2023 Spain Trip – Sabbatical II – Madrid

A first breath in Madrid: The launch of my gap year

With a sigh of relief, I embarked on my year-long gap year. Starting with Madrid, seeking distance from the intense past four years. Both professional challenges and a world growing increasingly chaotic, tilting towards a reality dominated by chaos, had begun to wear on me.

For the first two days, I explored the vibrant city before heading to A Coruña and Bilbao later. Two more days in Madrid are planned before my return flight, which I will fill with new experiences. I hope to provide a short update to this blog after I finish.

As with my last gap year in 2019, I opted for a cozy, centrally-located hostel. A simple bed and, crucially, a private bathroom suffice for me. The central location is the key for me, as is proximity to the train station and metro for ease of mobility throughout the city.

Of course, two days, or even a week, is far from enough to fully explore a city like Madrid. However, strolling around, taking the tourist bus, visiting the botanical garden (next to my hostel), one of the city parks and Prado was just perfect for me. The weather was much warmer than expected for October, reaching around 30°C, so I wandered through the city during the morning, using the afternoon for a quick nap so I could enjoy the vibrant nightlife – just as the locals do.

Now, onto A Coruña, where I’m excited to see what new experiences await.