MADrid About You

One would think that Barcelona and Madrid are just neighboring cities and you can toggle back and forth in a jiffy. Apparently they are not. In fact, if you opt to travel by land, it will take you approximately 6 hours to reach. You can take AVE (high velocity train ) and travel time is only 2.5 hours but will certainly dent your wallet. And if you are like us who fancy traveling on a budget; I'd say fly.

Well not literally but take the domestic budget airlines. Pros : It is cheaper and faster with only 1 hour and 25 minutes travel time. #FTW right?
So we bid goodbye to BCN and made our way via Vueling airline to Madrid.

We arrived at Madrid and thought that maybe the train system is more convenient than BCN. We were so wrong. Same situation with BCN. With our bags in tow, we climbed countless stairs and came to a point that we just stood there, with our hands up in the air - We wanted to give up! The station where we supposed to get off was under repair and we had to walk all way to our Airbnb. It was about an hour of walking, stopping and heavy lifting. We made it though and decided to stay in for a couple of hours before we head out to dinner to meet our friends.


One thing I love about Madrid is its proximity to almost everything. You can literally walk around Puerto Del Sol and see almost every touristy spot on your handbook. The architecture of Spain will never fail to amaze you. We went to this Tapas place after walking through old alleys of Puerto Del Sol.
Good company, sangria and Tapas - this would sum up our first night in Madrid.

Madrid came from the Arabic word "Magerit" which means - plenty of streams. There are more sunny and more cloudless days of the year than in any other city in Europe. Whoever said that wasn't kidding. It's way too hot than we expected.  My self ventilating top and skirt didn't help much. My shoulders were burnt and at one point I felt like jumping into the fountain in the middle of Plaza Mayor. We walked around Puerto Del Sol and our eyes were met with beautiful houses adorned with balconies and trees. Took several pit stops for our #ootds and off we went to see Plaza Mayor. The way to the plaza led us down from Gran Via past a twist of small streets and interesting buildings and corners. We were told that somewhere along, we'll pass by the church of San Gines which houses the best churros and chocolate. Some say it's the oldest others claim it's the original though I won't disagree that it is indeed the best.

Plaza Mayor is the largest open space in Central Madrid. It's one of the major tourist attractions in Madrid showcasing an array of cafes and chic shops. Over the course of history, the Plaza took several name before taking in Plaza Mayor in 1939. Originally Plaza del Arrabal, Plaza de la Constitution, Plaza Real, Plaza de la Republica and then finally Mayor. It has had many different purposes  - public gatherings, bull ring, market, public trials and even execution. I wouldn't want to witness that for sure.

Walk along Calle Mayor, about 600 meters and the breathtaking view of  Royal Palace will welcome you. It is coined as the Versailles of Spain for it's immense courtyard and beautiful light posts.

According to history, it was the home of Antiguo Alcazar, translated as the Old Fortress.But this fortress burnt down and Philip V ordered the construction of what would become the Royal Palace of Madrid. The interior of the palace is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. There were so many amazing chandeliers throughout the palace from places around the world like France and Italy. Some even had a fountain in them. They added so much character to each room! It took approximately 17 years for the construction to be completed.
The Royal Palace is open from Monday through Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and from 0:900 to 14:00 on Sundays and Holidays.The Palace gardens (Campo del Moro) are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 from October to March.

A trip to Spain will not be complete without a short stint at the local footwear shops in GranVia. We stopped by 
Alpargatus for some espadrilles. Bought a pair for  € 22.00 - certainly a good price considering how expensive those are in Singapore. We capped the day with tapas and sangria for € 1.00 at a local sports bar. I remember eating a lot to compensate for the calories we burned throughout the day of endless walking.

That was Madrid in 48 hours. It was short but our stomach and eyes were both filled with an abundance of culture, gastronomical experience and beautiful history combined with architectural aesthetics. Madrid was our second stop but we did feel like staying a bit longer and learned flamingo if you may. Would surely love to go back and explore the city in a much slower pace. So for now, we bid goodbye and geared ourselves to our next stop - the land of divine art and ancient culture - LA DOLCE VITA.

Before Sunrise @ Kiltepan

The much talked about Viewpoint has been getting a handful of attention. Thanks to Angelica's emotional scene, screaming at the top of her lungs hoping in doing so, it will take the pain away ( That Thing Called Tadhana ). But let's not get overly dramatic. Kiltepan Viewpoint is actually a perfect spot to watch the sun rise on the east. It's a place to gather your thoughts, commune with nature, find serenity and just be content at the stillness of surrounding. Now, there's a disclaimer to this - Should you attempt to go there at 5:00 am during peak season, then tough luck. Chances are, you'll only being seeing heads, tripods and iphones up in the air, blocking the majestic sight of sunrise.


It was our last stop in Sagada before we head off to Baguio. Our Van pulled in at around 05:00 am and much to our surprise, the place was already jammed with tourists with their hi tech gadgets in tow,  trying to secure this spot to capture the perfect photograph of the Sunrise. I felt discouraged as I tried to squeeze myself in the crowd. It was hopeless to even raise my camera up to get a good glance of what about to transpire. We saw people going in a different direction and so we decided to follow them as they climbed to what seemed like a hill. There were already a group of people in the forefront but fortunately, we found a spot enough to see the sun as it breaks the dawn. We stood there, waiting patiently as more and more people gathered at the point. After a few more minutes, the fog cleared up and soon it was bright, golden and warm. Sunrise will always be one of the most beautiful showcase of God's magnificent creation. It was beautiful and no filter can ever do justice to the magical experience you'll have as you watch the sun comes out and breaks the darkness.



