We left Girona behind on a smooth, sunlit train ride with an incredibly entertaining woman sitting in the seat ahead of us that I believe had a really great time before boarding the train. But our train pulled out of the station at 6:26am. 😉 It was one of those moments where I would have loved to understand more Spanish, but also the not knowing exactly WHAT she was saying added to the entertainment of the story we were able to build in our heads – HA!

Three and a half hours later and we were arriving in Madrid…

Stone walls and quiet corners gave way to wide boulevards, grand architecture, and the unmistakable hum of Madrid. This wasn’t just our next destination, it was the start of the CEO Club experience, where the pace quickened, the wine poured freely, and the city welcomed us with style, energy, and a fabulous amount of extravagance.

Jeremy is a Sales Leader for Engage PEO, and the way that his CEO does the CEO Clubs for the tip top performers is absolutely unparalleled and I will tell you that we SO look forward to spending time with these people and their significant others each and every year.

When we first arrived in Madrid we were able to check into our room at the Four Seasons and hit the ground running. Quickly about the hotel – if you are looking for absolute luxury in the heart of a vibrant city – this is your spot! Honestly cannot say enough about the staff and accommodations – truly fabulous!

We had arrived on San Isidro day which is Madrid’s most iconic festival, celebrating the city’s patron Saint with music, dancing, traditional dress, and food stalls across the parks and plazas. Locals gather in their finest “chulapo” outfits, families picnic under blooming trees, and the whole city feels wrapped in old world charm and joyful energy.

Jeremy and I ended up in the middle of the action at Plaza Mayor, the main square in Madrid. With its’ symmetrical red facades and a central statue of King Philip III on horseback, the square was busting at the seams with celebration with a big stage set up in the center for performers dressed in traditional Spanish costume and dancing! The dance mom in me was so excited!

Fun fact: (or a morbid, weird fact) that statue of King Philip III once doubled as an accidental bird TOMB! For decades, pigeons would fly into the horse’s open mouth and get stuck inside. When the statue was cleaned in the 1930s, workers discovered it was full of bird skeletons, and thus discovered where the awful STENCH was coming from! They promptly renovated the statue and sealed the mouth shut. So, lesson learned, no open mouth horse statues, people! Those poor pigeons… 🙁

We made our way in the main market, Mercado de San Miguel, which yes is a tourist trap, with tourist prices, but we ARE tourists, so that is ok. It’s the most famous covered market in Madrid and has so many culinary treats inside to choose from. We had to get a paper cone overflowing with sweet cherries and a chilled passion fruit juice that tasted like summer in a cup. We would visit the market again for more treats but this was a great first taste of what was in store.

We found a great local spot to grab a bite to eat and had what could only be described as the best hangover food ever, but we were not hungover 😉 A plate of Huevos Rotos – crispy fries, runny eggs and shavings of jamon iberico on top. I hope our friend from the train found a plate of them! HA!

We ended up finding our way to the Stracciatella Royal Palace of Madrid and stumbled into the amazing Almudena Cathedral. We were totally surprised by the Cathedral, with its bright ceilings and modern mosaic of architectural styles. It is one of Europe’s more modern cathedrals and definitely has that feel, but also completely old worldly at the same time.

It was time to make our way back to the hotel to get ready for the cocktail reception but we had enough time to wander around the streets to know we loved Madrid already.

The next morning started with breakfast on the roof of the hotel at Dani Brasserie and if you have ever had the breakfast buffet at any of the Four Seasons you know it is completely unparalleled and this was no exception, serving dishes by Michelin-rated chef, Dani Garcia. Such a treat and found our new favorite yogurt ever and of course the European butter. 😉 I realize that is so silly, but it’s those little things that we find that are so fabulous!!

The structure of the club trips is done so so well and the first full day is always a tour of the city together. We were in for a tour in two parts on this beautiful day in Madrid – first an electric tuk tuk tour followed by a walking tour.

We had the BEST tuk tuk driver! You know that your tour guide can completely make or break a tour and he was so amazing – even sang to us along the way. The tour was full of interesting facts about the city and if you are in Madrid I highly recommend it! Upon more research, SOME of the facts shared, like the Queen with the “voracious sexual appetite”, may have been more rumor than fact, but it did make for very interesting stories! HA!

The walking tour was excellent as well and covered a lot of the ground we had covered on our own the day before, but with all the commentary to enhance the beautiful sites we were seeing.

If you visit Madrid you must enjoy the rooftop dining that is available, and for lunch we did just that. We had a fabulous lunch at Picalartos Sky Bar & Restaurant with everyone overlooking this amazing city. One stand out we had was a dish of roasted piquillo peppers (pimentos for my southern friends) with a golden egg yolk nestled in the center… simple, silky, and meant to be scooped with crusty bread. It was a perfect bite (if you enjoy egg yolks LOL – not everyone at the table had the same reaction HA)! We followed our meal up with visiting the rooftop bar and enjoyed a glass of sangria that was one of my favorites of the trip surrounded by amazing company.

That night we were all attending a flamenco dinner show and it. was. FABULOUS! We went to a Cafe Cantante, which is a type of establishment that originated in Spain, where live performances of flamenco music and dance are featured alongside food and drink. The specific venue was Flamenco De Leones and it completely blew us away.

The tapas were fantastic, which, did you know that “tapas” began as something simple, a slice of bread or ham used to cover a glass of wine, like a little edible lid, to keep things you didn’t want in your drink – OUT! But like most good things in Spain, it evolved into a tradition rooted in connection: small bites meant to be shared slowly, paired with conversation and another pour. The meal following was great and then the show following that was outstanding!

Born in the sun-drenched heart of Andalusia, flamenco was never just music… it was survival, identity, and emotion. A fierce blend of Romani, Moorish, and Spanish traditions, it rose from the fringes of society to become one of Spain’s most passionate and powerful art forms. To say that the performers left their hearts on the stage is an understatement. While I can’t tell you I knew exactly what they were saying, I can tell you I knew exactly what they were FEELING, and it was powerful.

If you find yourself in Madrid and can attend a Cafe Cantante, you just must! And we honestly cannot recommend Flamenco De Leones enough!!!

It was the perfect night to lace the sambas and walk back to our hotel. I have to say that we not only felt totally safe, but loved how alive the city was. Nightlife in Spain is worth experiencing for certain.

Just when we thought this trip had reached its’ peak, we set off for a day that would surprise us all: winding through the vineyards and ancient streets of Toledo. Up next? Wine, wonder and a city suspended in time.

Peace, Love and Fabulous!