Bueñas Dias! I wanted to give you our Madrid highlights from our recent trip including fun shopping, eating and a must-do tapas walking tour. Our daughter’s husband, Luca was born there and his father and siblings still live there (so we had some experts with us).
Also, I wanted to give you my safety tips for traveling abroad. My purse was stolen the day before our daughter’s wedding. We were sitting in the library of the Pestana Hotel on the Plaza Mayor where we were staying…a nice hotel! Since I was sitting on a short stool, I placed my crossbody bag behind my friend’s back (in between her back and the back of her chair as she was leaning forward). It was a brazen theft. The guy behind us was acting like he was putting on a shirt and swiftly covered the purse and grabbed it…just inches from us. But I will tell you why it could have been worse at the end of the post.
And of course, I didn’t let it ruin our fabulous time! Here are some of our Madrid highlights.
Shopping in Madrid Highlights
El Rastro de Madrid
The most popular open-air flea market in Madrid. It is held every Sunday and is located along Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores. We found the prices to be reasonable.
Charming Spanish Handicraft Store – Cocol Madrid
Cocol Madrid “Here are traditional ceramics, enameled utensils, mortars, kitchen boards, blown glass, cotton towels, wicker, and esparto grass. ”
I bought pretty little hand-painted ceramic bowls (I collect them) and Jane (above) purchased those lace embroidered cocktail napkins.
Eating in Madrid Highlights
Mercado de San Miguel
“More than 100 years have passed since the Mercado de San Miguel was inaugurated as a food market. Today, this historic building is one of the main gastronomic markets in the world, as it allows its visitors to take a tour of the essence and flavors of each of the corners of Spain.”
It’s like an upscale food court. My sister and I enjoyed a little break from wedding planning and sightseeing here. We loved the Iberian ham and Spanish wines.
Tapas, Taverns & History Tour
We highly recommend this Devour Tapas Tour. “Pair classic tapas with Madrid’s history as we show you how the story of Madrid can’t be told without its food.” Delicious, educational and you will get your steps in!
Sobrino de Botín Restaurant
This is where we had our daughter’s wedding party. “A Spanish fixture open since 1725, famous for its roast suckling pig mentioned in a Hemingway novel.” Make a reservation!
Traveling Abroad Safety Tips
With tourism coming back…the thieves are out. This is the first time I have ever had anything stolen in all my years of traveling. They want cash and smartphones (even if just for the parts). The hardest thing was losing my iPhone. I needed to renew my Driver’s license anyway. My passport was in the hotel safe and I only brought three credit cards which we canceled immediately.
I am filing a claim with our insurance company Liberty Mutual (they have made the process easy).
If I could do it over, I would have kept my crossbody bag on me with one hand on it. I don’t want this to happen to you…so here are my tips and please add yours in the comments. Thanks!
That said, I love Madrid and want to go back!
Howard escorting daughter, Alexandra to the church beyond. Photo credit: Eric Kreher
The memory of our daughter’s wedding there will always be in my heart. Have you ever been to Madrid?
Always seems like a surprise when a pick pocketer (is that a word) gets us. We all know about them. But we get careless. Walking along in a crowd, bag gets jostled (even a crossbody), and, gotcha, extremely talented hands get in your purse without you even knowing it. That happened to me and my friend in Budapest. Fortunately, they just lifted my cash (more complicated for my friend). We couldn’t even use the loo because it required cash as did food. Nice vendors let us use the loo and gave us food. Most people are so nice where ever we go.We had an awfully long walk back to our hotel. Now, I only travel with a Travelon bag where many of the openings can be locked. They come in many styles, sizes and colors. Just have to remember to use the locks and make sure the bag stays in front of the body!! Wedding, wedding travels — divine! Thank you for a lovely trip through Madrid.
Thanks Cherie, for the tip. I will definitely check out the Travelon!
In Europe, I traveled with Pacsafe bags. I have a small backpack or crossbody bag.. Everything is zipped, and the zippers lock down. And the bags are slash proof. I never took off my body, and in crowded places(metro or elevators) I put the small backpack in front. For sure not a pretty as some bags. Baggalini has some theft proof bags. There are probably more colors and designs these days.
In Rome, my 19 year old son refused to put his wallet in a secure pocket..and sure enough it was stolen. I was glad he learned to be careful while we were there, so we wasn’t stranded. At least, I hope he did. 🙂
Thanks for the tips, Elizabeth!
I have a Sash purse. They are incredible come in many colours and can be worn under a coat or jacket. They cross over the body like a sash and are comfortable to wear all day and you don’t not have to remove it to eat or go to the washroom ( another popular place for purse thefts) The Sash is designed by a young California woman, they are not inexpensive but perfect to travel with. https://www.thesashbag.com/ I have a black leather one but they have lots of other colours too.
I will check those out, Alliaon!
I’m so sorry that your otherwise joyful and magical stay in Spain was marred by theft. Thanks for the helpful safety tips! I also leave my passport in the hotel safe (I just carry my passport card with me for identification), but now I’m wondering if I should also leave one credit card in the safe, just in case. Besides carrying copies of my passport, I also take a picture and email it to myself and a relative before leaving. I’ll now do the same for my vaccination card!