After 15 minutes or so, we decided to wander around and saw these giant pine trees - light bulb comes on. Backdrop! It felt like Autumn in NYC with all the browns, rust and vermillion colors around us. The sun streaks were peeping its way in through the branches of the trees, touching the amples of our cheeks. It was certainly a good, reassuring morning. We event witnessed a proposal which I found to be slightly cliche considering Kiltepan Viewpoint was considered the Brokenhearted's Solace. I lost count at the number of photos we took with us leaning on the trunk of the tree. A cameraman passed by and asked if he can take the photo of our friend. He asked him to move away from the trees a bit and angle himself partly facing the sun and the camera. The photo came out excellent and one thing we learned that day was, subjects should move away from the background as they will appear as false attachments resulting to a confusing photograph. Thank you Mr Cameraman! Photography 101.





As we make our descent to Baguio which was a sign that it's indeed the end of our Sagada stint, I felt a sense of unexplained happiness and peace. Yes, it was a series of sleep-deprived and exhausting itinerary but the adventures, memories and bond we created during this strip will be the stories we would tell to our children and grandchildren. It was one of those precious things you will save to your core memory and one that you'll unlock whenever the itch of wanderlust kicks in. Sagada was one of the first few places I had a chance of visiting when it was still unknown to many and it has been kind enough to still offer the same sense of serenity and beauty as it did back then.

Xo,

Jhesy 

Sagada's Bomod-Ok Falls

Hidden behind rice paddies and mountain villages is a well-kept tourist destination of Sagada. Bomod-ok or Big Falls soars some 200 feet high in the air and the path leading to this nature's creation is both an exciting and knee jerking experience that will leave you astounded and amazed.

The jump off point starts at the Information center where all the groups gathered for briefing and to meet the tour guides. Here you'll get to choose your trekking stick which certainly is my priced possession throughout the hike as it saved me from countless slips and pitfalls.

The hike starts with narrow but well-maintained cemented pathway and stone stairs which serves as the hiking trail.Extra caution is advised as the steps tend to be slippery and steep that a misstep could lead to several meters fall.

After a series of narrowed pathways, the scenery changed to vast and verdant rice paddies overlooking the village of Fidelisan. Walking in Cordillera's rice paddies was more than just an experience, it was a dream come true. I remember flipping through pages or flow charts with pictures of this man-made terraces and have always thought of how it would feel like to actually walk on them. And this trip to Sagada paved way to turn those into reality.

The view starts to get scenic as we inch closer to the falls. Though the trail is descending, expect some knee-jerking and more than an hour long walk to reach the spot. Sunblock, shawl, hats, trail mix and water would be your best buds throughout the entire hike.

Countless stops for photos and a couple more breaks to catch our breathe, we finally reached Bomod-Ok Falls. It's everything I remember sans the crowd. The big rock facing the falls which I effortlessly climbed 10 years ago firmly hold its ground. I did attempt to climb up but failed miserably. Why can't I be as brawny and fit as I was back then. Sigh. SOA.

The water is inviting, freezing but everyone's almost thrilled to jump in. It's tempting and the cold splashes were enough to rejuvenate our tired, sore muscles. There are no changing quarters or restrooms in the area but you can always improvised by using shawl or sarong. If you're not adept at swimming, you can always lounge at the side of the falls where the water is shallow. If you are brave enough to climb an almost vertical rock and you're confident that you won't slip or fall, then go ahead and dare yourself to an epic adventure. Again caution is important as your neck is sure to break should you happen to slip.

This spot has also served as a source of livelihood for the locals. Here you can buy swimwear, drinks, banana-q, chips and more. It would be good to grab a bite before you head back as you need to fuel up as the ascent is certainly not an easy feat.

We took the same trail back and it was far more challenging. It takes patience and a lot of pit stops but our appreciation for this beautiful landscape is endless. As we traverse the upward path, we saw how Sagada and its local ingenuity are able to preserve its culture by working hand in hand with nature. We saw hard working elders plucking and sowing earth oblivious of the heat and pain of bending ( insert : Magtanim ay di biro... ).  It's a humbling experience that made us realize the value of work and effort they put in for us to have grains on our plate each meal. And it was also heartbreaking to realize that their role in our society is often given the least priority.

Walking back to the jump off point offered some thoughts for me to ponder on. They say that it is the journey that matters and not the destination. But Bomod-Ok is a case of both. The trek to this hidden spot is must do activity as the view is nothing short of spectacular. Worth every muscle pains and gasps. It is best enjoyed with people you value most and even with strangers you'll get to spend a few hours with. In any type of journey, hike or adventure, it is imperative that you approach it with an open mind and sheer optimism because every experience you set yourself to embark on will always be a rewarding one. And in the case of Bomod-Ok Falls, every strenuous step is worth it and you'll be surprised at the many things you'll discover along the way.

Xo,

Jhesy