My business trip was going just like planned, I was able to organize all my work tasks and still to get time and relax in the Madrid apartment I have booked. On the 3rd day of my trip to Madrid I had a free afternoon and a regional co-worker proposed to bring me to the El Retiro Park. I’ve by now seen the place as it is very near to my Madrid short stay apartment but haven’t had enough time to explore it. Thus, when my co-worker offered a nice hours under the open sky I did not wait whatsoever, we bought chocolate and sandwiches and we went to the park.
El Retiro Park Madrid
I was surprised to find out later that the park is overwhelmingly huge, covering an area of 12 hectares. My colleague informed me that first it was organized as an Italian park in a baroque style, later to become rearranged like French gardens. These days, the El Retiro Park provides a huge artificial lake where one could rent a boat at a reasonable price. My personal favorite spot however was the Rose Garden with the statue of the Fallen Angel, while my colleague said she liked most the Paseo de las Estatuas or the Statue Walk.
Museo del Prado Madrid
Plaza de Colon Madrid
We ate our sandwiches and went to Plaza de Colon to get some nice ice-cream. The place is placed between Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo de Recoletos and has a good area referred to as the Gardens of Discovery with its cascading down fountains, etc.
Now that I think about it, I was fortunate to be with a local as I got a lot of info for the city and we talked a lot about how the locals live. Once we parted, I headed right away to my Madrid apartment where I had a long shower and went to bed earlier.