I took a train from Valencia to Madrid and then a taxi to my hotel located on the Puerto del Sol.  The Puerto del Sol is a beautiful square in the heart of Madrid.  I was too early to check into my room, so I left my luggage with the receptionist at the hotel and had lunch at the hotel restaurant.  My room was upgraded to a balcony room overlooking the Puerto del Sol. 

After settling into my hotel room, I was off exploring the city.  The one attraction on my list for my first day in Madrid was the Almudena Cathedral.  My GPS was leading the way when I came to a beautiful site – the Mercado de San Miguel. I had just finished eating lunch; however, I made a note to visit the market after touring the cathedral. 

This beautiful cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese of Madrid.  Its construction began in 1883 and was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993. 

The side altars were amazing with so much art and beauty. 

The sign at the bottom of the stairs read – Subida a la Virgen – which translated in English means – Climb to the Virgin.

After descending the stairs, I noticed a beautiful chapel.  This chapel was lined with gold mosaics on each wall displaying the story of Jesus, the Holy Family, and some of the miracles Jesus performed.

After exploring this beautiful cathedral, I was ready for a snack and my thoughts immediately went to the Mercado de San Miguel. 

This was my first day in Madrid.  I would be embarking on a special day trip from Madrid in the morning and wanted to get a good night’s sleep.  This was the beautiful sight from my hotel balcony at night. 

I am quite excited about exploring more of Madrid.  But tomorrow, I will be on an early train to a special day trip destination near the capital. 

Stay tuned for the next blog that will provide all the details of my first day trip from Madrid.

Let me know in the comments below what you think of this adventure so far.

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