniest lines of the trip. He looked at me, straight-faced, and said,
“Sure, take a photo, Carrie—then they’ll confiscate your phone and do a factory reset.”
And then he just walked off. It took me a few minutes to realize what he said—and I couldn’t stop laughing. I played by the rules after that. No way was I risking all my trip photos.
Since I couldn’t take photos inside, here are the two pieces that really stuck with me.
This one completely pulled me in. It’s huge—three panels side by side—and at first glance, it feels playful and kind of wild. The left panel shows Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the middle is packed with naked people, oversized birds, weird animals, and giant fruit (seriously), and the right panel is straight-up Hell. Bosch painted it back in the late 1400s, but it still feels strangely modern. No one really knows exactly what he meant—was it a warning about temptation? There’s a lot going on here, and I don’t understand it all… and honestly, I’m not sure I want to.
A huge, complex scene where the princess, her ladies, a dog, and Velázquez himself all look like they’re waiting for something. There’s even a mirror in the background reflecting the king and queen. It pulls you in and keeps asking questions.
After the museum, we checked into Hotel Europa, right off one of Madrid’s main squares, Puerta del Sol. The name means “Gate of the Sun” because it used to be the eastern gate into the city—where the sun rises. Today, it’s the symbolic center of Spain. There’s even a plaque on the ground marking Kilometer Zero, the official starting point for all the country’s major roads. It’s always buzzing with people—street performers, musicians, protests, celebrations, you name it. If anything’s happening in Madrid, it’s probably happening here.
There had been a recent pickpocket attempt outside the hotel, so we were all on high alert—but we rolled our bags in just fine. The hotel was clean, friendly and nice.
Classic city hotel with a killer location. You could walk everywhere from here.
Later that evening, we regrouped in the lobby for a short walking tour. Just as we stepped outside—it started to rain. I had to run back up for my jacket. But even with the drizzle, the city was beautiful.
Rainy streets and moody skies gave our walk some extra drama. Madrid sparkled in the wet light.
As we made our way through the plaza, we passed the official symbol of Madrid. A quirky statue of a bear reaching up to a tree. It’s called El Oso y el Madroño and it’s the official symbol of Madrid. You’ll see it on signs, souvenirs, and even manhole covers. The tree—called a madroño—used to grow all over this area, and the bear was once part of the natural landscape.
Official Symbol of Madrid: The Bear and the Strawberry Tree
Javier pointed across the square where we could find Kilometer Zero (KM 0)—a plaque embedded in the ground that marks the exact starting point for Spain’s six major national roads. It’s literally the spot from which all distances in the country are measured. This proved how close we were to the city center!
As we walked away from the square towards dinner, he pointed to a shop with brass panels at the base of their windows. These are original, historic stores—some over 100 years old. We didn’t have time to go in, but I loved that detail.
He suggested that we shop at La Violets to bring back a unique gift for someone back home. They sell violet themed sweets and gourmet products. We took note but because of the holiday & our full schedule it was closed every time we tried to shop there.
Dinner that night was at Prada a Tope, a rustic spot known for its wine and tapas from northwest Spain. It was packed—but we had a table waiting. Javier even poured our wine for us. The food just kept coming: tapas, more tapas, and some kind of mystery dessert at the end that tasted just like Bailey’s. No one knew exactly what it was, but no one complained.
Guide by day, sommelier by night. Javier poured with flair and kept us laughing.
Tapas and wine with friends is hard to beat.
They brought these little creamy chocolate cubes at the end. Nobody could name them, but everyone ate them.
A perfect end to the night—laughing over liqueurs that tasted like Baileys, and loving every minute.
This group brought the fun. Every dinner felt like a celebration.
Day 3 ended with full bellies, full hearts, and a solid walk through one of the most elegant cities I’ve ever seen—even in the rain.
The land mark to find out hotel was that large sign Tio Pepe sign to turn to get to our hotel and the Orange store.
Happiness is Possible 