The Strawberry Train

hey!

In my last trip to Madrid i shared with my friends something really cool.

Probably not many tourist know about this... so if you are looking for a different experience you should include it in your schedule!
We took the Strawberry Train to visit Aranjuez.
Every year in Spring and Summer this classic rail excursion sets out from Madrid. The Strawberry Train follows the old Madrid to Aranjuez rail route (the second railway to be built in Spain)

The train departs from the "Museo del Ferrocarril" (Train Museum) at 9.30 in the morning and arrives in Aranjuez at 11:30h more or less.

When you arrive to Aranjuez train station a bus drives you until the different places. First stop is the bullring.. is really far away from the Royal Boat Museum.. so you should pick one intinerary because you are not able to see both in a short period of time.

We choose visit the Royal Boat Museum..if you arrived before 12.00 you will be able to see the ignition on the source of the Swan, 5 or 10 min walking since the museum. Unfortunately we couldn't see it.

We had a pleasent picnic in the garden next to the river, then we back to the Royal palace area, visiting the garden of the island and the downtown of Aranjuez before our guide visit in the Palace.

The return journey departs from Aranjuez at 18.30h, but if you are tired you also have the right to get a CERCANIAS train, much more fast.

The ticket cost 29 euros and includes a guided visit around Aranjuez's Royal Palace, the bullring, the Prince's gardens and the museum of Royal Boat next to the Tajo's river.
Also you can get some discount in some of the most popular restaurants.
All passengers receive a pack of strawberries en route! was really pleasant.

For more info: RENFE

A secret restaurant in Plaza España

Hey!

Looking for things to do in Madrid with my friends i found a blog which recommend a hidden Chinese restaurant in Plaza España, called ''Jia Xiang Xiao Chi''

To find the place was a bit hard but If you’re walking from Gran Vía downhill towards Plaza de España you would walk as if you’re heading to the main fountain, only to march down one flight of stairs towards the parking garage.

May seem a bit sinister at first glance, but we enjoyed a great dinner.. just for 33 euros! We ordered sweet ribs, fried noodles, chicken with vegetable in chinese style, beef with vegetable, chinese bread plus 4 drink.

If you'd like to try real Chinese food this is perfect.. so affordable! most of the dishes fall under 5 Euros.

In other hand the restaurant is so tiny just for 25 people and is always crowded.
When we went there, in the sunday evening, many people patiently waited outside the restaurant to get a free table or just to pick up takeout, we realized they picked it up to ate the food in the gardens outside while they drank.
I think that can a be another cool option.

My tip is try it before Madrid lunchtime (14.00 or 15.00 pm) or in early evening in this way you get much more chance of a table.

affordable accommodation in Madrid

Hello everybody!

After long time i'm here again!
Two weeks ago I went to Madrid with my friends, so i have more information to share with you!
I would like to talk about my accomodation there, we stayed in a cosy one-roomed flat that i found on WIMDU. What a great discovering! ^^ It was the first time using this web site and i should say that i been really happy with the host Nuria and her cozy apartment.

If you are gonna spend a couple of days in Madrid with your partner or family, this is a great option. It only has a capacity of 3 persons.

Nuria's flat is, very affordable (around 70 euros per night, it really worth it, depending of the web site) and well located in the area of Callao, the nearest subway station is Callao, just 3 min walking, you can go walking everywhere. Nuria welcoming us with a full breakfast and with a couple of marshmallow flowers over the bedside table.. seriously was so overwhelming and unexpected. She's really amazing.
The guests can find lot of information and maps in the room moreover Nuria gave us lot of useful tips.

Is an apartment for short periods of accommodations, full equiped: air conditioning, heating, security door, video intercom, Tv Led, DvD, Ipod- Iphone Dock Station, router LiveBox2 Wi-fi n, washing machine, ceramic hob, micro- wave, freezer, deep freeze, oven, hoover, water heater, coffee machine, toaster, juice extractor, sandwich, blender, kitchen utensils, iron, sheets and towels, hair drier, toiletries. 

And of course as you can see in the pictures has a lovely decoration (you can visit the website to check all features and services of the apartment) I took some pic of the aparment ^^

Thank you for everything Nuria!

one of the best restaurants of Cuenca

La bodeguilla de Basilio.

