The most amazing thing we did in Madrid was to attend a Flamenco performance. Admittedly we made the effort to track down a Flamenco shop and ask for advice on where to go - our main concern being to avoid tourist traps.

We ended up at a place called Casa Patas and on arrival were ushered into a small, dark room located at the back of a bustling tapas restaurant.

The performance was stunning. From the moment it started we realised that we had found an authentic show... the singing was raw, gutteral (almost painful) while the dancing itself was entrancing. Jammed into the room like sardines everyone was close to the stage and in awe of the performance.

After the show we walked home on a high and happened to stumble across the symbol of Royal Madrid - a bear foraging a strawberry tree! Dad happily posed for a photo.