20 July 2016

The Travel Diaries / Madrid

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been so active on my blog this month, to be honest I'm feeling like I have a little bit of bloggers block at the minute, the inspiration to write anything just isn't really there but I'm hoping I'll get back into it soon because I miss it so much! Also I just wanted to add a little up date in for those who asked about this on my last post, but I did get my university results and I can now confirm that I will be graduating with a 2:1 in Psychology from uni which I'm so happy about!! My graduation ceremony would be this Friday but I decided a while back I wasn't going to it, uni wasn't the best experience for me plus getting up on stage in front of everyone really isn't my thing, so I'm just having my certificate sent to me but I've still got that really satisfied feeling of finally being done! Anyway a while back I booked to go to Madrid with my boyfriend Matty which coincidentally was really soon after I got my uni results so it was like a little treat, so I thought I'd do a post on my trip there because I love writing these and I love looking back on them even more! 


We only went for three nights so we flew from Stansted airport on the Tuesday morning, it's not close to us at all but it's ridiculous how much cheaper it is to fly from there than from say Newcastle airport which is so much closer to us in the car. We booked an apartment from booking.com on a street called Gran Via which is so central and close to everything, plus it's so easy to get to from the airport, we just got the metro rather than a taxi which saved us lots of money. Honestly the apartment we had is definitely up there with my favourite accommodation we have stayed in, it was amazing! If you are ever going to Madrid I'd 100% recommend them, they were called Gran Via Capital apartments, I think they only opened at the start of this year, they were so modern and you had amazing views of Madrid, we were right up on the 12th floor which I love because it's so much quieter and on the 13th floor there was a really nice pool and sunbeds and then a terrace with couches on the other side so you could watch the sunset.







We were all settled into the apartment by about 2pm on the Tuesday so we went out for food and did a bit of shopping and looking around the area we stayed in, There was a place that did these chips really close to our apartment where you picked from about 10 different sauces and they were honestly the best chips I've ever had, it was a Spanish style spicy sauce on them and I know chips definitely are not exotic but we were so hungry and went to the closest place near us and I don't regret it, I've actually got a chip obsession haha I eat them ALL the time but I feel like they're so underrated! After we'd had some food we looked round the shops a bit and I FINALLY for the first time ever got to visit a Sephora and it was amazing! I'm actually so sad we don't have them in the UK, they had such good stuff in that I can't buy in the UK, I go to Orlando in November though where I know they have a much bigger selection of brands I can't get at home so I can't wait to go crazy in a Sephora there! I bought a few face masks and some of Sephora's branded make up items which I really like so far.

 We were getting really tired at this point because of the heat so we went back to the pool for a sunbathe which was really nice, the sun loungers on the roof were so comfy, to be honest it was so nice to be just to be able to sunbathe, we usually go on a beach holiday where I turn into a sun worshipper and we aren't doing that kind of holiday this year so it made me so happy even to have a little time just to chill out on a sun bed. We didn't actually intend on going to Madrid to even bother with  the pool and a sunbathe but being out in the heat all morning does get tiring plus everyone goes out late at night so from around 3-6pm when it is really hot it's so nice to chill by the pool. After that we just went back to our room and had a quick shower and went out for some food, we found a cute little place that did lots of Spanish cheese and meats so had our meal there, also the croquettes in Spain are my favourite thing ever! I love cheese so much and they are all hot cheese croquettes so I ate so many while I was there, they're so nice. We went back to our rooftop after this to watch the sun set, the view you had was amazing and it was such a good way to spend our first night.






The next day we had an earlier start as we were going to Real Madrid's football stadium, we were actually so excited for this we'd been talking about it for a while before and it really didn't let us down, it's so much bigger in real life and on the tour you get to sell the trophy room which was insane, the view from the highest point in the stadium, the locker rooms, you get to go on the pitch and you can sit in the dug out, so if you like football you should definitely do this, it's only 20 euros for an adult ticket for the tour which I don't think is expensive considering how much you see and how long you're in there. Definitely go as early as you can though, it was really busy when we left and we were there for about half 10, when we left the queue was insane! 

We did my favourite part of the trip after this, which isn't a shock because I'm obsessed with food, Matty had said he wanted to go to the Mercado de San Miguel which is a really popular food market in the centre of Madrid, it's in a big glass building and I had no idea what to expect but the food was amazing! I think it's such a good way to try lots of different things as all the portions were small and there was so many different stalls to try from. I had quite a lot of breaded Camembert which is one of my favourite things, lots of fresh juices, chorizo, Spanish pastries and more croquettes, I was so full after it was so much cheaper than going to a restaurant and you get to try so much more so you should definitely go here if you go to Madrid. We had another couple of hours by the pool after this and went out for a wander in the evening, it's such a lovely place to just walk around because you see so much more than just hopping on those tourist buses, so glad we explored on foot.






I was so gutted when it came to our last full day, I really wish we had done 4 nights now instead of 3 but we still got to do everything we wanted, On the last day we spent the majority of the day in Retiro Park which is one of the largest parks in Madrid. It was about a 20 minute walk away from our apartment and we saw quite a few sights on the way there, it was such a gorgeous place when you got there, so huge with such a nice atmosphere and it was so pretty. We hired a rowing boat on the lake here which was really nice, you get 45 minutes out there and there is lots of fish jumping out the water and musicians busking around you plus the weather is so nice to top it off. Definitely another one of my favourite parts of the trip was being on the lake there. We had another couple of hours back at the apartment after staying here having a sunbathe then we went out for the evening for a meal in Plaza Mayor square which I probably wouldn't recommend, eating in the square is lovely but the restaurants there are quite expensive and the food isn't even that nice which was a shame. But after this we went to a famous churro place in Madrid called Chocolateria San Gines, it's really easy to find and the churros are amazing! You get a big cup of thick melted chocolate and six churros for about 4 euros I think it was and it's such a nice place to sit outside and chill out.










