The land of Don Quijote
Trip Start
May 19, 2011
1
17
18
Trip End
Jul 09, 2011
Aranjuez, Madrid, Spain
Saturday, June 18, 2011
I'm very glad that I went, but don't know that I have any pressing desire to go back. Maybe it's because I've never read Don Quijote? (If you could see me, you would know I'm hanging my head in shame right now. It's on my iPad, I swear!) One of the funniest parts of the day was related to the bus we were riding in. It was the official bus for the Club Madrid futbol team - people were cheering for us on the streets! I can only imagine their disappointment when a bunch of US students disembarked!
We started off at the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, which was essentially a summer home for the Royals through the late 1800s. It's not longer in use by the family and instead is used as a musuem. The palace was amazing and the pieces were absolutely fabulous. (No pictures allowed.) I very much realized that maybe all the "girl looking for her prince" stories out there might have a point - I would love to have a 100-room summer home! ;)
Following the palace tour, we had some free time to explore the town. Some friends and I went in search of a produce market as this region is known for asparagus, strawberries, and artichokes. Between the 4 of us, we bought close to 20 euros of fruit, worth every cent. My favorite were the fresas, minature strawberries, which are quite simply amazing. Each piece was like eating candy. We also had the juiciest, most flavorful plums - I was literally licking juice off my forearm! So, so yummy!
Next, we went to Don Quijote's inn for a traditional La Mancha meal - consisting of braised mixed veggies, cheese, a scrambled egg mix, and a type of stuffing. Oh, and then some chicken and patatas, followed by desert. I think I'm still full from it! After that we saw the windmills and the El Castillo Castle. It was great exploring everything and, exhausted, we headed back, arriving in Madrid around 7. While some friends were going out to "tear up" the night - I decided that my 41-year old self needed sleep instead. I love being okay with saying no to a night out on the town. Growth....
