Madrid is a huge, urban, crowded city with lots of traffic. I love riding bikes. However, riding in this trafficky city doesn’t interest me in the slightest. I’ve ridden in other downtown areas, but it usually makes me nervous, and Madrid with its narrow streets doesn’t make me want to try it here.

On the other hand, riding in natural setting: sign me up! This weekend we had really beautiful Spring weather, and so on Saturday my boyfriend Emilio and I headed out to rent some bikes. Neither one of us had ridden bikes for quite a while, and never in Spain, and I was excited about it the whole week leading up to it.

We first went to Matadero Madrid, a former slaughterhouse that has been transformed into an arts center. Once a month during warmer months they have what is called “Mercado de Productores,” a large farmers’ market with lots of additional food stands and huge social gathering. Since we went last month and bought some killer honey that we quickly finished off, we had to go back and get more 😄

Matadero Mercado de Productores: as you can see, huge amounts of people gather to buy local products, eat, drink, and be social.

Matadero is also just steps away from Madrid Rio, the extensive park around the Manzanares River with many paths for activities, grass for dogs to run or people to sit, really cool things for kids that I may or may not have tried out (which include a small zipline, bouncy tire swings, and really awesome slides), and tons of restaurants. On a beautiful warm day like this one, the park is swarming with families, people rollerblading, running, and walking their dogs.

These statues of Velazquez’s most famous painting, “Las Meninas,” have started popping up all over the city. Apparently they will be on display until the middle of July in the open air, and there will be a total of 90 of them! This one says “Madrid embraces you” <3

It was a beautiful place to ride, but because it was so crowded it was difficult to ride in peace. However, it was great for people-watching! We rode up toward the Vicente Calderón Stadium, which was the home stadium of Madrid’s second football (soccer) team, Atlético Madrid, until last year (2017). From there we took a path that led to Casa de Campo, where we could really experience some of the nature I was wanting.

Ahhhh, wide paths for bikes and no people around!

It’s like a forest wonderland!

One of my favorite things about this part of Europe in Spring is all the POPPIES! They look so beautiful scattered in fields of wildflowers.

I stopped to take the picture of the flower on one of the really long uphill inclines that seemed like it would never end. As I said, it’s been a while since I’ve ridden a bike and apparently it’s something I should do more of, since I’m somewhat out of shape for it! When we finally got to the top of the really long hill, I pulled out our croissants purchased in the morning as a little pick-me-up (hehehe). With all those burned calories I definitely earned a snack!

There are so many rabbits around Madrid (not in the city, but just outside)

Before the day was over I had already started plotting to get a second-hand bike. I would be SO happy to be able to ride here on the reg! Especially after I realized that it would be very easy to get to green spaces from my house! The only little problem I need to figure out is where to store it, as my building doesn’t have a garage, and our apartment is pretty little. However, I’m pretty determined. Hmmm….To be continued…

I could see (roughly) my house from the top of the hill!

Green spaces in Madrid for riding:

• Casa de Campo
• Madrid Río
• Anillo Verde Ciclista (“The Green Cycling Ring,” a 65 km ring around the outskirts of Madrid)
• Parque del Buen Retiro (a little more crowded and not as big as the other, but nice for a short, relaxed ride)
• Greenways (“vías verdes”—there are several that are a bit further out of the center, which you can find here.
• Sierra de Guadarrama (also a bit out of the city, but you can find cycling routes in the mountain range)

<3<3<3<3