This morning we started our day off with our must do in any major European city – a Sandman’s Walking tour. We met our your in Plaza Mayor, wondering the streets of Madrid and being filled with education by our tour guide Mari Carmen, originally from Madrid (but not a gato – gatos are cats, but also people who have three prior generations in Madrid – there are about 700 of the 7 million that live in Madrid). 

In the 2.5 hours that we were with her we got a lot of Madrid’s highlights on the west of town, ending right in front of the Royal Palace, where they happened to be having their monthly changing of the guard, which in my opinion looked like a big to do, but according to Mari Carmen, wasn’t that great. After our tour ended we headed to the Royal gardens and then finished by watching the end of the changing of the guard – pretty cool if you ask me – with all the horses, carriages, and total military.

Prior to heading to the market up grab something lunch we stopped into Madrid’s cathedral, which I’ll have to say is one of the worst that I’ve ever seen. There are too many types of architecture going on, but Mari Carmen tells us that’s what makes it so great – if you don’t like something, turn your head – to me it’s still all awful. 

San Miguel Mercado was packed, but we were able to make a few selections. We had delicious bread topped with burrata, mine with rocket and balsamic, Nicks, roasted tomato and sweet pimento. We shared a glass of red wine and then grabbed a ham and cheese wrap and we ventured around some more, making a final stop at the Iberico ham shop, stating a sandwich. 

On our tour Mari told us about the secret shop inside the convent where you could purchase sweets from the nuns, the only thing was that these nuns lived within the convent and did not come out so therefore you had to find the secret door, hit the  buzzer for them to let in and then make your way to the torno to purchase said sweets.

This was something that I had seen on a travel blog and sent to Nick as a to-do in this trip. The blog I read it in gave step by step directions as the gentleman who wrote it made it sound impossible, so of course I was determined. Needless to Mari took us straight there so she made it pretty easy for us. 

Arriving at the secret door, I was all prepared with my handwritten note to ask the nuns to let us in to buy the sweets, immediately after ringing the buzzer I saw a sign with the hours realizing they were currently closed, I assume for a siesta. However, to my surprise a screeching voice came over the intercom, I said “Hola, nos gustaría compar dulces, Madre”, only to hear “No” and the phone be slammed. I guess I woke them. Feeling defeated, but yet proud that I actually got my request out, we headed back to the apt for a siesta of our own. I forgot how much walking and sun exposure tires one out. 

After our siesta, I was determined to get these nun cookies, so we set back out, located the calle, rang the bell, asked again to buy sweets, and thankfully heard the unlocking of the door. We made our was through the convent to find the torno – turntable – in the back corner with a list of goodies. Of course the one I ordered they were out of, based on what was being said through the turntable to us we gathered they only had two kinds left, so we ordered the galletas – lemon shortbread cookie. All of a sudden a bag with a box of cookies arrived via turntable, I grabbed them, out my money down and turned it back around whispering to Nick I hoped they made change. As soon as I said it there came my change. Such a cool experience. 

We decided that we had enough time before it dinner reservations that we would walk over to the museum district, as Nick wanted to see the CaxiaForum, and we had heard the Sophia Reina was free on Wednesday’s from 7-9 pm. We placed ourselves in the giant que figuring we wouldn’t get in, but it only took about 30 mins and we were in. Nick specifically wanted to visit for the Dali & Miro art, we got those floors and the headed to dinner which was close by.

Bodega de Los Secretos was a place that was recommended on the travel community that I follow on FB. As you entered you made your way downstairs to the underground cellar. The table we had sat back in a small cloister. We had a bottle of the house vino tinto, shared their “angry eggs” appetizer, which were patatas with eggs and a spicy sauce. I ordered the cod and Nick the ox tail. Bodega de Los Secretos received two thumbs up from us, it was nice not eating on and being able to sit down and enjoy a nice meal together. We passed on dessert as we were stuffed and knew we had “nun cookies” back home so we made the long walk back.