Spain 2020: Diary – Day 8

NOTE -> This trip occurred pre-COVID-19 and feels like 100 years ago

The previous day we had seen signs on lamp posts advertising the start of Madrid’s Carnival celebration. The front desk said there was a concert starting at noon today and we decided we’d check that out and see what it was all about.

Venturing onto the Subway

We determined the quickest way to get there due to expected road closures was to take the subway. Using Google maps we found our way to the correct metro station and we found a ticket machine. Rides cost 1.50 Euros each with an additional 2.50 Euros for the card, but we could get all the tickets on one card and we could reload the card with rides in the future. That said, it cost almost as much as a taxi would have, but the next ride would be cheaper since we could reload the card.

We followed the signs through the gates to the platform for the subway line we wanted. Signs said the trains ran every 5 minutes and it was only 2 or 3 before the next train arrived. When we boarded there were no seats, but there was plenty of standing room. Five short stops later we were at our destination.

We left the station and headed to the nearby park the hotel had told us about. There were surprisingly few people around and we soon realized why. It was the wrong day. The parade and music were on Saturday at noon (the next day) not Friday at noon. The person at the hotel must have got his days mixed up.

Real Madrid Stadium Tour

We walked around the park until the kids started to get hungry. There were several restaurants in the area but found none of them opened until 1pm and it was only 12:30. Rather than waiting, we decided to grab a taxi over to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium which is where Real Madrid plays. We wanted to do the tour and figured we could find a place to eat around there.

The taxi ride was our most expensive one yet as it was over 20 euros, though it was quite far away. When we arrived there were several restaurant choices and we ended up going to an Italian place across the street from the stadium. The walls were covered with signed pictures of people I assume are famous. I didn’t recognize any of them but I’m guessing some of them were players past and present.

It was still early for lunch and it wasn’t a game day so there wasn’t anyone else in the restaurant when we arrived. Tomatico went safe and got spaghetti and my wife got a ravioli dish. Tomatico tried hers and fell in love. He tried to steal it from her but she held her ground and he only got that first taste!

I had tried to buy tickets for the stadium tour online but it wouldn’t accept any of my credit cards so we had to go to the ticket office. There wasn’t a line, but I can imagine in busier times there would be an advantage to buying it online.

We ended up getting the basic ticket, skipping the audio tour. We got plenty out of the tour without the audio portion as most of the signs were in Spanish and English and many of the videos were either in English or had English subtitles.

The first part of the tour focused on the history of the club and had many of the trophies they have won on display. There were also video boards describing the different eras of the club’s success. It was quite impressive!

There were several different interactive displays include a VR 360 activity that we all did. You could look in all directions and see various match locations and celebrations. I’m not sure how much it taught you about the club’s history, but the novelty kept it interesting.

We finally got to see the stadium and sit in some upper level seats that were about midfield. We could see they had some grow-lights on the field making sure it was in perfect condition for the next match. There was a lot of construction going on in the stadium as it’s undergoing a massive renovation that will make it look much different and put a sort of roof over the field. It looked like it was in the beginning phases of the project.

Next on the tour we wound our way through the VIP sections and then down into the lower levels where we got to walk through the Real Madrid dressing room. It was neat to think that it was where countless famous athletes had called home during past seasons. From there we walked out the player tunnel out to the team benches and right up to (but not on!) the field. We even got to sit on the super cool seats. They are as comfortable and supportive as they look!

We then exited out the visiting players tunnel and through the visitor’s dressing room, which was unsurprisingly more spartan than the home team’s. Next was the press room where the coaches get interviewed. We waited in line to spend a few seconds on the podium and get our picture taken pretending to be important. Everyone else was so serious, but we played it up! Next was a short highlight video in the next room before the final stop which was of course the gift shop.

Dinner Adventures

Back at the hotel we rested until dinner. We decided to split up because our youngest and I wanted to go back to the Argentinian place for a third night but my wife and Tomatico wanted something different. The Argentinian place was empty this time and we got seated again. They recognized us and we were becoming family! My youngest ordered the steak I had the skirt steak I had the previous day while I tried the rib steak I hadn’t had before. My youngest, who generally doesn’t like steak, ate his as quickly as I could cut it for him (he’s not very good with a knife yet). He loved every bite of his. Mine was good, but definitely not as good as the other two I had tried.

After dinner we wanted to walk around some to work off the big meal. The streets were again full of people out for the Friday night. We explored some new streets before heading back toward the hotel. We passed the popsicle shop we went to the previous night and couldn’t resist! My youngest ordered for me in Spanish with confidence and demanded a bite of mine as payment!

Back at the hotel, Tomatico and my wife finally returned with their dinner tale. They had asked for a recommendation at the front desk and talked with the person that had directed us to the parade this morning. He felt horrible about getting the days mixed up and had a recommendation for them. He called the restaurant and set them up, stressing they were very important customers of the hotel and they needed VIP treatment. The restaurant was a 10 minute walk away and apparently it did not disappoint. It was a fixed tapas menu with many courses and they both loved the traditional Spanish dishes. It was quite a gourmet outing and they even got a couple free desserts and felt like VIP’s.

I was full just listening to their story and I was happy to hear how excited Tomatico was about trying the new food. He’s definitely a budding foodie!

Gym Time and Sleep

Our youngest wanted to go to the gym so my wife took him while I caught up with some of my work email. My goal was to get caught up on the big issues so I wouldn’t be hitting a brick wall when I got back to work on Monday. I had a few pieces of good news to pass on to my team so I video conferenced with them to pass it on rather than waiting until Monday. It was still mid-day their time so that worked out.

Once they returned we all got ready for bed. The next day would be our last full day in Spain. We’d be heading for home the following day.