Great idea about leaving one credit card. I had my husband’s debit card to use (which has a different number than mine).
What a fabulous memory! And a beautiful bride! Congrats to all.
Thanks, Gail!
Love all the details of your wonderful wedding trip! I also love the Travelon bags! The zippers have a clip on the end that prevents someone reaching into your purse, slash proof shoulder straps, and RDF blocking features so your credit cards can’t be scanned. I have several sizes, colors (leopard prints too) and the fanny pack too. A must for travel! I’m starting my collection of little bowls thanks to you!
Thanks for the advice, Debbie!
What a lovely photo from the bride attended by your husband on the way to the church.
I live in South of Spain and know Madrid (4 hours by car) quite well. Indeed an interesting and lively city but also
known to be dangerous regarding thefts. My handbag was also stolen in 9/2019 on the way to the hotel near Valencia by a tricky Moroccan gang. I lost not only our passports, my valet with about 150 EU and credit cards,
(immediately canceled, of course), driving licence (to get a new one here in Spain was a nightmare which lasted more than 1 year), my smart phone ….. but also my
beloved Jugendstil Pearl earrings with diamonds , which I got from my husband for 25 yrs. anniversary. Frankly
I didn’t absorbed that vile loss as yet.
Oh I am so sorry, Rena. I didn’t lose anything as important as your jewelry. In fact, I mostly wear costume jewelry when traveling. They are requiring us to have a new Real ID driver’s license…so I knew I would have that hassle anyway. But I got there when it opened a 7 am and it only took about 1.5 hours. ONE YEAR for you? Sorry about that.
Thank you for sharing the wedding, elegant and intimate. Being an armchair traveler your adventures are always appreciated! I don’t have Instagram, but at the bottom of today’s post is a picture of you standing by your daughter’s tv in a long reddish print dress. Can you share the source? Thank you,
Carol H.
Thanks, Carol. I got it last year at Free People. It’s light and comfortable.
So enjoyed following along with your recent wedding & travels. Thank you so much for your frequent posts & wonderful photos. It truly was magical to feel a part of such a special time and all seemed effortlessly executed…now to find you had your bag stolen! You are a real trooper.
We have been to Madrid & ate at Bodin. Also bought a small hand painted ceramic bowl in Barcelona in a little shop while online to get into Picasso Museum. Your trip brought back great memories.
Longing for the time when we can travel again.
Thanks so much, Sue for following along with me!! Don’t you love using that little bowl?
Mary Ann, your stories and photos from Madrid are magical! What beautiful memories were made.
When in Europe, I always try to travel with those ugly body packs you wear under your shirt. Only problem is nowadays keeping a phone close at hand! But, almost everyone seems to have this happen to them at least once in their life. I did manage to stop a thief in Paris reaching into my purse for my iPhone. (I was dressed for a formal evening so I didn’t have the body pack.) Just last weekend, a couple of my friends’ daughters had their phones stolen at Lollapalooza. Wondering if you lost your vaccine card?? Besides a passport, I guess it makes sense to make a copy of that, too, when traveling!
Great idea, Jayne! The vaccine card was with the passport in the safe…but good idea to have a copy.
My granddaughter had her phone stolen at Lollapalooza, too. Friends were pickpocketed in Barcelona and Madrid. I am lucky but very careful! Beautiful trip and family!
I’ve always been so careful too…I just had a false sense of security in our hotel with our little group.
I have been to Madrid – years ago during my semester abroad in my college years. I spent 2 weeks there and loved every minute. I am so sorry about your purse being stolen. That happened to my daughter in Seattle and although they caught the thief and she was compensated for Some of the items there were several personal things she never recovered.
Congratulations on the gorgeous wedding of your daughter! I’ve really enjoyed the photos. What memories!
My mother arrived in New York as a newly minted high school graduate and was robbed in Grand Central Station. She felt funny and looked at her bag only to find just the straps hanging from her shoulder… someone had quickly and silently cut the bag from the straps. Another friend had her bag snatched by someone on a motorcycle speeding by as she walked down an Amsterdam street. And another had her purse stolen right in her local grocery store by two girls pretending to want advice on cooking chicken parmesan! Long winded way of saying thanks for your helpful tips!
It certainly pays to be vigilant, Dawn! In Bangkok, a woman sliced my Longchamp bag with a razor from behind me …but my husband saw what she was doing and stopped her.
The wedding photos and shopping tidbits are great. Sorry your purse was stolen. I use an anti-theft Travelon Crossbody bag 95% of the time when on tours, excursions, walking around, etc. My purse is never off my body in public, except if my hubby is holding it when I try on a jacket or sweater when shopping. I also keep a hand on my bag when walking, even though it’s also across my body. If I were so inclined, the Travelon bags can also be attached to a table/chair to secure it. Thankfully, it’s never been stolen, and best of all, the styles have improved in the last couple of years. The Travelon purses last a very long time. They may not be the most stylish, but the peace of mind and security they bring is priceless.
