Día Dos: ¿Dónde estamos ahora? (Day Two: Where are we now?)

Hola, es el segundo día en Madrid! (Hello, it is Day Two in Madrid)

So, as most of the readers are already aware, we have purchased a two-day Hop on Hop Off Bus Pass. We chose this option because it allows you the freedom to explore a new city by allowing one to get off at any scheduled stop, and jump abroad at a subsequent tour bus whenever you are ready to continue. This became an easy and efficient way to explore and decide what we would like to revisit later.  Below is a map of the two routes that the Madrid Hop On Hop Off Bus takes.

As one can see on the map there are two distinct lines that encompasses the historical and emblematic Madrid, while the other allows visitors to get to know the newest and most innovative Madrid.

Vamos a Empezar (So Let’s Begin)

In this portion of the blog we will go about providing each and every location we visited with some pictures.

ROUTE ONE (BLUE LINE): Historical Madrid

1. Primera Parada (First Stop): Museo del Prado

2. Segunda Parada (Second Stop): Puerta de Alcalá

3. Tercera Parada (Third Stop): Barrio de Salmanca

4, Cuarta Parada (Fourth Stop): Plaza de Colón

5, Quinta Parada (Fifth Stop): Plaza de Cibeles

6, Sexta Parada (Sixth Stop): Gran Via 14

7, Séptima Parada (Seventh Stop): Gran Vin 30 (Above)

8, Octava Parada (Eighth Stop): Gran Via 54 (Above)

9. Novena Parada (Ninth Stop): Plaza de Espana 

10. Décima Parada (Tenth Stop): Templo de Debod

11. Undécima Parada (Eleventh Stop): Teatro Real

12. Duodécima Parada (Twelfth Stop): Palacio Real

13. Décimotercera Parada (Thirteenth Stop): Puerta de Toledo

14. Decimocuarta Parada (Fourteenth Stop): San Francisco el Grande

15. Décimo Quinta Parada (Fifteenth Stop): Catedral de la Almudena

16. Décimo sexta Parada (Sixteenth Stop): Plaza Mayor

17. Decimoséptima Parada (Seventeenth Stop): Puerta del Sol

18. Decimoctava Parada (Eighteenth Stop): Circulo de Bellas Artes

19. Decimonovena Parada (Nineteenth Stop): Museo Thyssen

20. Vigésima Parada (Twentieth Stop): Museo Reina Sofia,

21. Vigésima Primera Parada (Twenty First Stop): Jardin Botanico 

ROUTE TWO( GREEN ROUTE): MODERN MADRID

1, Primera Parada (First Stop): Plaza de Neptuno

2. Segunda Parada (Second Stop): Museo de Esculturas

3. Tercera Parada (Third Stop): Museo de Ciencias Naturales

4, Cuarta Parada (Fourth Stop): Nuevos Ministerios

5, Quinta Parada (Fifth Stop): Santiago Bernabeu

6, Sexta Parada (Sixth Stop): Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

7, Séptima Parada (Seventh Stop): Museo Lazaro Galdiano

8, Octava Parada (Eighth Stop): Serrano

9. Novena Parada (Ninth Stop): Museo Arqueologico

10. Décima Parada (Tenth Stop): Plaza de las Cortes

Ahora vamos a comer! ( Now Let’s Eat)

So after a long day of hopping on and off the bus, we decided to try to eat at one of the most well- known pubs in Madrid. However, this was not an easy task. To say the least, we got lost multiple times because streets are not labeled with clear distinct signs at intersections. Instead, the road is label by a sign on the wall of the building. Thus, if you miss the sign you do not know what street you are on. But, THANK GOD FOR GOOGLE MAPS and English Speaking People.

After a lot of trial and error, we finally made it to Taberna Antonia Sánchez.

The place was a small Tavern that could be correlated to a gastropub in America. We were seated and the food was reasonablely priced with numerous options to chose from for both vegetarians and meat lovers. We ordered cafe (coffee), patatas fritas (french fries)  and berenjena con miel (eggplant with honey).

These dishes were both AMAZING, but we quickly learned that coffee does not come in the same size as America (depicted by the photo )! Additionally, the coffee is very bitter with a decent amount of froth on the top even though there was no milk added.