Day Trip to Alcala de Henares.

Alcala de Henares...I'd heard good things and wanted to love you, but came away with mixed feelings. Alcala de Henares is always on the "must do" list of day trips from Madrid and I honestly don't get it. It is an easy and quick train ride from Madrid and I arrived with a list of tapas places to try...only to find out that several of them had closed down. I started the day by wandering around and checking out the sites, which, again, I wasn't exactly sure what I was supposed to be looking at. On top of that, I was hoping to have a drink at the local parador (a converted historic building such as a monastery or castle), but it was off limits due to a wedding.

Honoring Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote

Santa e Insigne Iglesia Catedral Magistral 

A rare shady spot from the Spanish summer heat

En route to tapas and tinto de verano

After a bit of aimless wandering, I wanted a tinto de verano to beat the heat and stumbled onto a cute little place down a side street that came with a free tapa of chips, chorizo and bread.

I did have one place on my list of recommendations that turned out to actually be open, so I made my way over there for more wine and tapas.

On the way to La Taberna de Rusty

"Downtown" Alcala de Henares

Final stop of the day was La Taberna de Rusty for some delicious tapas and wine. I arrived way too early by Spanish standards,,,8pm...and was greeted with a near empty restaurant. My fault for trying to eat so early, but by that point, I was frustrated with my experience in Alcala de Henares and was ready for a quick bite before catching the train back to Madrid. 

While the tapas and wine were delicious, the night ended with an overly aggressive guy and a general feeling of uneasiness that put a damper on the whole day. Travel isn't always puppies and rainbows, and while it's disappointing when a trip doesn't turn out the way you want it to, I still appreciate the opportunity to see somewhere new. Has anyone else had a disappointing travel experience?