Antwerp, Belgium - 14 October 2006

Madrid, Spain - 6-8 October 2006

Madrid's emblem: el oso y el madroño (The bear and the madrono)

I played hooky on Friday to spend the extended weekend in Madrid with my Bhutanese friend, Tashi. We rode the train up to Schiphol Amsterdam from Maastricht to catch the flight out to Madrid on Vueling Airlines, a new low-budget carrier from Spain. Our first priority upon arrival at the Spanish capital on Saturday morning was to look for a room to overnight. We lucked out to find one for E55 at Hostal La Perla Asturiana near the heart of the city in Puerta del Sol. Sweet.

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, home to the famous Real Madrid football club, was on our must-see list. Tashi is a huge fan of the club thanks to her hero Raul Gonzalez who plays for the team. Other big names of the club include Beckham, Zidane and Ronaldo. 

Food was (and always will be) a highlight for the trip. We indulged in tapas, sangria, chocolate con churros o porras, gelato and smoked meats in the short time we were there. This political and financial center of Spain is also a mecca for the arts - there are plenty of museums and music, dance, and theater performances to visit, see, do, and enjoy. The lifestyle vibe is strong here in Madrid and thanks to the city's parks for leisurely walks, cafes, bars and restaurants for alfresco dining, and boutique shops for great shopping, it is definitely la dulce vida here in Madrid. This great city in the Iberian peninsula was definitely worth playing hooky for but the weekend did her no justice. She is definitely worth a longer visit next time.

Above left: Combinado de Ahumados; above right: chocolate con churros o porras
 

Above right: @ Parque del Retiro (near the Museo del Prado, which housed paintings by Francisco Goya, including 'The Clothed Maja' [La Maja Vestida] and 'The Nude Maja' [La Maja Desnuda])
 

Cologne (Koln), Germany - 30 September 2006

One fine Saturday, I took a train up to Cologne (Koln) from Maastricht to spend a day with a few friends from the Tafelstraat. The high-speed train ride was smooth and easy (about 1.5 - 2 hours each way, via Aachen). Right upon arrival at the Koln station, I was immediately awed and taken aback by the city's unofficial landmark - the majestic Dom (Cologne Cathedral), which towered over the entire city centre. I was amazed by its sheer size and vertical reach (as if the spires were trying to touch the heavens). The other significant Koln call-to-fames were the 4711 Eau de Cologne, Kolsch brand beer, and the Lindt Chocolate Museum, which was located along the river Rhine.

Aerial view of Koln from the DOM

Above left: The River Rhine; above right: Remains of a Roman past juxtaposed with post-WW2 buildings (that were rebuilt from site)

Above left: Koln's Coat of Arms - The three crowns symbolize the three wise kings and the eleven tears represent the martyred entourage of Cologne's patron Saint Ursula

 

Above right: Cologne Train Station