Erasmus en Madrid | Ep.2

My New University // A Minha Nova Universidade

As you might know, I'll be studying in Madrid for 4 months (don't know what I'm talking about? read here). My recent posts have been all about the activities that we can do in Madrid on the weekend, but today I wanted to talk about the university that I'm attending: Universidad Europea de Madrid. And why? Because I've never seen anything like it! When I first stepped in the campus, I was completely shocked by its humongous size, especially because I had in mind the tiny size of my home university (Universidade Europeia de Lisboa) to compare. 

Tapas for Days

Today we went to yet another food market, Mercado San Ildefonso. We went by it one day, when walking along the Calle de Fuencarral, and today we wanted to go inside to check out, only to leave amazed. We got off at the Tribunal metro stop (line 10), near the Gran Vía,  and walked in. Right at the entrance, there is the famous charcuterie bocadillo that the Spaniards love so much: jamón sandwiches. Which, by the way, are the best you'll ever taste. Soft bread, high quality smoked ham for only €2,95. You won't be stoping at the first one.  Walking a little bit further, you'll see a mojito stand, a taco, hamburger and hotdog stands and, at the end, a drinks bar.

Don't be mistaken for that small corridor, go up the stairs and discover a whole lot more tapas options. From delicious french crepes, beef tartar, beef skewers, octopus carpaccio,  tartines, paellas, tortillas, oysters and so much more!

After 2 rounds to that small market, I still hadn't made my mind about what was going to be my tapa for the day, but after a lot of pressure I went to the frenchest thing I found: cheese tartines! And what a great choice. These tartines (toasts with some kind of topping) were amazing! Mine were with melting brie and chèvre cheese topped with raspberry jam and flamed suger, respectively, and one other with fresh mozzarella cheese and pesto. Divine really. And what best to go with this delicacy? WINE!! And there is a whole stand dedicated to that drink of gods, thankfully.

It was such a nice lunch break. It was nice to discover a smaller version of the Mercado de San Miguel, but with more spaces to seat down and enjoy the meal without being elbowed out of the way.

Hoje fomos a mais um mercado de comida, o Mercado San Ildefonso. Passámos uma vez por ele quando estavámos a passear pela Calle de Fuencarral, e hoje quisemos parar e entrar, e saímos de lá maravilhados. Do metro, saímos na paragem do Tribunal (linha 10), ao pé da Gran vía, andámos um pouco mais e entrámos no mercado. Logo à entrada, há uma banquinha dedicada aos famosos bocadillos de charcutaria que os espanhóis tanto gostam:  sandes de jámon. Que, só por acaso, são as melhores que alguma vez vão provar. O pão super fofinho e o melhor corte de uma perna de presunto de qualidade por apenas €2,95. Não se consegue comer só um. Andando mais um pouco pode-se ver banquinhas de mojitos, tacos, hambúrgueres, hotdog e um bar.

Mas não se pensem que é só esse pequeno corredor, subam as escadas e aí descobrirão muitas mais opções de tapas. Desde deliciosos crepes franceses, bife tártaro, espetadas de carne, carpaccio de polvo, tartines, paellas, tortillas, ostras e muito mais!

Depois de 2 voltas ao pequeno mercado, ainda não tinha decidido o que comer, tudo parecia  e sabia deliciosamente (sim, quase todas as banquinhas dão a provar o seu prato principal). Após alguma pressão em escolher, fui ao sítio mais francês que encontrei: tartine com queijo! E que ótima opção. Estas tartines (tostas de pão alentejano com ingredientes com cima) estavam tão boas! As minhas eram com queijo brie derretido e doce de framboesa, queijo cabra com açúcar flambejado e ainda outra de mozzarella fresca e molho de pesto. Uma explosão de sabores a cada dentada. E que melhor acompanha estes pratos de queijo? VINHO!! E havia uma barraquinha toda dedicada a esta bebida dos deuses, felizmente.

Foi uma excelente hora de almoço. Foi óptimo descobrir esta versão mais pequena do  Mercado de San Miguel, mas este com mais espaço para sentar e disfrutar da refeição sem apanhar com cotoveladas de outras pessoas.

Sunny Afternoon Riding a Boat and Eating Éclairs

Today, after a big clean up to our apartment, we decided to go back to the El Retiro and ride a boat. As you've read before (if not, click here), we've already been to his huge garden a few days ago, but as it was a crazy weather (yeah, it fully rained on us when we were crossing to go back to the metro), we took the opportunity of having a clear sky today and thought it was time to rent the love boat. Ok, not love, fun boat! 

Graffiti Hunting for the Perfect #OOTD Pic

After our visit to the busy El Rastro Market (see post here), we decided to walk some more and ended up at the Gran Vía. But as this Vía is so mainstream and crowded, we got into its perpendicular streets. These streets, filled with cafés, restaurants and clothing stores, are the perfect location for a quick ootd (outfit of the day) photoshoot. And why? Because in every wall near some store, there's a customized graffiti painting making the atmosphere really lively. 

Spanish Flea Market | El Rastro

Like any European capital, Madrid doesn't fail to have its own flea market. The huge crowd, the bargaining and dozens of different tents all meet at La Latina, an alternative neighborhood in the old part of the city. This once-in-a-week event caught our attention when the online magazine Time Out Madrid listed it as one thing to not miss out, and we, as good tourists that we are, had to be there that Sunday afternoon. 

About Last Noche...

 Yesterday night we decided to have dinner at MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL. I found this small, but really crowded tapas market to be the tourists and locals’ meeting point for a diversified and Spanish-origin dinner. From the infamous bocadillos de jambon (Spanish smoked ham sandwiches) to oysters, hamburguers, paella (Spanish yellow rice with meat/vegetables or seafood), baby eels, churros and cervezas, this eventful place cheers up any night out. Although there isn’t many places to seat down, the fun of it is to walk around, eat some tapas from each stand, grab some beer or wine and end up with some ice-cream on the way out.

Ontem à noite decidimos ir jantar ao MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL. Este pequeno, mas tão movimentado mercado de tapas é o ponto de encontro para tantos turistas e locais que procuram um jantar diversificado e de origem tipicamente espanhola. Desde os tão famosos bocadillos de jambon a ostras, hambúrgueres, paella, angulas, churros e cervezas, este lugar super agitado anima qualquer jantar. Apesar de não haver quase nunca lugar para sentar, o giro é ir comendo tapas de cada barraquinha e agarrar uma cerveja ou vinho e acabar com um gelado à saída.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like AUTUMN

In Madrid, Autumn is all around. And in this huge garden, El Retiro, the trees filled with warm colors leaves make this space a magical one. 

Our afternoon walk started at the metro station of El Retiro (red line number 2 direction to Las Rosas) till the other end in the residential district of Niño Jesus. Through sun and rain, this romantic walk was a great escape of the stress of the city. It was really a breath of fresh air and a vision of paradise that took us completely by surprise.

Em Madrid, o Outono já sente. E neste jardim gigante, o El Retiro, as árvores cobertas de folhas de cores quentes fazem deste lugar, um lugar mágico.

O nosso passeio começou na saída do metro da estação El Retiro (linha encarnada número 2 em direcção a Las Rosas) até à outra ponta no distrito residencial de Niño Jesus. Por baixo de sol e chuva, esta caminhada romântica foi a escapadela perfeita do stress da cidade. Foi a lufada de ar fresco e uma visão de paraíso que nos surpreendeu completamente.

  

 

Crystal Palace | Palácio de Cristal

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