Magnificent Madrid

Madrid has a personality all her own. She’s sophisticated and grand with wide, tree-lined boulevards, sprawling Plaza Mayor, and the majestic Royal Palace. But she’s also timeless and full of character, like the narrow streets of La Latina and the cafés, restaurants, and shops tucked into neighborhoods like Chueca, Salamanca, and Atocha.

We braved the high temps to wander, explore, and ogle the beautiful architecture, sought refuge under the shady trees at Jardín Botánico and Parque El Retiro, and then cooled off inside Museo Reina Sofía, where we stumbled upon a gorgeous exhibition by Aurélia Muñoz, "Entities", featuring large-scale textile, weaving, and fiber installations.

Street art is always on the agenda and this time we fell in love with a piece illustrating the message, "Viva la vida son dos dias amor." (Live life, it's short, love.)

Celebrating Shannon’s 53rd birthday meant adding a little treasure hunt to the itinerary: tracking down vending machines around the city that dispense mini prints from local artists. We snagged a couple of cuties. 

We couldn’t resist seeing the Uniqlo store housed in a former bank, where the entrance is dripping in opulent chandeliers. And then there’s Mercado de la Cebada...lively, gritty, colorful, and seemingly a world away from those chandeliers.

Gracias, Madrid. ¡Nosotras te queremos mucho! ❤️ 🥳✨🌻🌴🌈🥐🪭🥵😎