The best thing about traveling without tour is you get to plan where you want to go and when you want to go. You don't have to constantly wake up so early and be on the move. We can sleep longer, do whatever we want until we are ready to go. This is the key to truly relax and enjoy.

Second day in Madrid was great. Woke up slightly later then usual since we had a long and tiring day the day before. We were already craving for Chinese food even though it's just the second day of this trip. Is it just my family or is most of the Chinese couldn't survive without Chinese food? 

Anyway, so I looked up on the internet and found a dimsum place called Tse Yang Dim Sum Club just located on the 9th floor of El Corte Ingles right behind our hotel. The food there was alright but if you are craving for it, everything is good. You just have to satisfy your taste bud.

Right after our brunch, we head to a cafe on the same floor and resume our high tea session. Crazy isn't, it's like we kept feeding ourselves with food. We got really lucky and found a table right beside the window. The view was breathtaking. I can totally point out to my parents where the Royal Palace of Madrid is located. Too beautiful. 

After we finished both our brunch and high tea (finally no more food), we shopped around the hotel area for a bit and return to our hotel room to get ready for the bullfighting show later that evening. The bullfighting show is located at Las Ventas, also one of the tourists attraction. If you go to Madrid, you should definitely go and watch it. It will be a once in a lifetime kinda experience that you don't wanna miss. 

I'm not so sure if they always have shows available but no harm trying. The show tickets are really cheap (didn't expect it at all), we bought the 2nd front seat for like 13Euros each and it's upfront. They even deliver your tickets to your hotel so it's really convenient. You don't even have to worry about anything. Once you got there, the guides will tell you where to go. 

We didn't finish watching the entire show, just 2 rounds of fight before we decide to leave. Mainly because firstly we don't really understand how this bullfighting works. We don't know how they score the fighters so we have absolutely no clue on why people were cheering. Secondly, it's cruel and I couldn't watch it any further. So do my parents. 

Imagine, 2 rounds of fight meaning 2 bulls die for it. They stab the bull multiple times, makes it chase after the red cloth and when it gets tired, they used a long blade to stab right into the bull. The bull is not even dead yet and keeps vomiting blood until it slowly die. 

The second round was even worst; they used the long blade to stab the bull twice. TWICE and it slowly fall and vomited blood but it's still alive. To quickly ease its pain, they stab it right on its head. 

My puke level was already right up my throat and I totally lose appetite. It's a good thing I didn't puke out the chocolate I've just eaten when they were still teasing with the bull. 

Like I said, it's a once in a lifetime experience and it's definitely going to be my last. I know this is part of the Spain's culture and I respect that, it's just not my cup of tea.

After that, we went to the famous suckling pig restaurant in Madrid called Restaurante Sobrino de Botin but it's fully booked. The only available slot is at 10pm and it was just 6 going on 7pm when we went in and ask. Since we couldn't wait that long, we decided to just make reservation for the next day. Good thing it's fully book that day because I have absolutely no appetite after the bullfighting show and I surely don't want to see dead pigs lying in front of me.

Since the restaurant is fully booked, we went to this sushi market called Mercado de San Miguel near the restaurant to explore and have our dinner there. It's not just a market where they sell fruits and stuff; it's literally like a hawker center inside. There's everything from Japanese Sushi, Street food to desserts.

It's definitely a place you want to check it out because the food there is really awesome and the environment itself is what you will never experience in Singapore.

It's located at Plaza San Miguel 28013, Madrid. It opens from 10am all the way to 2am. Best place for street food and beer/ wine.

These are the area where they sell vegetables, fruits and meat. We bought some fruits back to the hotel and they were really fresh and tasty. The colors itself tells it all.

TO BE CONTINUED...

As promised, here is my beautiful and fulfilling experience in Madrid and Barcelona. You all have no idea how excited I was. Booked my tickets way back in December 2013 and I have to wait 3 months to actually go on this trip.

Before I go into all the juicy details, I have to say, I'm in love with Quatar Airway. Fly anywhere with Quatar and you will never be bored. The selections of movies were AMAZING!!! If you are those kinds who can't sleep in the plane, next time, try Quatar. The movies selection will entertain you throughout your journey because they have most of the popular movies whether is it old or new.

It was a long and tiring flight from Singapore to Madrid since I have to transit twice (SG-Doha-Barcelona-Madrid). The exhaustion soon disappears when we finally reached Madrid. I was all hyped up and ready to go.

It was only a 15-20mins ride from the airport to our hotel (Hotel Regente) at Gran Via. The architectures and surrounding environment were breathtaking and with such beautiful weather, it's definitely a plus plus. The hotel we were staying is located in the central of Gran Via, its surrounded with shops and cafes like Zara, Sephora, Loewe, Starbucks, etc and right behind this building, were 2 different El Corte Ingles.

Settled down for quick lunch at one of the Japanese Restaurant when a brunch of people holding flags starts walking down the road protesting. Roads were blocked from cars to ensure no one gets hurt. As time passes, more and more Protestants covered up the roads. Since the roads were blocked and the Protestants were friendly to us, we took this opportunity to take photos on empty roads and slowly enjoy the walking around Gran Via.

Walked down the street of Calle de Alcala (also known as the longest street in Madrid), this is the street where most of the attractions are located such as Metropolis Building, Plaza de Cibeles, Alcala gate and etc. If you walk toward the Alcala gate, you will be able to see the northern entrance of Buen Retiro Park.

Headed to Buen Retiro Park, one of the largest parks in Madrid. The park was OMG WOW! Near the northern entrance were the Retiro Pond and the Monument to King Alfonso XII. People were sitting on the stairs by the pond and some were rolling in little boats, it was beautiful. And then there were Paseo de la Argentina and Crystal Palace. We couldn't finish this park because it was way too big and we need some coffee break to ease the jet lag. This park is definitely the place where you want to be hand in hand with someone you love and enjoy every part of it. My parents were enjoying it and being the third wheel, I just got to do my own sightseeing.

After that, we headed to Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset to boost the economic (if you know what I mean). Its one of the best shopping area in Madrid where you can find most of the luxury brand boutiques here so if you are into buying luxury goods, this is definitely the place you want to go. There's Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Chanel, etc etc. There's also El Corte Ingles down the street so you might want to check it out.

Since the weather turns really cold at night and we were freezing, we popped into one of the hotel there called Villa Magna to warm ourselves up and ask for direction. Man this hotel is gorgeous!!! One word, GRAND! This is the hotel everyone wants to stay in. Even though we were just finding shelter, they welcome us and help us with direction. Friendly and helpful service is what every customer is looking for and they have it. My parents were impressed, I was impressed, and how we wished we found this hotel rather than the one we were staying at. Another reason why I didn't bother to even blog about it. Everything about it is just bad except it's location. 

Anyway, my first day in Madrid ended with a late dinner and sore legs. Walked way too much and totally knocked ourselves out. No more intense walking for the rest of the trip because my dad hurts his leg. Anyway the cab fares in Madrid is really cheap so why suffer when you can just hired a cab right?

To be continue...