Matthew Karsten is Expert Vagabond, one of the top three travel bloggers by visit/Google Analytics in 2015. This is his own personal view of one of Europe’s most fun and varied cities. – Ned
Madrid, Spain
I’m totally addicted to Snapchat. The other day I walked to some of Madrid’s famous sites & shared the experience live from my phone. Here’s the result.
Are you on Snapchat? I was a little late to the party, thinking it was something for teenagers. But I was finally convinced after watching this video. It’s a powerful social media platform with a super-engaged fanbase. Plus it’s just a lot of fun!
It took a while to get the hang of, but now that I’ve been using it for a few months, it’s become one of my favorite social sharing tools.
Earlier this week I took to the streets with my iPhone to give followers a live look at the city of Madrid and a few of it’s popular tourist attractions.
LifeProof FRĒ Power Case
Exploring Madrid
If you’re already subscribed to my email newsletter, you’ll know that I’ve been hanging out in Madrid for the past 3 weeks to work on some blogging stuff and prepare for a big adventure in August.
Most of my days are spent in front of the computer, but I do make time to see tourist attractions in the city every so often.
Earlier this week I charged up my new LifeProof FRĒ Power Case to ensure my phone would have enough juice for all the Snapchatting, and left to explore Spain’s capital on foot.
The waterproof & shockproof case doubles my phone’s power with an integrated 2,600-mAh battery.
Gran Via
Puerta Del Sol
I began the tour at Plaza Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city. It’s kind of like what Times Square would be to New York. It’s one of the busiest areas of Madrid and a popular place for tourists to hang out by the fountains.
From there I strolled up the pedestrian walkway towards Calle Gran Via, stopping briefly inside a Jamón Ibérico shop. This delicious cured ham is very popular in Spain, and it’s impossible to miss the huge legs of ham hanging from ceilings and windows in these shops.
No visit to Spain is complete without massive ham consumption.
Who Needs a Shoe Shine?
Royal Palace
Next up was the Spanish Royal Palace. While it’s the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, they choose to live in a different palace nearby instead. The big one is only used for state dinners or special functions.
You can visit part of the palace for €11 and get a glimpse of royalty!
In my Snapchat story below, you’ll see giant frescos on the ceilings, massive chandeliers, and a whole room decorated in porcelain. This building is really quite impressive — it actually has over 3,400 rooms! Crazy.
The Spanish Royal Palace
Tapas & Vermouth
Tapas are little appetizers like meats, cheeses, or fish on bread served with alcohol. Often with a plate of olives too. You can order some as a snack, or order many to make it a full on meal.
The best tapas bars are standing room only — a popular pastime for Spaniards.
Moving on from the Royal Palace, I walked down to a local bar called Los Gatos to share plates of delicious tapas and glasses of vermouth with a few travel blogger friends who were in town.
Maybe you’ve heard of them… check out the video below!
Follow Me On Snapchat! expertvagabond
Are You On SnapChat?
Don’t have Snapchat? That’s ok. I saved my Snap Story for you on YouTube. If you already use Snapchat, just open the app on your phone and take a photo of my yellow icon above to automatically follow me! Cool, right?
For tips on how to get the most out of SnapChat, make sure to check out The Hungry Partier’s SnapChat Guide.
Watch Video: Snapchat Tour Of Madrid
For added five star luxury in Spain’s capital, stay at the Hotel Miguel Angel (that’s Michaelangelo to you and me), part of the prestigious Le Royal Hotels & Resorts group. – Ned
trekommendation 