Arrived in Madrid on Saturday afternoon. Got the airport express bus to Plaza Cibeles and walked to Sol and Plaza Santa Cruz where we are staying. Hotel is on the second floor, another hotel on the third. Real Madrid is playing Barcelona FC in the first of four `el clasicos´ in the next 17 days. Lots of football fans on the streets, great sense of anticipation. We catch the end of the United / City FA Cup semi final in a tiny bar, get some dinner at a Tapas bar, order the tripe and it actually tastes good. Very rich sauce, and I eat at least 3 mouthfuls. Mum would have been proud. The game is kicking off at 10pm, we decide to stay in and watch it on tv, but I am asleep in about 2 minutes. Get a text in the morning from Mike in Australia. Apparently it was a gruesome 1 all draw. Bring on Wednesday, might be awake for that one. We visit the el Rastro market on Sunday morning, blocks and blocks of streets south of Calle Toledo, with market stalls selling everything from plumbing equipment, antiques, clothes, knives, anything you could want. Great excuse for a walk. In the afternoon we go to the Thyssen art gallery and see some great paintings, little break in the Retiro, then queue up for the free session at the Prado at 5pm and see more great paintings. Big paintings.
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