"Sharrie's Madrid Gallery" a Madrid Travel Page by Sharrie

I traveled to Spain on my own! Having landed in MADRID, a city which I'm completely at a loss (not understanding a single word of Spanish!), I lugged my belongings from the airport & proceeded to the hotel. The cab driver was very friendly & chatty, but hey, he spoke v. little English, so I was more interested in where he was driving me to than just socializing! Finally, after more than 1/2 an hour (there was traffic jam along the way...) I reached the hotel at Gran Via which I had a reservation for 3 nights. Everything was fine & I was trying to find some light in this wintery afternoon. It was freezing in Madrid, brrrrrr!

Madrid was not what I had expected. It's quite different from those Western European cities I had visited in the last few years; a little less flamboyant & less orderly. On my 2nd day, having regained some energy after a good night sleep, I decided to head for Old Madrid where the city center is & the museums (east of the city). Now the sights improved with each visits to a historical, cultural & civic center. Perhaps, a good rest & food do wonders to one's mind & perception ;-D .

Sights in Spain are as varied as its history. To have an indepth understanding & appreciation, one needs lots of reading & a really good guide book (or several!) before arriving to this country. Unless, you're a European with a curious mind like Lobota!

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Facts about Madrid

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Madrid is the capital of Spain.
Population: over 3 million.
Altitude: 660 m / 2150 ft (No wonder it's so cold!).