"Ole Madrid" a Madrid Travel Page by surferob

I was only able to manage a brief couple of days in Madrid, really I was just passing through on my way to Barcelona. I wanted to see at least two Spanish cities for sake of comparison so I routed my flight to deposit me in the capital.

First impressions, it's a beautiful and vibrant city rich with art and architecture for historical contemplation, along with plenty to get excited about in the here and now....world-famous football teams, over-the-top nightlife, shopping galore, and of course "la corrida" - bullfighting - in the world's biggest bullring.

I hope to find a 10-day stretch or so to return one day in the not too distant future to take in some of these things. For my brief tour I was just able to do some wandering, to get the lay of the land as it were. This is what I generally do with my first couple of days in any foreign city. The difference is that I rarely visit a city for just a couple days, more likely I average 2 weeks or more. It's just to do with my pace as a traveler, which is decidedly slow I guess. I need time to feel a place out, to get comfortable with its rhythms and only then can I begin to throw myself into the mix and have some lasting experiences. Plus, I always find my time in a city is the best once I've met a local or two to help guide me. It makes all the difference in the world.

And that's a good thing about Madrid, plenty of VT members around willing to do just that. I tried in vain to get in touch with a couple at the last minute - my fault since this was a completely unplanned visit. Not only was the notice too short but I was also there at the Holidays and so most everyone seemed to be busy or out of town. Still, once in Barcelona I got some friendly replies from a few VTers (Joaquin and Ainhoa to name a couple) offering their hospitality. Had to tell them 'next time'.