Hey guys,
In May (yup I know it’s late!) I took a trip to Madrid! It’s a place I have wanted to visit desperately for a while more so for the experience of visiting the Bernabéu. Pre mini break I wasn’t sure what to really expect from the city but I was excited. I’d meant to plan my trip but we ended up going off the cuff!
The trip did not get off to the best start! I was held up at my docs surgery by nearly an hour and consequently missed my train! Luckily my brother took me down to Luton! Now at this point I thought everything would be good! So we went along to the EasyJet check in area as I have to check my wheelchair in, I mostly travel with hand luggage! We asked them what to do and was told to just go through to the departure lounge and wait for the gate, which was fine even if a bit odd with the wheelchair but I thought maybe it’s an easy access! At departures I realised I’d forgotten my water bottle, which I take every where! It’s easy then for me to drink as it has an inter grated straw! So I had to buy another one £15 and a bit annoyed, more so my nervous were kicking in about flying, i just kept saying I’d be ok! Then the gate was called and it was down a flight of stairs, unbelievable! We was directly to a different gate and got a bit of you should have been here earlier, lady we wasn’t told! Anyway she rang the plane and asked if they’d take us thankfully they said yes! The ambi came and the guy said they may not take you still I was getting really upset! Thankfully the plane did wait for us and before I knew I was on and we were off, not much time to think about take off!
It was a relatively quick flight! The staff at Madrid airport had us off the plane within about 20 mins which considering there was 2 of us I was happy about! I had a chat with a lady who was visiting family for a month, I was jealous! Unfortunately we was only there for 2 full days and 3 nights! But was going to make the most of our time! After going through the security and border control. The lady asked which hotel to which I told her the Marriott! I had read it was a mear 5 mins from the airport apparently that wasn’t the case!
After exiting the airport we was lead to a bus station and explained the hotel had transport. The bus did come but wasn’t accessible, oh no I thought! Then the man said not to worry he’d go and change vehicles and he came back with an accessible vehicle just for us, brilliant! When we arrived at the hotel it was huge! Check in was so quick and easy. We went and put everything in the room and then hopped down to the bar, drinks and snacks were had! With talk of tomorrow before it was time for me to hit the hay!
After waking up we decided to stay at the hotel and not move to central Madrid so went down stairs and sorted that out then went to breakfast and what choice we had! Even better it was hot so I could wear my new grey denim skirt & white tee!
The hotel called a taxi and off we went to The Bernabéu! I won’t bore you with the info as I have written about it, but it was fantastic and made me cry! I even got to go the shop and brought a postcard & pin!
After walking around the outside of the stadium, my friend needed food and a drink we ended up at Burger King outside! It was opposite the stadium! While my friend was getting the food, I sat outside, soaking up the sun, until a small bird landed on my wheelchair, which made me let out a scream, I didn’t want to stay much longer after that! The check of the bird though came on the table, birds are not cute, they fly at me! After food & drink was had we decided to take a walk it was around 3pm and I was getting sleepy after a long day in the sun! So we walked to the central bus station in Madrid and then hailed a taxi to the hotel. After arriving back the staff welcomed us back and we had a chat! I had a little lay on the bed, I get so tired these days! We went down to the sports bar in the Hotel and my friend had food and we both drank and watched the Barcelona match! Before I knew it I was fast asleep!
Once rising early the next day we grabbed a map and went in for breakfast, my friend picked up an apple for the day, then forgot to take it! I decided to go for my longer skirt & tee combo today as it was a bit blowy at times but I wanted to keep my shoulders covered as they burn really easily for some reason! We decided to start at the palace of Madrid today and I then wanted to jump on a tour bus around Madrid but my friend wanted to walk and push the wheelchair! We got a taxi from the Marriott to the palace cost €35 but we did get to see the old athletico Madrid stadium, I was disappointed we couldn’t go on that tour but no wheelchair allowed except on certain days well, Fridays!
So we arrived at the palace which was so beautiful, we also visited the cathedral next door, which was surprising accessible! I love to visit cathedrals I find them really restful and just relaxing giving me a moment of reflection and to think of those lost & those fighting to retrain health. I also got souvenirs outside, postcards & magnets!
Then I came into my own I became chief map reader! We visited the centre of Madrid, we stopped off for food, drink and toilet break, well I didn’t as disabled toilets in main land Europe are not easy to come by! We also visited a few shops and took some pics of the architecture & status and the ladies around Madrid for which I think were part of a city wide street art expo! Anyway we kept on walking/ rolling! Where we came to a Long road! A head was the gate of Madrid so we kept on walking! We went past the bank of Spain and a beautiful building!
We then turned right and my friend used the toilet, no chance for me! We strolled down it was tree lined and beautiful with a few water features and museums close by. We then reached another iconic water feature but we couldn’t reach it as it was in the centre of a busy roundabout!
Then it was up, up a big hill! At the top greeted by Madrid Park! But the entrance we had was steps, my friend wanted to bump me up, I wasn’t having that! So we walked along the road only to find a perfectly flat entrance and 4 more lady statues! We entered the park and spent a few hours just taking a slow walk around taking pics and looking at the lake and ruins! We walked all around the lake, if I’d of been more able I might have risked it & got on a paddle boat! As we exited the temperature seemed to have risen and so sub cream was reapplied!
Back to my map we walked and took pics of more Madrid street art and found ourselves in upmarket Madrid with shops like Rolex and the such, you have to wonder if Ramos and co had been down this street! We were getting tired and a bit stressed and ready for home after walked around Madrid for 8 hours in 26/27c heat! I forgot my hat which wasn’t a great move on my part but at least I could still map read! We eventually found a point to hail a taxi, the funny side of it was finding out we wasn’t that far from our hotel and had literally walked/rolled from west Madrid to east Madrid!
Luckily our hotel agreed to show the man Utd game on tv I say lucky it wasn’t a great game, was glad I’d given my tickets back and headed to Madrid instead! After a few drinks and my friends food I was ready for bed and was soon dreaming of flying birds & Madrid!
The morning soon arrived an early start and my friend went to breakfast early and before I knew it we was back at the airport and on our way to England!
It was a great trip, I can not wait to return some day soon. Until next time Madrid
Vicky xx