I would like to recommend you one of the best restaurants of Cuenca. You shoud not miss to visit it!

Located in the Water St next to the Spain Square and the Huecar river this small restaurant is well know for the wonderful tapas and the stunning decoration.

La bodeguilla de Basilio is always crowded due the popularity. Do not expect a big restaurant! the place is very tiny and narrow and unfortunately there are not to much space..(no recomendable for claustrophobics)

La bodeguilla is divided in 3 parts, the entrance (the bar) is very narrow and always crowded, you must drink and eat standing up. (the best time to visit it is from 1 to 2 pm and from 8 to 9 pm)
The second area (belongs to the bar area) is a link between the bar and the restaurant, you must be fast to get a site in this part because there are only 3 small tables where you can sit down to enjoy the tapas.
At down the hall is situated the restaurant.

You should know due the popularity of the restaurant you need book the table, sometimes is hard to get site at the moment. Many famous people visited the restaurant and you can see pictures of them hanging in the wall.
La bodeguilla is perfect for couples, the service is really nice because the owner Basilio always recived and accommodate you at the tables which are decorated with flowers and candles, the ambient is quite bohemian, romantic and charming. the walls are decorated with old traditional agricultural work tools.

R1. quail eggs with grilled ham

In the restaurant you can taste the tipical cuisine of Castile la-Mancha, such the cheese, “ajoarriero”(cold casserole with cod, garlic and olive oil, served as a starter), “morteruelo” (dense paste made with rabbit, hare, partridge, pig’s liver, ham and spices, served as a starter in winter), “pisto manchego” (made with vegetables and served hot), “mojete” (cold salad with peppers, cod and garlic), “zarajo” (strips of marinated baby lamb tripe wound around vine shoots), soused partridge salad and “caldereta” (lamb stew). Other vital dishes not to be missed are roast baby lamb or suckling pig, as well as game (venison, boar and partridge) in casseroles.

My recomendation is the “Poor Man's Potatoes” and “baby lamb chops on the grill”. A piece of heaven for your mouth ^^

R.2 grilled small squid with courgettes

In the other hand, the bar is full of old pictures of Cuenca and a huge variety of bottle of wine. The characteristic that distinguishes the bar from others is that the tapas are very large and elaborate... with a couple of tapas you may feel full!
the bar offer 4 types of tapas beautifully presented and delicious:

• round 1. quail eggs with grilled ham, chips and salade
• round 2. grilled small squid with chips, sauteed courgette and salade.
• round 3. stuffed peppers
• round 4. baby lamb chops on the grill

The waiter will offer you too a bowl of hot soup (in winter) and a bowl of  fresh gazpacho [tomato soup] (in summer)

The relation between quality and price is fair, You pay a little more for a beer compared to other bars in the area but the food that comes with it is excelent and abundant.

Location

Calle Agua 3
16001 Cuenca (Cuenca)
Tel.:+34 969235274

Gran Via

Hello hello! If you are gonna spend a few days in Madrid I'm pretty sure that you are gonna walking around Gran Vía street. One of the most well known areas by tourist and shoppers, Many shops set up by first-quality houses are found on Gran Vía, for example, ZARA, CUSTO, SFERA, NIKE, LEVIS, LACOSTE and so on. Also, the streets off Gran Via have always boasted of a very lively commercial activity, so shoppers can find clothes stores, shops selling souvenirs and accessories, all mixed with cinemas, bars, restaurant, cafeterias and hotels. The street is located in Madrid downtown and it leads from Calle de Alcalá until Plaza de España. Gran Via in a commercial and entertainment epicenter of Madrid and one of the most unique places, you can find all kind of weird people doing everything. We experienced different and funny situations walking around Gran Via.  From my point of view some of the most hot points in Gran via are the point start of other small street such as Fuencarral Street where is locateld one of the most extravagant markets, Montera Street knows by the huge amount of prostitutes and sex shops and Plaza de Callao where are located lot of malls and about six movie theaters. One of them, the Capitol, is located in a beautiful Art Deco building.

