Madrid | Spain | Hotel Ritz | Royal Palace | soccer
Star Power
by
Mark SealMORE FROM CELEBRATED WEEKEND
2002
SERGIO GRACIA'S MADRID
"Everywhere you go you can always find tapas. In Spain, we
normally move from bar to bar, sampling the specialties of each
place."
LODGINGThe Westin Palace, Madrid,
very expensive; 011-34-91-360-80-00. "Some say it is Spain's most
extravagant hotel." Hotel Ritz, very expensive;
011-34-91-521-28-57. "I would choose either the Ritz or The
Palace."
DININGChocolatería San Ginés,
churros; 011-34-91-365-65-46. "They've been around since 1894, and
have the best churros." De Maria, Argentinean
steakhouse; 011-34-91-359-65-07. "They treat you well and it's not
too expensive." El Asador Donostiarra, Vasca;
011-34-91-579-62-64. "It's a pretty atmosphere and usually pretty
crowded because it's so good." La Bola Taberna,
Madrid specialties; 011-34-91-547-69-30. "The restaurant was
founded in 1870 and nothing much has changed."
Lhardy, tapas; 011-34-91-521-33-85. "There's a
restaurant downstairs and private rooms on top." Meson
Txistu, northern Spanish; 011-34-91-570-10-06. "You can
get great seafood and nice kinds of meat with different kinds of
sauces." Sobrino de Botin, Castilian;
011-34-91-366-42-17. "Believed to be the world's oldest restaurant.
It was one of Ernest Hemingway's favorites."
ATTRACTIONSCentro de Arte Reina
Sofia, 011-34-91-467-50-62. "Works from Spanish artists
such as Miró, Dali, and Picasso." l Rastro, no
phone. "Flea market established in the Middle Ages." Las
Ventas, 011-34-91-726-35-70. "The biggest bullring in
Spain." Museo del Prado, 011-34-91-330-28-00.
"It's one of the world's greatest museums. The star exhibits are
the Velázquez and Goya collections." Parque del
Retiro, no phone. "Kind of like Central Park. It's a
perfect place to relax, exercise, or get on a boat on the lake."
Royal Palace, 011-34-91-542-00-59. "Just to walk
around there and see the views and take in all of the tradition,
it's unbelievable."
ONE VICTORIOUS NIGHT IN MADRID "I'll never forget
the night I spent with the Real Madrid soccer team when they won
the league championship. After the game they all get on a bus with
no roof. The bus takes the team from the stadium to the fountain on
La Castellana, where they celebrate. It's probably about a
20-minute ride, but I'll never forget it. The streets were packed.
There were about 250,000 people. It was an unbelievable feeling to
be there and see all the people cheering. Soccer is huge in Spain.
Golf isn't that kind of a thing, although it's getting better."
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