One day in the park

My business trip was going just as planned, I was able to organize all my professional duties and still to have time and rest in the Madrid accommodation I have hired. On the 3rd day of my visit to the Spanish capital I had a free afternoon and a regional co-worker offered me to take me to the El Retiro Park. I’ve by now seen the place as it is quite close to my Madrid short stay apartment but haven’t had the time to explore it. So, when my co-worker offered a pleasant afternoon under the open sky I didn’t wait at all, we bought espresso and snacks and we went to the park.

I was happy to read later that the park is extremely large, embracing a region of 12 hectares. My colleague informed me that first it was arranged like an Italian recreation area in a baroque style, later being transformed like French gardens. These days, the El Retiro Park has a large man-made lake where one could hire a boat at a good cost. My favorite spot however was the Rose Garden with the sculpture of the Fallen Angel, while my colleague said she liked most the Paseo de las Estatuas or the Statue Walk.

We ate our sandwiches and went to Plaza de Colon to get some tasty ice-cream. The area is set between Paseo de la Castellana and Paseo de Recoletos and has a good area referred to as the Gardens of Discovery with its cascading water fountains, etc.

Now that I think about it, I was lucky 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. As we parted, I headed straight away to my Madrid holiday apartment where I had a long shower and went to bed early.