We had such a fun time in Madrid today! We started off by visiting the Miguel de Cervantes Memorial, which was a beautiful monument with a surrounding pond and various olive trees. This memorial commemorates the great contributions Cervantes made to Spanish literature.

Next we went to the Royal Palace, which was such an interesting experience! This magnificent building was home to several generations of kings and is still used today by the royal family for formal events. Afterwards, we took a leisurely break with hot chocolate and churros.

Next, we took a short walking tour of the old city, which included the Plaza Mayor. This quintessential European structure demonstrates the rich culture of the city. After a little free time to get lunch and go shopping, we arrived at the famous Prado Museum. We enjoyed the works of Velazquez, el Greco, Goya, and many others.

Finally, to finish off the day we visited a cooking school where we learned how to make paella and brazo de gitano, a delicious dessert traditional to Spanish cooking. Today was packed with fun and we can’t wait for another exciting day in Toledo, Spain!

Katherine Fisher