A moment in Madrid

The criss-crossing of Europe by plane, train, automobile, boat and bus was complete and we were once again joining our around-the-world ticket, flying out of Madrid. This would be a blink of an eye visit – literally. Sleep, walk, sleep, fly . . . done and dusted! that’s Madrid.

Unknowingly, we landed right into the Global Climate Strike with what looked like thousands of students and young adults taking it to the streets. Inspiring. No matter your politics, concern and action of any type on any issue beats apathy. We used limited Spanish to translate the signs, banners, pages from spiral notebooks and took it all in as we walked along. The energy was contagious (and needed after our excesses the week before).

Through a mistake with Expedia, we were upgraded to a five-star hotel for two nights of luxury. At the entrance was a tent camp, part of the Nadie Sin Hogar movement and it blended with the evening's climate protest. The irony and reality was not lost on us.

Madrid is a walkable city. Neighbourhoods blend, flow and propel you to take in some of the most beautiful architecture, culture and food around. Though we'd both been here before, we played tourist for a day starting at Puerta del Sol. The daytime sprint sent us weaving through Plaza Mayor, passing mercados, street musicians and loads of tourists - landing by chance at the changing of the guards in front of the Palacio Real. An insta-worthy blue-sky day, a few choice photo-ops and we'd really moved from traveler to tourist in a flash.

That was our moment in Madrid – and we ended it with one more bit of excess. A colossal, gut-stretching tortilla from Taberna El Buo De Chueca. The last of Europe – we leave full.