At first, I was a little overwhelmed with how large of a city Madrid is, having over 6 million people. I thought that it was going to be very difficult trying to navigate all that it has to offer. But, after taking a couple weeks to adjust, I found that there is so many things to do, and it is very easy. Locals are very nice to travelers, and will help you along. Also, despite it being winter, the weather was still very nice. In the center of Madrid sits Retiro park, one of the biggest inter-city parks in Spain. My family visited me in March, and we walked through it. It has pathways, trails, all types of nature, and Is the best spot for running in all of Madrid. In the center is El Retiro Lake and El Monumento a Alfonso XII. In the lake, you can rent a boat and ride around and feed the fish. We never ended up going in the boats, but walking around the park and lake is very fun and relaxing. The park also has many other sights, such as the Glass Palace, which houses an art exhibit. Madrid also has a royal palace that overlooks the city. It reminds me a lot of Buckingham Palace because it has a massive courtyard where the guards can stand. Besides its many parks and its natural beauty, Madrid is also famous for its nightlife. It is very common to stay out until the sun rises at 6-7 in the morning. Going to the park and walking around was a very easy introduction into the massive city that I will be staying in for the next 3 months.
