Spain: Valencia - Madrid, summer 2023

Went on a work-trip to Madrid in early September. Spent a fun weekend with the chicas in Valencia before and headed to North-America after Madrid. So got to spend another day and a half in Madrid when coming back!

Tapas!!!!

Playaaa!

We got lucky with the weather in Valencia. Had one rainy morning, but the rest of it was warm and sunny. In many places in Spain it was already very rainy and stormy.

On the roof of our hotel there was a little pool to enjoy a glass (or two) of cava and get some sun.

The new City of Arts and Sciences. A futuristic complex designed by Santiago Calatrava that was finished in 2005. It consists of 6 large elements: the Hemisfèric (IMAX Cinema and digital films) the Umbracle (a huge garden for Mediterranean plants and contemporary sculptures), the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum (an innovative interactive science centre), the Oceanogràfic (Europe's largest aquarium), the Reina Sofía Palace of the Arts (dedicated to opera), and the Ágora (a multipurpose space for concerts and other activities).

I mean, Valencia is the birthplace of paella, so how could we not not try that.

Palau Marques de Dos Aguas

The cathedral!

Took a train to Madrid on Sunday and spent the day hopping from place to place eating and drinking as the floods and the storm had reached Madrid and everybody in the area got a mobile alert warning to avoid going outside if possible. Luckily the weather cleared up by the evening.

We were treated to a reception and an organized tour in the Museo Reina Sofia after the workdays. Finally got to see the infamous Guernica by Pablo Picasso.

We were staying in the Hotel Emperador in central Madrid and as the sun had returned to Madrid, after our second workday ended, headed straight on the roof to enjoy the rest of the day by the pool.

In the evening went to explore the nearby Chueca neighborhood and fill ourselves with some more tapas!

When I returned to Madrid three weeks later, the city was back to its 30-degrees-heatwave weather. Met up with Mario and had a fun day of wandering around the city!