Te Dejo Madrid
May 31, 2019
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| You know it's a great birthday celebration when... |
As Shakira sings, Te dejo Madrid, I'm leaving you Madrid. Indeed, I may have left only a week ago but this city has made an everlasting mark on my heart and memories. From biking around the plazas to feasting on paella and churros, cheers-ing with sangria and soaking up the sun and views, this was an adventure of a lifetime.
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| We were surprised to learn there is an Egyptian Temple in Madrid, known as the Egyptian Temple of Debod given to Spain as a thank you gift for helping rescue several Egyptian temples from flooding. The temple is free to enter and beautiful at sunset. Dress by Kaufman Franco. |
My friend Priyanca (@priyanca on Instagram) and I booked this girls trip as a last minute spontaneous birthday celebration.
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| Making our Vespa dreams come true. Dress by Kaufman Franco. |
We searched for the cheapest flights by looking at airports all around and not just Philly. As a result, we flew out of JFK nonstop with Iberia and American Airlines, having booked through Expedia (I even had some credit from last year's Iceland trip!). Going forward we each downloaded the apps Skyscanner and Hopper to keep an eye on future flight deals to plan our next adventure.
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| Embracing my inner Carrie Bradshaw in Retiro Park's Rose Garden. Skirt by Chicwish, shoes by Cole Haan. |
I am a huge planner and loved putting together our itinerary, which I am excited to share with everyone. While we did not get to do everything including visit some of the restaurants or attend the Flamenco show, I felt like this was a great tentative schedule for any of you looking to visit Madrid. Thank you to everyone for all of your recommendations, including the Prado and Reina Sofia Museums (free entrance in the evenings)!
Thanks to the points on my Chase credit card, I booked a few tours while in the city. One of my favorite ways to see a new place is on a bike (we booked ours with BravoBike Tours). We cycled through all the main landmarks, learned a little bit of history, and got our exercise in (which made up for the 6.5-hour flight).
Thanks to the points on my Chase credit card, I booked a few tours while in the city. One of my favorite ways to see a new place is on a bike (we booked ours with BravoBike Tours). We cycled through all the main landmarks, learned a little bit of history, and got our exercise in (which made up for the 6.5-hour flight).
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| The Iconic Metropolis building |
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| Hola Madrid! |
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| Biking past the cathedrals |
Side note - the Chase Sapphire Preferred is literally the best credit card ever. Highly recommend it if you have a lot of upcoming travel plans (i.e. applying for residency and have interviews lined up all over the country). This credit card will practically pay for itself in the end. My biggest regret in medical school is not getting it during my fourth-year interviews. You can apply by clicking HERE and earn 60,000 bonus points.
We had enough time later in the week to make a trip through IBE Tours to one of the most dreamy places I have ever visited: Toledo. It was like El Greco’s painting had come to life. We even got to do a wine tasting.
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| This is not a painting. It's real. This is Toledo. I'm speechless. |
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| Red, white, sparkling? My answer is yes. |
I love doing tours because you get to meet other incredible people and discover even more amazing places. Shoutout to our new friends Jess and Amanda, who introduced us to Dear Hotel Madrid's sky lounge Nice To Meet You. It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday with new and old friends.
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| A girls trip with one of your best friends means unforgettable memories! Dress by Yumi Kim. |
I made sure to schedule in some downtime, which was perfect to enjoy all the amenities of our hotel. Pestana Hotel, located in Plaza Mayor, was brand new when we arrived, having opened one week prior.
We loved the location as it was within walking distance of everything including great restaurants and markets like the Mercado San Miguel (highly recommend trying some Gazpacho).
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| The staff was so friendly and helpful. I wish this hotel was located in every country I visited! |
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| The Spanish love their eggplant fries and honey |
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| Be sure to stop by Mercado San Miguel to try all the flavors of Madrid. |
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| Best way to wake up on your birthday! Swimsuit by Shein. |
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| Recently, the World Health Organization declared physician burnout is an occupational phenomenon. A spa getaway is a great way to reset and re-center, especially when combatting burnout. |
Of course, one of the best parts was the breakfast buffet in their beautiful terrace restaurant.
We ate like royalty including endless coffees in whatever style we wanted, eggs served however we wanted and a delicious assortment of fruits, pastries, meats, and cheeses.
We ate like royalty including endless coffees in whatever style we wanted, eggs served however we wanted and a delicious assortment of fruits, pastries, meats, and cheeses.
When it comes to travel hacks for packing, the two most helpful tips I can offer are: compression bags and a foldable backpack (Amazon has some great options). These two came in handy when fitting everything in our luggage and even later for visiting the parks and plazas.
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| My favorite spot in all of Madrid was hands down the Crystal Palace in Retiro Park (free entrance to the park and palace). Made as a greenhouse for plants from the Philippines, it is now part of the Reina Sofia Museum, housing a variety of installations and exhibitions. |
Looking back, I wish we had a little more time to explore - I’d love to have toured inside the palace and catch a Flamenco show. I could spend a year in Spain and still not see it all. I guess that just means we will have to return soon!
Mother's Day Giveaway
May 12, 2019
Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there who work endlessly, love unconditionally and care tirelessly for their families. What better way to say I love you than with these beautiful luxury real roses from Rosier Fleur that last all year? Keep reading to learn how you can win your own bouquet in a giveaway.
Special shout out to my mother, who taught me everything I know (minus anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, histology, etc). But really, I owe my life to this woman and cannot thank her enough for everything she has done to help me get to where I am today. I often don't post about my family because it is the one part of my life I find sacred and special, a piece of myself I want just for myself to keep private and treasure. But today, the world deserves to know how great my mom is!
My mother graduated from high school at sixteen, went to college earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, a Masters in Communication and an Advanced Graduate degree in Marketing. Subsequently, she partnered with a friend to start their own healthcare marketing research company, building an empire until she eventually sold it. Retiring at a young age, she threw herself into her love of pottery, teaching, and family and to this day never fails to remind me of when I am due for a car inspection, dentist appointment, license renewal, tax return, voting ballot, and so many more things life can throw at us. She has the entire Superman Introduction theme memorized, probably because she is a superhero herself, she loves singing songs about random things like housework and birds, her favorite animal is the turtle, and when she's not working on the wheel, she's learning Spanish by watching telenovelas. Her leadership and entrepreneurial characteristics, combined with her creativity, intellectual curiosity, and love of life have shaped me into who I am today: a physician, an MBA student, a lifestyle blogger, a social media creator, and a daughter who loves her mother.
And to share that love with all of you #vitastics, I am partnering with Rosier Fleur to gift one lucky winner their own luxury rose box to last all year. This company offers beautiful arrangements of preserved roses and other flowers so you can show how much you care for someone all year long. The flowers do not need any maintenance as they do not require water or sunlight, just a nice place to fill your home with color and beauty. Check out their website at www.rosierfleur.com and use promo code DRCOLE for 10% off your order. Keep reading to find out how to enter!
To enter this giveaway,
1. Follow me on Instagram at doctor.cole
2. Follow Rosier Fleur on Instagram at rosiefleur
3. Like my Mother's Day rose bouquet photo
4. Tag a friend!
Random winner will be announced at end of day on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. One entry per person.
Disclaimer: Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or oassociated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram's terms of use. This post is sponsored by Rosier Fleur.
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