Traveling is my passion and when it is about foreign land it adds a lot to anyone’s excitement. Hello friends my name is Rajat , and I am from Shimla , the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Fortunately I got a chance to visit the capital city of Spain, Madrid along with my cousin Harry who works in a public department in Shimla. Since Harry has limited holidays so we planned to start our journey on Saturday . On Saturday evening in the month of June we started off to Madrid from Shimla. We board a bus from Shimla to Kalka and within four hour we reached Kalka , from there we board a train to Delhi and we reached at New Delhi Railway Station at 10’O clock. Since our flight is scheduled in the morning at 3:30 AM so we decided to have our dinner at a Hotel near New Delhi Railway Station and then took a taxi to the airport. We reached airport one hour in advance. I was very excited as this was my first overseas tour. During the whole flight I keep on listening to the new arrivals in my N-series and at 12:30 PM we landed at Barajas international airport. Since we have been granted the visa for three days so instead of going to the hotel from airport we decided to go to the famous Royal Palace.
The Royal Palace is one of the famous places in Madrid and it is always open to public except when any official business is taking place. The Palace is still attractive place to walk through with its maze of 50 themed rooms decorated in solid metals and richest fabrics - though this is only small sampling of total 2, 800 rooms of this great palace. The palace highlight's include royal room, the giant staircase, the collection of suits of armor and the distinct royal pharmacy, filled with all sorts of strange concoctions.
Plaza Mayor
After having a glimpse of the palace we came to the hotel at 10’O clock. We place the orders for some local stuff at the hotel. Since our hotel was at the center of the city so next morning we have planned to visit the famous Puerta de sol and the marvelous Plaza Mayor. Madrid's Puerta de sol is the most popular and central square and is located just a few distance from the Plaza Mayor. It was the site from one of the city's gates, was adorned with image of the sun, hence the square's name. The square is actually semi-circular in shape and get its current form to major renovation carried out between 1854 and 1860. After having our lunch we went to the Mayor Plaza which was just ten minutes walk from the Puerta de sol. Originally Felipe II planned Plaza square and his architect by Juan de Herrera, but it was inaugurated during Felipe III's rule in 1620, whose statue sits proud in the center of the square. Juan Gomez de Mora gave it its rectangular shape, and it had suffered three fires Juan de Villanova completed the work by joining four sides in 1853. Over the several years, the square has had many distinct names. Located at the confluence of the paths towards Toledo and Atocha, it was originally the site of "Plaza del Arrabal" market and thus took this name before later becoming Plaza Mayor. Since then it has also been called the "Plaza de la Constitution". Public executions, bullfights, Inquisition trials and diverse fiestas have all taken place in the square.
Prado
Next day we went to the famous Retiro Park also known as Royal Park. To explore, there are many parks and gardens including the Botanical Garden with exotic plants. These Parks can be found along side of the Prado Museum. The park has also a central lake, many fountains and statues and delightful walkways. The park comes alive at weekends and is must see place. After having our lunch there we went to the Prado Museum. The Prado Museum is considered one of the finest art collections in the whole world. It displays number of European paintings, sculptures, and other works of art in halls. Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez is the most famous piece in the collection. He dedicated his own pieces to the museum and had a hand in obtaining works from great Italian painters . In the evening we went to the church of the Diocese of Madrid. The building is a stylish with a neoclassical outdoor, a conceale revival indoor, and a neo-romanesque crypt. It is made of granite and marble, with big neoclassical cupola and at the main entrance there are two towers. The Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena sits near side of to the Palacio Real, separated by a spacious square, the Plaza de la Armeria. At 7:45 PM we took the train from the nearest Metro station Opera, as Cathedral was closed at 7. 30 PM.
Retiro Park
Last day we have spared for Manhattan Madrid, central business district of Madrid and is located along Grand Avenue madrilenian Paseo de la Castellana, north of downtown. Harry purchased an electronic gadget and some other items from there . Since we forget to carry the things those we have purchased last night as we decided to go to the hotel and from there we left for the Barajas international airport. At 9’O clock we landed at New Delhi. Since both of us were tires so we hired a taxi from airport to the Shimla and we reached our home at 5 in the evening. Really I would say that the memories of the tour would last forever with me.