My latest adventure sees me in Spain's capital city, Madrid. The journey out yesterday went very smoothly. My first experience of budget flying with just hand luggage on an EasyJet flight from Gatwick. The little Airbus A220 was full, but there was just enough space for all the hand luggage.

Once landed, I seemingly walked the full length of the airport to get to the Metro station, where I was chuffed that I worked out how to use the machine to purchase my Tourist Ticket - not difficult once selecting English as the language. I boarded the Metro Line 8 to the end of the line at Nuevos Ministerial, where I changed to the Circular Line 6 for Legazpi. A short walk from the station and I met my Airbnb host Jose, who showed me around the flat that will be my home for the next 10 nights.

I popped out to the local supermarket fully intending to get something to eat for tea, only to spot a KFC. What can I say? I was tired and hungry, vulnerable and too easily led. So after shopping I purchased the chicken to take back to base.

Having previously enjoyed over a week of consecutive post midnight nights, I took the opportunity for an early night and had a lazy morning.

Venturing out about midday, I took Metro Line 3 to Sol to begin my exploration of Old Madrid.

Puerta del Sol (Gateway of the Sun) is the centre of the city, from which all distances in Spain are calculated, and surrounded by beautiful buildings. In the 1808 insurrection, snipers fired on one of Napoleon's soldiers, provoking a massacre. In the centre of the square is a statue of Carlos III. The (oval shaped) square was a very bustling place.

Heading along Calle Mayor (Main Street) I turned into Plaza Mayor. Built on a grand scale in 1619 it was meant to impress, and does. Surrounded by arcaded buildings and with a statue of Filipe III in the middle, it is now dominated by restaurants. The centre of the square was closed as wooden stalls were being erected, presumably for a Christmas Market.

I left the Plaza down the busy Calle de Toledo and headed towards the impressive Real Basilica de San Francisco, where a wedding was in progress, complete with an open-top car waiting for the happy couple to emerge. Completed in 1784, legend claims that it was built on the site of a monastery founded by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. The 33m wide dome is 58m high.

Heading up the road towards the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) at the Jardine de last Vistillas, I was confronted by stunning views beyond the city, including snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Started in 1879, the stunningly located upon the hilltop Catedral de la Almundena wasn't completed until 1993. It is well worth a visit, where they ask for a donation of only 1 Euro to see inside. Impressive as it is, it's well worth paying another Euro to see the oldest part of the Catedral, the Cripta de la Catedral Neo-Romanica, which is even more impressive.

For lunch I enjoyed veal fillets at a local restaurant before having a look at the exterior of the Palacio Real. The queues were large, so I plan to pop back at opening time during the week, in the hope to beat the crowds.

Opposite the Plaza de Oriente, the focal point of which is the statue of Felipe VI. Laid out in 1844, on the opposite side to the Palace is the Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) opera house, which opened in 1850 after so many delays that the original architect was no longer around to see it.

Next to the Plaza is the Monasterio de la Encarnacion. Founded in 1611 by Margarita of Austria, wife of Felipe III for daughters of the nobility.

I then headed to the Plaza de Espana to find that it was closed. Undergoing renovations it was surrounded by hoardings. The only part visible was the top of the monument to Cervantes. The square is overlooked by Madrid's first skyscrapers, erected in the 1950s.

It was then time to pop into the handy Metro station and make my way back to base.