Madrid for the student/tourist/guiri/art enthusiast/carnivore/traveler/me by Caroline Macaulay

Upon arriving in Madrid, the only thing I knew to expect was a diet with a majority of meat, minority of vegetables, and a steady flow of Fanta Naranja. 

(Fanta Naranja with a view of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum) 

As it would turn out, this presumption was entirely accurate! Not only was there meat but there was solomillo, jamón, cochinillo, chorizo, and if it counts as meat paella mixto (complete with pollo, mariscos, langostinas, and beef - see below) 

Paella mixto, Annabella, and an excited Jeeseobs

Famous cochinillo from the famous cochinillo restaurant in Segovia, one of our weekend day trips

A delectable twist on apple crisp (so basically there was also fruit in our diet too... Somewhere) 

As we ate our way through Madrid, we figured that we should at least see a few things apart from a menu :) So in the interim between meals we went to a lot of the AWESOME sights around Madrid... And of these incredible places my favorite was the Parque de Buen Retiro (and rest assured, we were still able to eat here too, or at least sip on a refreshing lemon granizado). In the park, complete with the Crystal Palace, the rose gardens, rollerbladers, and pond, we spent a lot of fun hours taking advantage of the nice, albeit hot, weather lounging on the grass and rowing about the pond. 

However nice relaxing is, the best part of it all is that we were immersed in a foreign culture embracing what the Madrileños here count as a daily venture. This for me in reality is the definition of this trip-exploring, experiencing, and living and breathing the Madrileños lifestyle... 

As the trip ticks down to the final days, I can't help but look back fondly on all of the meat!! 

.... And also the incredible experiences that this trip has given me! As well, I can't wait to see what the last few days will bring-- with a Flamenco show in store!