In the middle of one of the busiest capitol cities in the West is a beautiful park bustling with people enjoying the space and sun. Rollerblading is still alive and well in Spain...
Behold: (thanks to my photographer) El Parque del Retiro.
If you've not checked out the new album from Andrew Bird, do yourself the favor and give it a listen! What an inventive way of making a truly unique contribution to music. Though the audio isn't directly available through this link to NPR any longer, there is a nice review.
UPDATE! Andrew Bird performed on NPR's World Cafe. Click. it.
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| Yes, that's a duck. |
I also had one of the best meals I've ever had in Europe at Restaurante Alboroque. The dishes were cooked to perfection, using simple, high quality ingredients. The staff was very professional and accommodating. The prices were also quite reasonable for the quality. 3 courses and a bottle of wine for two at 100 Euros.
Finding this little gem wasn't easy, though. It is off of one of the busiest streets in Madrid, Calle Atocha, tucked away in a building that is far too easy to pass by without noticing. Although it's possible to make reservations, they're not required, and I walked in wearing regular clothes from my day as a tourist.
Though it would've been awkward in such a nice place, I wish I'd taken pictures of the meal. The website only has pictures of the restaurant’s interior, but the food really deserves its due.
My meal: duck liver over a polenta cream with a red berry reduction (Higado de pato sobre crema de maiz y frutos rojos con mandarina); a risotto with hare, artichokes, and mushrooms, (arroz meloso con liebre, alcachofa y setas); and a molten chocolate cake with an orange scented shell (pastel caliente de chocolate con cascara de naranja); paired with a very good Spanish red wine, Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas 2007. My companion had an exquisite warm vegetable salad followed by seared Iberian pork over a spinach and mango salad, followed by a trio of homemade ice-creams.
If you've not checked out the new album from Andrew Bird, do yourself the favor and give it a listen! What an inventive way of making a truly unique contribution to music. Though the audio isn't directly available through this link to NPR any longer, there is a nice review.
UPDATE! Andrew Bird performed on NPR's World Cafe. Click. it.
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