Adventures with Baby in Madrid, Spain

Arriving in Madrid felt like a victory - we had conquered our longest flight with Thalia with few bumps and bruises and we were excited to start our six week adventure in Spain. We quickly grabbed a taxi into the center of Madrid which already alerted us that our style of travel had changed now that we had Thalia in tow. A taxi costs 30 euros to the center and with our weariness from the flight, we decided it was the best option.

We were greeted at our lovely Airbnb by our host Arturo who was so infatuated with Thalia it was heart warming. The flat was small as it the norm in the older areas but very functional and modern. Choosing Airbnb condos over guesthouses or hotels was a deliberate choice allowing us to relax in the evening without having Thalia in our space. So far the only drawback would be having less opportunity to socialize and meet new people but overall it has been enjoyable. 

Madrid is a huge metropolis with a population of 3.2 million people. It's a wonder that the historic streets and neighbourhoods have been preserved alongside modern infrastructure but that is what makes Madrid such an inviting city. The amount of must see attractions was overwhelming and we had to continually scale back our plans to accommodate traveling with Thalia. One could stay a month and still not see everything worth seeing! 

Our flat was located just a minute from Plaza Mayor, a bustling square full of restaurants and touristy shops. We enjoyed a quick stroll through taking in the beautiful white table cloth adorned tables but did not feel that the square was noteworthy overall. Of course we quickly found the best Churros & Chocolate in town at San Gines where we lined up for 20 minutes out the door despite virtually every cafe in the area offering the same thing. It was well worth the wait and we even let Thalia try a nibble for fun! 

Another hotspot we enjoyed was the Mercado de San Miguel, a trendy night market that we frequented for a casual café con leche or glass of wine. It was enjoyable with Thalia in the baby carrier as we could wander around with our drinks and sample foods like empanadas and paella (Spanish rice dish). 

Later our friend Maria took us to Mercado de Cebada which was more local and authentic and we enjoyed the best tortilla de patatas (Spanish Omelet) we have had so far in Madrid. 

A highlight for us was visiting the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace), the official residence of the Spanish Royal family. It is the largest palace in Europe and contains 3400 rooms. The rooms are a wonder with their ostentatious decor and outlandish furnishings. Think rich royal blues and purples, hand spun silk "wall paper", paintings by Goya and Velasquez, ceiling frescos, and porcelain figures adorning the walls. Unfortunately photos are not permitted inside the rooms but it leaves quite an impression. The fee is 11 euros and we opted for an audio guide which enhanced the experience for us. Thalia enjoyed touring around and looking at all the exquisite rooms as much as we did!

 Almudena Catedral is located beside the Palace and is worth a quick look to appreciate a relatively modern church. 

Museo Nacional del Prado is worth a trip to Madrid alone and is one of the greatest art museums in the world. It contains a vast collection of European art from early 12th century and the biggest single collection of Spanish art. The famous artist Goya dominates the galleries along with Velasquez, El Greco, and Titian. We both enjoyed the museum vastly but after four hours, we simply couldn't finish and appreciate what we were seeing any longer. We were "art tired." Also with Thalia we had to be somewhat pragmatic in which galleries to see and since Josh was wearing her, he wasn't able to read the information as well as I could. Being a new mother, I really enjoyed the motifs around motherhood and breastfeeding that are prevalent in classical art. One sculpture that struck me in particular depicted a starving man in shackles being breastfed by his daughter. 

Having done two big ticket museums, we decided to enjoy El Retiro, one of the largest parks in Madrid. The park belonged to the Spanish monarchy until the late 19th century when it became open to the public. Today it is like an open air sculpture museum and is a wonderful place to stroll to enjoy the greenery. Rose gardens, playgrounds, monuments, ponds, and more - this park has everything! 

We loved walking around and to give Thalia a break from being carried everywhere we stopped at the library in the park which had a great playroom for babies! She made a little Spanish friend named Olivia and exhausted some of her boundless energy. We have learned with our mobile hyper baby that if we give her play breaks our day goes much smoother. 

We were spoiled the next day by Maria, a good friend we met in Victoria who had recently moved back home to Spain. Our reunion was wonderful! Maria had not seen Thalia since she was 5 months old and we had missed our frequent coffee dates. 

Being shown around by a local is hands down the best experience! We walked to Parque Madrid Rio, a beautiful leisurely area to walk, rollerblade, eat at cafes, go down slides, or whatever! Originally a highway, the city moved the road underground and designated the space for park use instead. It was really lovely to walk around and if we had more time it would have been the perfect setting to enjoy a café. 

Maria escorted us to Chueca district which we really appreciated because it was nice to see another part of the city. It was very busy and happening with great shopping and eateries. We stopped for some vermouth as we had never tried it before and even the bar was historic! The sweet drink went down smooth and we went to a restaurant to enjoy the menú del día (daily menu - an economical way to eat in Spain) at her favourite spot.

One of the best things in Spain is how Thalia is treated, especially at the restaurants. Everyone, old or young, male or female enjoys Thalia by cooing at her and trying to make her smile. It is so heartwarming and makes meal time enjoyable since we don't need to fear if she squawks or fusses. She also enjoys Spanish food with her new favourite jamón ibérico (cured ham) that she steals off our plates! 

Regretfully we said goodbye to Maria and spent the evening wandering the busy streets and enjoying the way the city comes alive at night. Spanish culture is exciting with their evening meal rarely starting before 10pm and even with a slight chill in the air, everyone is out enjoying wine and tapas on patios. The glow of the heaters only adds to the ambience. Babies are everywhere, dressed in cute frilly outfits dining with their parents and sleeping in prams when they get tired. We have yet to do as the Spanish as Thalia is still adjusting to the traveling lifestyle but it is really interesting to compare cultural norms! 

On to Córdoba!