So, If you like the architecture, Gran Via is full of beautiful and stunning building, is realy noted for the grand architecture prevalent among many of its buildings. It is considered a showcase of early 20th century architecture, with patterns ranging from Vienna Secession style, Plateresque, Neo-Mudéjar, Art Deco and others. Sadly nowadays most of the theaters are closed and being replaced by shopping malls.

If you want to get a great and pretty representative memories from this street, you should take picture of the Grassy bulding at the beginning of Gran Via, the Metropolis Building next to it and designed by the french architects Jules and Raymond Fevrier. At the last part of the Gran Vía, in the Plaza España you can find the Telefónica headquarters.


My last tip! probably in you walk you are going to feel thirsty, so if you want to save money on drinks and snacks, in parallel streets you can find many Chinese stores

Youth Hostels in Madrid downtown

Hello everyone!

If you are looking for affordable accommodations in Madrid centre, here you can find some Youth Hostels.
I'm sure  many users would like to know  about your experience in one of the Youth Hostels.. so plz share with us! ^^

HOSTAL SPLENDID Location: Gran Via Street 15, 5ºA.Subway: Gran Via, Sevilla, Sol. Bus: 1, 2, 202, 74, 149, 3, 44, 40, 149, 48 (callao) Rates: 35 or 38 € per night.	To contact.. Telephone: [0034] +915 224 737 / [0034]+ 915 224 736 Fax: 915 224 736 EMail: hostalsplendid@terra.es http://www.hostalsplendid.com/indexi.html
Youth Hostel Madrid - Hostels In The Centre
Cat's Hostel Cañizares nº6, Madrid, 28012, Spain Metro: Antón Martín (Light Blue Line, L1)Tel: +34 91 369 2807Fax: +34 91 429 9479 Website: http://www.catshostel.comE-mail: info@catshostel.com
Los Amigos Opera Backpackers Hostel, Calle del Arenal, 26 28013 Madrid Spain. Metro: Opera (Red Line, L2) or (Green Line, L5)Tel: +34 91 559 2472 Website: www.losamigoshostel.comE-mail: reservassol@losamigoshostel.com
Barbieri International Hostel c/Barbieri 15, Madrid 28004 Spain Metro: Chueca (Green Line, L5) All contact is through the website. Website: http://www.barbierihostel.comE-mail: booking@barbierihostel.com

More hostels

LA TOMATINA- Tomato festival in Buñol

Hi guys!

How have you been? sorry for my delay I was kinda busy with my studies to post something in the blog. ^_^

Tonight I'd like to introduce you the Tomato festival (la tomatina) This festival is well known all over the world. La tomatina is held in Buñol not far away from Valencia in the last Wednesday of August... so you can take the train from Valencia.

Buñol is a small village, the population is around 9000 people, but whose population swells to some 30,000 on the day of La Tomatina.
If you want to enjoy this lovely village, i recommend you to visit the castle built in the 13th century, the Roquillo bridge (500 m walking from the city centre), and the several fountains and gardens of the old town.

The tomatina (토마티나).. a fight of tomatoes involves hundred of people from different places and ages, that going to visit Buñol expecting to be bathed in tomato juice. Wwhen the fight is over, people usually go until the installed showers for participants or they get into the river!

토마토의 바다에 빠져~

Before go there, you should keep in mind some rules! The city council follows a short list of instructions for the safety of the participants and the festival:

• The tomatoes have to be squashed before throwing to avoid injuries.
• No other projectiles except tomatoes are allowed.
• Participants have to give way to the truck and lorries.
• The festival doesn't allow ripping off T-shirts. (Many men try to carry it out with the girls ¬_¬)
• You must be careful to avoid the lorries which carry the tomatoes. As soon as you hear the 2nd banger you must stop throwing tomatoes.

Umm, my personal tip for you is that should wear old clothes and shoes, also don't miss to wear snorkelling equipment to protect the eyes of the tomato juice. It could be seem a little be weird, but i swear you that is very useful ahahaha. If you're not provided with swimming goggles do not worry! you will find in all the shops of the town, also you can find underwater cameras, very useful to take pictures during tomatina If you are doubting about the fun of this festival can involve, check out the video :D

토마토의 바다에 몸을 던져라! 라 토마티나ㅋㅋㅋㅋ