🇫🇷✈️🇪🇸 Goodbye Paris, Hello Madrid! A New Chapter of My European Adventure

After spending some wonderful days exploring Paris, it was finally time to say goodbye to France and continue my European adventure. My next destination was Madrid, Spain!

I was excited about discovering another European capital, but there was one little detail: my flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport was scheduled to depart at 5:00 AM. 😅

That meant waking up extremely early, so I decided that staying at a hotel near the airport would be much more convenient than trying to travel all the way from central Paris in the middle of the night.

And that's where this part of my journey begins.

🌙 My Last Night in France

For my final night in France, I stayed at a hotel near Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The room was simple but comfortable, and I really liked its modern design. The bed had a large headboard with indirect lighting, and there was a beautiful image of the Moon decorating the wall.

It actually gave the room a rather futuristic atmosphere.

After several days of walking around Paris, visiting monuments, exploring neighborhoods and using public transportation, having a comfortable bed was exactly what I needed.

Of course, with a flight departing at 5:00 AM, there wasn't much time to sleep!

🏨 A Different View of Paris

This was the view from my hotel window.

Instead of the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame or the beautiful historic buildings of central Paris, I could see modern hotels, office buildings and airport infrastructure.

It was definitely a different side of the city.

The sky was cloudy, and everything looked a little gray, which somehow matched the feeling of preparing to leave France.

I had really enjoyed Paris, but I was also looking forward to Madrid.

Traveling sometimes means saying goodbye to one beautiful place while already feeling excited about the next one.

🌌 A Little Space Adventure Before Leaving

One of the interesting details we found was this wall decorated with photographs of galaxies.

My son stopped for a picture in front of it, and I thought it was a nice little moment to remember.

I have always found astronomy fascinating, so seeing images of distant galaxies was a pleasant surprise.

The wall included famous astronomical objects such as M81 and M101, reminding us how enormous the universe really is.

Sometimes even the smallest details of a hotel or a building become part of your travel memories.

✈️ From Paris to Madrid

After our short night near the airport, it was time to continue the journey.

Flying at 5:00 AM isn't exactly my favorite thing, especially after several days of sightseeing. But sometimes early flights are worth the inconvenience when you're trying to make the most of your time abroad.

And just like that, France was behind us and Spain was waiting.

Madrid, here we come! 🇪🇸

☀️ My First Steps in Madrid

One of my first photographs in Madrid was taken near a large intersection, with a beautiful brick church in the background.

The weather was fantastic!

After seeing cloudy skies near Charles de Gaulle Airport, arriving in Madrid under a bright blue sky felt wonderful.

I immediately noticed how different the atmosphere was from Paris.

The architecture, the streets, the sunshine and even the general feeling of the city reminded me that I was discovering another country with its own personality.

I was ready to start walking again, even after waking up ridiculously early.

🍊 Finding Affordable Fruit in Madrid

One of the things I enjoy doing when traveling is visiting ordinary shops and supermarkets.

I know that sounds a little strange when you're visiting a famous European capital, but I genuinely like comparing prices and seeing what everyday life looks like in different countries.

While walking around Madrid, I found a fruit stand with some surprisingly affordable options.

There were mandarins, apples, grapes and other fruits, with several packages priced at just €1 or €1.50.

I thought those were pretty reasonable prices!

Traveling doesn't always have to mean eating at expensive restaurants. Sometimes buying fresh fruit from a neighborhood shop is a simple and affordable way to enjoy the day.

And after all the walking, having something fresh to eat is always welcome.

🎮 A Nice Surprise for a Video Game Fan

Now, this was something that really caught my attention!

While exploring Madrid, I came across a shop selling second-hand Nintendo Switch games.

Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy video games, especially games with good stories and memorable characters.

Naturally, I had to stop and take a look.

I found three interesting titles:

• LEGO Harry Potter Collection — €20
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed — €15
• Splatoon 2 — €18

I thought the prices were interesting, particularly considering that these were physical Nintendo Switch games.

I haven't forgotten how much fun I had playing video games when I was younger, and I still enjoy discovering games and comparing prices whenever I travel.

It's funny how a simple visit to a second-hand shop can become one of the little highlights of a day.

I didn't expect to spend part of my first day in Madrid looking at Nintendo games, but I certainly wasn't complaining! 😂

🚶 Exploring the Busy Streets of Madrid

After checking out some shops, I continued walking through the city.

This photograph captures one of those ordinary moments when you're simply moving from one place to another, surrounded by traffic, pedestrians, shops and beautiful buildings.

I really liked the architecture around this area, especially the tall buildings with their balconies and elegant façades.

Madrid felt lively, with plenty of people walking around and enjoying the sunshine.

One thing I appreciate about traveling independently is having the freedom to stop whenever something catches my attention.

Sometimes it's a historic building. Other times it's a store, a street or even a supermarket.

That's part of the experience.

🚇 Discovering Madrid's Metro

Of course, another important part of exploring Madrid was using its public transportation system.

I took this photograph while waiting at a metro station.

The yellow walls immediately caught my attention because they made the station look quite different from the ones I had used in Paris.

I really enjoy using public transportation when traveling because it allows me to experience cities in a more practical way.

You get to see how local people move around, how the stations are organized and how different transportation systems compare.

Besides, using the metro is usually much more affordable than relying on taxis for every journey.

And after walking for hours, it's always nice to give your legs a little break!

❤️ A New Country, New Memories

Looking back at these photographs, I realize how quickly the atmosphere of a trip can change.

One moment I was in a quiet hotel room near Charles de Gaulle Airport, preparing for an extremely early flight. A few hours later, I was walking through the sunny streets of Madrid, looking at fruit prices, discovering video games and learning how to navigate another city's metro system.

That's something I love about traveling.

It's not only about visiting famous monuments or taking beautiful photographs. It's also about experiencing the small, everyday things that make each country different.

And being able to share these experiences with my son makes the journey even more meaningful.

Paris gave us some wonderful memories, and now it was time to discover what Madrid had to offer.

Goodbye, France. Thank you for the memories. And hello, Spain! 🇫🇷❤️🇪🇸

The adventure continues!

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