Vip (vision Impaired Person) trip Madrid Day One

I’m nervously pacing around in the airport waiting for my traveller to arrive. Why am I nervous you ask? Well, this is the very first time I am organising a trip for the blind. Even Though I did not get the group travel I aimed for, one traveller was hoping to create a solo trip and just discover the surroundings of Madrid together. 

Let’s do it! The flight went smoothly and I find him immediately in the airport where the assistance staff brings us together. The most stressful part is over and from now on we can relax and discover.After settling into the hotel, we set out to discover the beauty of Madrid. In my opinion a highly underrated city. The city of Madrid is covered in beautiful architecture, green parks, impressive buildings, good restaurants and wonderful vibes.We visit the Retiro park with its beautiful Monument. We are able to walk all the way up to the monuments and describe and touch them, we enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful area. Mike has meta glasses and is testing them out on the spot, it’s a first experience for me as well and I am excited to see what this device can do in combination with other apps. So far the live translation is very helpful as neither of us has strong Spanish language skills.We proceed to make our way to the San Miguel Market, known for being a culinary experience. We gladly squeeze ourselves into the busy indoor Market, while we smell all the delicious foods and I describe to Mike what all the various choices are. The Plaza Mayor is next and we soon realise it is representing the centre of the city. A little google fact: Madrid's Plaza Mayor is a symbol of the city and a must-see. This enormous esplanade in the city centre was begun in the 17th century by King Philip III, whose bronze equestrian statue stands in the square. Officially opened in 1620, it is rectangular in shape and lined with pillars and arches.We decide to enjoy this plaza to the fullest and seat ourselves in one of the adorable Tapas restaurants located inside the building. It’s so tiny that the restaurant only fits 3 tables in side and uses the building next door as a kitchen. The perfect location for a first experience with spanish cuisine (and I promise you, there are A LOT more to come)We indulge in some tapas, while we get to know each other and establish what Mikes hopes are for this trip.

We meet up with Janelle from the Spain Explorer. She is a member of the Vision Loss Travel community and helped me with organising this trip. I am so happy to meet her after only knowing each other online! Janelle is a travel expert in Spain, so feel free to reach out to her if you want to travel to Spain. After a wonderful meal with Janelle we head back to the hotel.

Of Course we have an early night (Hello Jetlag!) and dream about what adventures we might run into tomorrow.