Madrid, Toulouse & Dolomites
Mexico City, Madrid, Toulouse and Dolomites, September 2025
Mexico City, Madrid, Toulouse and Dolomites, September 2025
The trip to the Dolomites came from a realization that I couldn’t do the Tour Du Mont Blanc in 2025 because I waited too long to book accommodation, and frankly— I wasn’t in shape to do the TMB this year. The Dolomites were a good alternative and I’m glad I visited the Italian alps. The Dolomites were a small part of this trip, but the trip turned out to be among the most memorable trips I have ever taken. This trip was also the trip where I used my A7iii the least, as evident by how much shorter this photoset is compared to previous sets.
Mexico City, Madrid, Toulouse, Milan and Dolomites
For the last few trips to Europe, I have flown from Mexico City. Once to Paris, and two times to Madrid. I love Mexico City, as a base to Europe. Mexico City is a world-class city, that I love more with each visit. The food scene in Mexico City is incredible and so are the people. Iberia and Air France fly the a350 out of MEX, into CDG and MAD. Both Air France and Iberia have great business class products out of Mexico City.
The trip starts in Mexico City and the way it’s documented is in sequence, for the most part. This was the most memorable trip I have ever taken, and it had nothing to do with the flight or the restaurants. People make trips worth remembering. ❤️
A big part of why I travel is for food. I strongly believe that Mexico City is among the cities with the best food in the world. I have dined at incredible restaurants, most notably Protoje in Palo Alto. Michelin restaurants deliver a special experience, but it’s not a local experience. Eating delicious tacos in a sketchy neighborhood in Mexico City is a local experience and the food is of course delicious.
Iberia business class has earned a bad reputation among people in the community. European airlines have never excelled at customer service; they are European after all.
The service in Iberia is not great but not bad either. It’s inconsistent. The service is what you’d expect in Europe.
To expand the inconsistency of the service. In 2024 I flew Iberia business class from Madrid to San Francisco, and the service was not good. The food service was also really poor. The food was bad, and they ran out of most options in business class.
The food from Mexico City to Madrid was great. Again, that inconsistency isn’t a good attribute.
The hard product on the A350 is fantastic and I prefer to fly to Madrid from Mexico City on the A350.
The meal service on this flight was solid. It might have been the best business class meal I’ve had on a non-asian airline. Asian airlines are on a different level. Iberia's catering out of Mexico City is excellent, and a better meal than anything American or United can deliver.
Iberia business class is now my preferred way to get to Europe. It’s a superior experience to any of the U.S airlines, and slightly ahead of Air France business class.
Finding a neighborhood to live in.
Finding a neighborhood to live in.
I’m at a stage in life where I want something new, something different. I want to live abroad and live in Madrid. I want to live a life that is slower and more balanced. I also want to be closer to France and obtain my Spanish passport, through residency. This is something that has been on my mind for some time and something I will do in the next few years.
Kuoco in Madrid is in the Chueca neighborhood and worth visiting if you’re into fine dining.
The restaurant was started by two Venezuelans; Rafa and Andrés. The menu is a fusion of Latin American cuisine and Asian ingredients.
I did the tasting menu and had a glass of wine, and it was 130€. I was mostly satisfied with the experience.
The food itself was good and met my expectations. The service, however, left a lot to be desired.
I don’t know if it was an off night, but it sure felt like it. Service at the bar was bad.
The crew was very disorganized, and I had to ask for a wine list and ask what would pair well with the tasting menu.
It’s clear that they want a Michelin star, but service needs to be improved.
I would go back with my other half and get a table, instead of sitting at the bar.
In my earlier writings about Kuoco I was critical about the service, but I still think it’s worth visiting. Maybe my night was an off night, and they were short staffed. The food is great and a good experience. One of the most memorable dishes was a salad in liquid form. Not only was it a very refreshing dish, but it had a hint of spice, near the end— really great and interesting. Go to Kuoco.
Toulouse is the embodiment of traveling for other people
Toulouse is the embodiment of traveling for other people
I’m going to keep this section short for personal reasons, but I loved Toulouse more than I thought I would. Toulouse is the home of Airbus, who knew. For the record, I did not go to Toulouse for Airbus or the incredible French pastries.
No one does pastries better than the French. If you are in Toulouse, Boulangerie Pâtisserie Cyprien is the place to go for pastries.
We had dinner at Franquette, in Toulouse. Great spot in Toulouse, and a great night. If you're in Toulouse, Franquette is a good spot for dinner.
I have written about this before, but my travel habits have shifted from traveling to seeing things, to seeing people now. I have seen everything now and that doesn’t make a trip special anymore. Authentic and intimate human connection is far more meaningful.
I was going to go to Oktoberfest after my adventures in the Dolomites, but I changed my mind and went back to Toulouse. I spent additional time in Toulouse and then on a very rainy Sunday, we took a road trip to Lourdes. It was fun and I’m glad I did it.
I don’t care about Oktoberfest.
Skipping Oktoberfest was the right call. I'm glad I did this instead.
Alpe Di Siusi & Seceda
Alpe Di Siusi & Seceda
If you don’t have a lot of time, Urtijëi is an excellent base for the Dolomites. Urtijëi is near Seceda and Alpe Di Siusi. Urtijëi offers great accommodation and decent restaurants. I stayed at Hotels Platz for my stay in Urtijëi and it was a great hotel. Wonderful staff, comfortable rooms, and a really good breakfast.
If your time is limited, Seceda alone is worth the drive from Milan to Urtijëi. You can take a cable car up to the mountain and do the hike in a loop. The most crowded part of Seceda is the Instagram photo; all the tourists vanish 30 minutes or so after the picturesque photo of Seceda. Ideally you want to get on the first cable car up to the mountain, to maximize your time, get lunch at a hut and enjoy the mountain. Seceda was my favorite part of the Dolomites.
If you are in Urtijëi, Alpe Di Siusi is a must and easy to reach using the cable car. This hike is far less interesting, compared to the loop in Seceda but it’s still worth doing. This can be done after Seceda, as it’s an easier and slower pace hike. A tip on parking: use the parking garages and prepare to spend 40€ for the day. It is what it is.
This has been one of the most meaningful trips for me. My travel habits have changed, as I have written previously on other photo-sets.
Before in my life I would travel to fly the latest and greatest first or business class cabin, see a new country just because.
I’m 30 now, and Europe no longer feels like vacation but more like where I want to be in the future.
This was a good trip. I’m scheduled to be back in Spain and France in April, and I don’t know if I will make another photo-set like this.
I hope this isn’t the last photo-set I make, but it might just be the last one in this style. I would like to document my life in Europe in this format.
Failed Tour du Mont Blanc trip, South of France & Spain | June 2024
Failed Tour du Mont Blanc trip, South of France & Spain | June 2024
A warm, easy break between jobs — Playa del Carmen delivered
A warm, easy break between jobs — Playa del Carmen delivered
Exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & the surrounding cities
Exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & the surrounding cities
Germany, Poland, Czech Republic & Austria
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