We had to fly home on the Friday morning which was so depressing, I absolutely loved it here and definitely want to go back at some point, thankfully I have Rome to look forward to in late August which I'm so excited for so if you've been and have any tips or suggestions I'd love to hear them! This was such a long post so if you made it to the end then well done haha, let me know in the comments if you've been to Madrid and what you thought!
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43 comments

  1. Love your photos, this apartment is gorgeous! Looks like you had a fab time and congratulations on your 2:1 :)

    http://www.thebutter.co.uk/

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  2. Looks like you had a lovely time - the photos look gorgeous! :)
    Ambar | Her Little Loves

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  3. I was wondering where have you been and wow, looks like you guys had a blast at Madrid, good on you. And congratulations on graduating!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  4. Madrid looks amazing! Stop by my blog sometime.

    www.thefancyfashioncastle.blogspot.com

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  5. Sounds like a fantastic break! I've never been to Madrid but would really like to go. The apartment looks great & so good that it was central. It's great to explore a city on foot because you get a real feel for it! Congrats again on graduating! You will LOVE Rome! xx

    Beautylymin| Abercrombie & Fitch First Instinct Giveaway

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    1. It was such a nice place to visit I'd definitely recommend it!x

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  6. It looks like you had an amazing time, my sister is off to Madrid next month and I'm so jealous! Congrats on graduating too xx
    www.britishmermaid.com

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  7. We're so similar! I just read this post and thought I could chat for ages with you!
    I've never been to Madrid before but would love to visit there or Barcelona one day. I know exactly what you mean about Sephora, they definitely need one in the UK, I bet you're already planning what to get when you visit the one in Orlando! I love their sheet masks, they're so good!
    Congratulations on getting your degree, I done my degree in Psychology too!
    You will love Rome, I went there last year. The food is amazing and all the main tourist places are really close together. Make sure you go to the top of the 'Wedding Cake' building, it's near the colosseum (you won't miss it, it is huge!). We had no idea what it was to begin with but decided to go to the top and it had amazing views of the City.
    Nicola x
    www.thebeautymonologue.com

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    1. This was such a lovely comment to read, thank you! We did go to the wedding cake building it was so pretty!X

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  8. Such amazing pics! Looks like you had a lovely time! Also congrats on graduating :) x

    ♡ itsjessiejane ♡

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  9. Madrid looks so pretty! I think its time I booked myself a holiday :D

    http://claresloves.blogspot.com/

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  10. I love reading travel diaries. Madrid looks so gorgeous!

    Darriyan xx
    www.darriyancateland.blogspot.com

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    1. Me too they're one of my favourite posts to read!x

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  11. Congratulations on your results! Aww I'm sorry you didn't have the best time at University, people say it's the time of your life but I certainly don't agree either. I went to my siblings graduation the other day and it was super long! So getting it delivered at home isn't too bad either.You must be relieved it's finished? and what better way than to go to Spain to celebrate! Sounds like you had a brilliant time :)

    Velvet Blush

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    1. Yeah everyone's experience is so different, it just really wasn't for me but I'm so happy it's done now!x

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  12. Your apartment was beautiful! I've never really considered Madrid but it's definitely on my radar now :) I always go for 3-4 nights to places and wish I'd stayed longer too! Congrats on your 2.1! Graduation is such a pain - I only went to the ceremony for the family so they could take pictures haha I hated the ceremony but we did all have a nice dinner afterwards (though realistically you don't have to go to the ceremony to get everyone together!)

    Jasmine xx

    Jasmine Talks Beauty | US & Sephora Giveaway

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    1. I don't regret going at all, I'm just relieved it's over!xx

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  13. Looks like you guys had an amazing time. Really gorgeous photos x

    Tiffany Tales – A British Beauty & Lifestyle Blog

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  14. I'd love to go to madrid, it looks beautiful and all that food!

    Rosy | Sparkles of Light Blog

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  15. Oh wow such gorgeous photos! I've always wanted to visit Madrid and it's such a beautiful city. I love the look of your apartment xx

    Gemma ♡ Miss Makeup Magpie

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    1. You should go it's such a gorgeous place!xx

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  16. Your photos look so beautiful and Madrid looks gorgeous!! Glad you had a well earned break and huge congratulations on your 2:1 degree lovely thats amazing!! xxx

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  17. Looks like you had an amazing time in Madrid, hun! And honestly, I'm certain that you will enjoy Rome. It is actually my favourite place in the whole world, it's so romantic, beautiful and the people are just so friendly. :) :) Thanks for sharing your photos with us, hun. x

    Kay
    http://www.shoesandglitter.com/

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    1. We just got back from Rome I loved it so much, definitely one of my favourite trips I've been on!x

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  18. Wow, what a beautiful photo diary! I've never been to Madrid personally but it looks lovely, I think staying in a little apartment is definitely a good choice - yours looks perfect and that rooftop pool! What I wouldn't do to be in there right now...

    Musings & More

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  19. Madrid looks amazing. Thanks so much for sharing this. I love getting to see peoples holidays :)

    Georgia | The Weekend Attic

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    1. Me too they're one of my favourite posts to read!x

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  20. lovely photos! sounds like you guys had such a good time. the size of those churros though OMG! xxx

    hannatalks

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  21. Your pictures came out lovely, it's obvious you two had an amazing time! The hotel looks really nice, we also love to sunbathe, it's so relaxing! Although those food pictures are seriously making our mouth water!

    ISA Professional

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