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Parque del Oueste’s “secret garden”

Parque del Oueste’s “secret garden”

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Shortly after moving to Madrid, I set out to explore the city’s parks and green spaces.  I started with Parque del Buen Retiro (read recent Guiri Guide posts here and here) and then headed over to the Parque del Oueste.  With my brother in tow, and luckily also my camera, we started at the Templo de Debod and then headed further north into the park.  I was pleased to find lovely green spaces with plenty of room for picnics, strolls with our dog, cycling and even skateboarding!

We then wandered down a small path and happened upon the beautiful and peaceful La Rosaleda garden. Set away from the main pathway before you reach the cable cars, there was only a handful of people strolling in between the rows and rows of rosebeds.   I was amazed at the array of colours, neatly groomed pathways and thoughtfully laid out garden.   The flowers come from all over the world and it’s a spectacular sight when they are all in bloom.  Several fountains and pergolas add to the ambiance.  Instantly relaxed, we wandered through the garden and sat for a while on one of the benches scattered throughout.  A peaceful haven so close to the hustle and bustle of the Plaza de Espana!

Here are a couple photos I took in early June … it’s become one of my favorite spots in Madrid and I think it’s definitely worth a visit (especially if you enjoy taking photos or need some peace and quiet!).

 

 

 

La Rosaleda garden located within the Parque del Oeste (near la Calle de Francisco and Calle de Quintana.

Biking in El Retiro

Biking in El Retiro

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I can’t imagine a more perfect way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than meeting friends for a leisurely bike ride and picnic in the park.

Unfortunately, our bikes didn’t make the cut when moving to Spain so we were pleased to discover that we could easily rent bikes instead.

BioBike is located on the East side of Retiro, directly across the street from the park, within a block of the Ibiza metro station.  They rent bikes by the hour, by the day and sell ‘bonos’ or passes for 10, 20 or 30 hours.  The bonos seem to be the best deal since you can share a single bono among as many people as you’d like.  They also have a variety of bikes to choose from and offer bike baskets to carry your picnic (or puppy in my case) as well as child seats if you plan to take your little ones along. BioBike offers guided tours, but you can also go out and explore on your own.  Riding through Retiro is a bit challenging with crowds of people everywhere, but it makes for great people watching and a leisurely ride.

And once you finish up your ride you can sit back and relax at the café next door to BioBike for a cerveza or refreshing vino tinto!

BioBike
Calle de Galileo, 43, 28015 Madrid