Madrid - Day 2

 🇪🇸 The day we challenged the sun… and almost lost! ☀️🥵

Our Madrid adventure officially began today, and wow… Madrid did not ease us in gently! After arriving from Lisbon, we stepped outside and immediately understood why the Spanish have perfected the art of the *siesta*. The heat was not just hot—it was the kind of hot that makes you question whether your shoes are melting and whether your suitcase should have come with a snorkel! 🔥

But we came to explore, not surrender!

After settling in on Calle Almansa, we grabbed our water bottles, put on our walking shoes, and headed out to discover the magic of Madrid. Of course, with temperatures that could fry an egg on the pavement, our sightseeing strategy quickly became: walk, admire, find shade, hydrate, repeat!💦😂

Our first day took us through some incredible places:

📍 Plaza Mayor – where history meets beautiful architecture and thousands of footsteps from travellers before us.

📍 Puerta del Sol – the heart of Madrid, full of energy and the perfect place to say: “Yes, we really made it!”

📍 Royal Palace of Madrid – absolutely magnificent and a reminder of the grandeur of Spain’s royal past.

📍 Almudena Cathedral – a stunning oasis of beauty and a welcome break from the blazing sun.

📍 Royal Basilica of St. Francis the Great – a hidden gem with breathtaking interiors that made us forget, for a moment, that we were being slowly cooked outside!

📍 Sabatini Gardens – a beautiful green escape beside the palace, where the trees provided some much-needed shade and our feet got a little holiday of their own.

📍 Mirador de la Cornisa – the perfect finale to the day, with spectacular views over Madrid and the Royal Palace. A place to stop, breathe, take photos, and think: “Okay… walking through a Spanish oven was totally worth it!” 😍

Along the way, we made plenty of very important pit stops:

💧 Water refill? Absolutely.

☕ Cold drink break? Essential.

🌳 Shade hunting? A competitive sport by this point.

By the end of the day our feet were tired, our water bottles were empty, and our faces probably looked slightly sun-dried… but our hearts were full.

Day 2 Madrid report:

☀️ Heat level: “Is this a holiday or a survival challenge?”

🚶 Steps walked: Enough to earn a tapas feast.

💦 Hydration stops: Too many to count (and not nearly enough!).

❤️ Memories made: Already priceless.

Madrid, you tested us today… but you also amazed us. Tomorrow, we explore even more! 🇪🇸✨

Hola Madrid

🇵🇹➡️🇪🇸 Day 1 – The Adventure Begins: Lisbon to Madrid by Bus

The alarm clock went off early today, but when you're about to start an adventure, excitement makes waking up easy!

At 9:45 a.m, we left Lisbon behind, watching the familiar streets slowly disappear as our bus headed towards Spain. There's something wonderfully relaxing about travelling by road—you get to watch the scenery change from bustling cities to rolling countryside, endless fields, and charming little villages along the way.  

Road trips aren't just about reaching the destination; they're about the journey itself. They give you time to chat, laugh, listen to your favourite music, snack far more than you probably should, and dream about all the places you're about to explore.

Madrid has been on our travel list for a long time, the first time we were there was on our honeymoon on our way to Palma de Majorca  and it's hard to believe that in just a few hours we'll be wandering its historic streets, admiring beautiful architecture, discovering hidden gems, and, of course, tasting plenty of delicious Spanish food.

For now, we're simply enjoying the ride, soaking in the changing landscapes, and counting down the kilometres until we arrive in Spain's vibrant capital.

Here's to new adventures, unforgettable memories, and another journey that reminds us why we love travelling so much.

Next stop: Madrid! 🇪🇸❤️

Mother's day adventure in Óbidos

 There are surprises… and then there are strategically orchestrated, mildly suspicious, early-morning family operations. This year’s Mother’s Day fell firmly into the second category.

It began with an alarm clock that had no business ringing that early on a Sunday. “We have to leave soon,” they said, with the kind of urgency usually reserved for airport security lines or escaping natural disasters. The drive, apparently, was “reasonably far”—which is parental code for far enough that you won’t guess where we’re going, so stop asking questions.

And so I sat there in the car, half-awake, under-caffeinated, and wildly speculating. Spa day? Beach? Surprise brunch? Kidnap scenario? No clues. Just smug smiles from the back seat.

Eventually, we rolled into the impossibly picturesque town of Óbidos—a medieval postcard come to life, complete with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, and enough history in its walls to make you feel instantly more cultured just by standing there.

Now, Óbidos dates back to Roman times, later fortified by the Moors, and eventually captured by Portugal’s first king in the 12th century. It was so charming, in fact, that it became a traditional wedding gift from Portuguese kings to their queens. Honestly, after today, I fully support reinstating that custom.

But my children? They had other plans.

First stop: an escape room. Not just any escape room—an escape room inside a tower. Because why not add medieval drama to an already suspicious itinerary?

Now, I LOVE escape rooms. Give me puzzles, cryptic clues, and the chance to dramatically shout “WAIT, I’VE GOT IT!” and I am thriving. Lock me in a stone tower and suddenly I’m convinced I’m the protagonist in a historical thriller. The kids… participated. I, naturally, carried the team (this is my version of events and I’m sticking to it).

After successfully escaping—because failure was never an option on Mother’s Day—we wandered back into the sunlit streets, feeling both victorious and slightly more intelligent than when we arrived.

Then came lunch.

And oh… the lunch.

We found ourselves in what can only be described as a culinary revelation disguised as a restaurant. The food was divine. Not “oh this is nice” divine—no, this was pause mid-bite, close your eyes, question all previous meals you’ve ever had divine. Every dish felt like it had been personally blessed by the gods of Portuguese cuisine. If I could have discreetly moved in, I would have.

Somewhere between the escape room triumph and the last heavenly bite of dessert, it hit me: they had absolutely nailed it. The secrecy, the early wake-up, the dramatic reveal—it all made sense.

A medieval town, a tower escape, unforgettable food, and a day thoughtfully planned from start to finish.

Honestly? Best surprise ever. Thank you my darlings!

Although next year, I’d appreciate just a tiny hint before sunrise.

Happy mother's day to all the Portuguese mom's