Air drying after spending a quick minute in cold Spanish waters.
Spending a weekend in the mountains is one of the best parts of summer in Madrid. We took a day trip to one of the lakes in the mountains that isn’t too crowded. The lake isn’t very big, but it has such an amazing view. Alicia, one of my best friends, took off her clothes and jumped in to the frozen water. When she came out, she sat next to me and I wanted to immortalize that moment. Goosebumps.
-Celia Gómez de Villavedón
Go: To get to Embalse de Pradillo, drive from Madrid towards Navacerrada. After Navacerrada, take the M-604 road until you see a small sign saying “Restaurante La Isla” in Rascafría. When you get to the restaurant, you must then go by foot and follow the small river to the right. The dam/lake is only around 10 minutes from there.
Stay: Bring a sleeping bag and rent a treetop bungalow at the Monte Holiday campgrounds.
Eat: Pack a picnic filled with Spanish omelette, a salad, fried chicken, fruits, and snacks.
Drink: Without a doubt sip on a “Tinto de Verano”, a sweet Spanish drink made with red wine and lemon soda. Drink with lots of ice and a slice of lemon, it’s the perfect refreshing drink for the occasion.