We are having another day in Madrid and heading for the clerico-royal hub. First to the Bar Ronda for a little something to strengthen us.
It is a 7am to midnight gaff, 8-1 on Saturdays. Three months ago Hannah liked it 'Super sweet little tapas bar in La Latina neighborhood. The bartenders and the owner are all wonderfully friendly, as are the regular clientele. I made so many friends and we ended up dancing salsa, bachata, and even tango. Drink selection is great and they fed me well with each round. Highly recommend the tortilla, and especially the tortilla francesa con jamon y queso! So delicious. Can't wait to come back and visit my new amigos Madrileños 🫰🏼💜'
We are wandering around from place to place and then I saw 'Fucking Monday Madrid' and thought - do we need some night life because over 2000 people have given this 4.8 stars. https://fuckingmondaymadrid.com/ For some this will be heaven, for others, Dante will have written and extra circle of Hell. It seems only to open on Mondays and then from 23.30 to 5.30 - so Mondays is not really an accurate description. It describes itself as 'Created for rebels and people who refuse to live by routines, Fucking Monday is made to break rules. It's about misbehaving when you are not supposed to, choosing chaos over comfort, and living the moment like there's no tomorrow.'
A ticket costs 400 euros for a DJ table, plus 50 for each extra person. A cheaper table, the Latin Stage Table, is a mere 180 euros. Clearly, the rule ignoring is specific and costed. A bottle of Scotch whisky will set you back 150-1200 euros. They have a Facebook page for those who want photos. https://www.facebook.com/fckingmondaymadrid/photos_albums
A month ago Yoram gave 4 stars and said 'Club is okay. Multiple stages and djs. The staff is good. Bit overcrowded though. My main issue is the pricing. €8 for a standard bottle of beer is bizarre. Felt like a rip off for sure. I would not come back for that reason alone' About the same time Areli reckoned 'This place is amazing for a great night out in Madrid. I was there on vacation and I definitely recommend it. The prices for drinks and beer are reasonable considering it's a dive bar. The bartenders on the reggaeton floor are very attentive, friendly, and gorgeous. Great place to hang out 👌🏽. …'
As we turn north we will pass by Esgrima Tempo, a fencing club. https://www.esgrimatempo.es/ Fer was impressed. 'We had a fantastic time! We tried a wonderful experience and we'll almost certainly be back. Thank you so much, Ivette, for treating us so well!'
On to the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of the Almudena. Phil-2 was just a bit busy building 40 cathedrals overseas to get around to completing on one for Madrid. It wasn't until 1883 that the foundation was laid - on the site of the Medieval Mosque. To be honest, it had been destroyed in 1083 so they didn't knock much over.
What is it with Iberia and cathedrals. This one wasn't' completed till 1993, John-Paul II consecrated it. In May 2004 Letizia Ortiz married Felipe Bourbon there.
rocio reckoned 'One of my favourite places in Madrid! They started building it in 1883 and ended in 1993...of course, a lot happened in 100 years in Madrid. To enter, go to the side door (on the left if you are standinf in front of the church) the entrance is free, but they suggest to pay 1 euro. Also, you must visit the crypt, which is the biggest in Spain. The entrance is outside the church and walking around the block until you are in the back façade of the church.'
Next door is the Palacio Real de Madrid. It is 135,000m2 and the largest royal palace in Europe. The site was the venue for the 9th century Moorish Alcazar. It was expanded during Philip II's reign and was used till it burnt down in 1734. The Bourbons built and much quicker than the church, as the palace was constructed between 1738 and 1755,
Four months ago, Thomas wrote a lot. 'I visited the Royal Palace of Madrid and did the English guided tour, and it was absolutely worth it. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and very friendly, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The historical context and detailed explanations really brought the palace to life.
I highly recommend booking tickets in advance. We had to reserve our guided tour about four days ahead of time, and I’d suggest planning even earlier if you want a self-guided ticket, as those tend to sell out further in advance. The palace itself is stunning. The craftsmanship throughout the building is incredible, the level of detail in the architecture, decor, and artwork is truly impressive. I especially enjoyed learning about the frescoes and the stories behind them, understanding who the figures represented and the symbolism involved added so much depth to the visit. There’s a lot of fascinating history woven into every room.
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