Thanks, Judith…I will check out for sure!!
Great post. And good tips on keeping your purse safe. We ate at Casa Botin 30 years ago, I remember I tried the baby eels. I was more adventurous back then. It’s been 15 years since we were in Barcelona but on both trips the shopkeepers and others warned me to keep a hand on my purse. They knew how bad the thieves were and wanted to warn me. We’ve been swarmed by gypsies in Paris on the Louvre Plaza. But luckily nothing’s been stolen. My coworker’s expensive handbag was stolen from her hotel room in San Francisco years ago. You just never know.
It really pays to be alert, Cindylou!!
A good place to include, if you like fabulous paintings, is Museo Sorolla in Madrid. It is the actual home and gardens of Joaquin Sorolla and his family. What a wonderful trip you and your family had Mary Ann!
OMG…thanks Pat. Next trip!
I too had my handbag stolen from an upscale pub in the Knightsbridge section of London ON MY FIRST DAY several years ago!. Unfortunately, I had my passport in my bag so had to spend precious time at the US Consulate so I could get back home. Hard not to let it spoil things but it kind of did and at least you had the distraction of Alexandra’s wedding.
We’ve sold seven houses during our marriage, including the one we raised our children in for 10 years and I also realized it’s your family and personal items that that make a house your home and when none of those are there, it’s just a house that you’re ready to pass on to someone else. Enjoy your blog Mary Ann!
Thanks, Barb. “I also realized it’s your family and personal items that make a house your home and when none of those are there, it’s just a house that you’re ready to pass on to someone else”. This is so true!
Thank you for the tips and admonishments. I think it is Alexandria who is carrying the cute basket bag with the scarf tied to it. If you aren’t wearing a cross body, at least have a purse that has closure so that a hand cannot easily reach in.
I had a brand new cashmere wrap, large and luxuriously thick, taken from my suitcase in Madrid. It must have been a maid and unfortunately, I didn’t miss it till we were in the next city. These thieves are giving Madrid a bad reputation. 😡
I know. I worried about her bag, too, Wren. I think it does have a pull string cloth enclosure.
This happened to our daughter in Barcelona when she was traveling with a friend after college in 2009. She and her friend (who has some physical limitations) were surrounded by a group of young people pretending to be excited about seeing some Americans. My daughter knew exactly what was happening, but they couldn’t get away, and someone managed to grab her phone out of her purse, even as she clutched her purse against her body. It was almost (but not quite) impressive how adept the thieves were! Glad the experience didn’t spoil your beautiful trip. It didn’t ruin my daughter’s trip either. Another story to tell!
Congratulations, again! Such a lovely wedding!
We went on to Barcelona afterwards, Sarah, where I bought a new purse…but you can imagine how careful I was and will be. We had heard that Barcelona is bad too. I am sorry your daughter had to experience that.
My husband and son thought it was fishy that the guy was changing his shirt behind us…they will be on guard now too.
NEVER BEEN TO MADRID as SPAIN is HIGH ON MY LIST to VISIT!
REMINDS ME OF ITALY IN YOUR PHOTOS.
SO MUCH TO LOOK AT AND SO SO BEAUTIFUL………….
BAG TIPS ARE GOOD!
SORRY THAT HAPPENED TO YOU……….in ITALY when we lived there we had to look out for the GYPSY’s and their children.
What MEMORIES YOU WILL CHERISH………
I see you daughter has my basket bag!
Is that the same bag, Contessa…I love it. We had to watch for gypsies (especially on the metro) in Paris, too.
I loved the posts of your daughter’s magical wedding in Madrid …. You have a beautiful family! 💙💕💕💙💙
After having my purse stolen once in what I thought was a very safe place, your suggestions are “right on”!
Welcome home!
Thanks, Suzy. I kept trying to think…”it could be worse.”
Dear Mama of the bride,
Once again I marvelled at the pictures of Alexandria’s extraordinary wedding. My favorites are her walk across the plaza with her papa and the chancel photos with your head bowed. Now that I know you were robbed the day before and carried on with graceful joy, they seem even more precious.
Thank you for the travel tips. i doubt we will ever return to incredible Madrid but hopefully we will wander someplace abroad that will bring new and wonderful adventure.
Loving admiration,
Diney on Camano Island
I think it was a good thing that I had other distractions, Diney. I tried not to show it but it was really miserable not having a phone and credit cards. All sorted out now.
We have been to Madrid many times. Fabulous city! (By the way, your suggestions are all excellent. You are right on all) I had to laugh about your mention of collecting small bowls! I have done the same for about 23 years. Embarrassing to admit how many I have, but I will say I use them for one thing or another constantly. They are from all over the world and always remind me of the wonderful places we have been fortunate enough to visit, not to mention the lovely people we have met along the way. An added bonus, they are sure easy to bring home in a full suitcase. Congratulations on your daughter’s beautiful wedding.
Aren’t they great to use, Beth? Mine are from all over too. I notice that my son and daughter also collect small bowls now, too.