| Page Views: 1,033 Last Visit to Madrid: - I Live Here | Vivo en Madrid! by mollymoo0oo0 - last update: Oct 23, 2008 |
Here I am :) | The Writing's On The Wall... |
I'm now living in MADrid and officially registered, woo-hoo0oo0!!
So far, I'm having lots of fun, loving the people, the city and the vibe... and it's a welcome relief to me from the hecticness of London for so many years :) |
| Juan y Yo en el Parque Del Retiro |
|  | Some Highlights So Far.... In the short time I have been residing here, some of my favourite experiences have included:
-Discovering the tradition of chocolate y churros (more info in my tips)
-El Parque del Buen Retiro.... a huge, beautiful space away from the bustle of the city, beautifully maintained and well created into different areas (including many water features and countless statues) - and with a fantastic boating lake which everyone can enjoy. This is a great place for picnics on Sunday afternoons, when the drummers tend to congregate for impromptu vibrant performances overlooking the boating lake.
-Otros Espacios Verdes - Other Green Spaces - the many, smaller parks in the city each hold their special character, and offer a point of personal space and reflection where it´s often easy to forget you are in a European capital city. (more info in my tips)
-The Metro system... possibly the cleanest, most efficient (regarding timetable) and cheapest one I have used in any city.... and certainly puts London's overpriced underground to shame! It´s also a rapidly-growing network, and hardly a couple of weeks pass without a new station opening to allow more freedom of movement for those exploring, commuting, or simply passing through this wonderful metropolis.
-Ir a tapas - bar-hopping from one to another, having a copa (drink) in each, with a complimentary tapas each time (may sometimes be simply patatas fritas - crisps - or aceitunas - olives, or even a taste of something more, like tortilla - spanish omelette - or a little paella). This is great for discovering new foods, and a great way to spend/start an evening out on Fridays - or any day of the week, really!
-Los Museos, los domingos - Museums, on Sundays. Many museums in the city are free of charge on Sundays... which also means they tend to be busy, so it's worth checking the timetable in advance and aim to arrive early. So far I have really enjoyed El Prado (especially a piece entitled, 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', by Bosch, in Room 56A), and La Reina Sofia - containing works by Dali and Picasso. I will revisit them both many times, I am sure.. and often visit el Museo de Escultura de Aire Libre (in Paseo de Castellana, Metro Rubén Dario)
-El Rastro - the huge Sunday flea-market here, selling almost anything but food... clothes, bric a bric, household goods, antiques, crafts, and probably a lot more. It's a sprawling market which extends from La Glorieta de Embajadores (Embajadores metro) near my home, across towards Puerta de Toledo and up to La Latina. The market spills onto many side streets along the way, often extending further still. My favourite area is the La Latina end, which is where I start, and has lots of groovy clothes and crafts.
-Las Fiestas.... what can I say? Partying, community, spirit and celebration are all integral in the life of the madrileño.... I knew I'd come to the right place!!
-And of course, it´s worth repeating - Los Madrileños (a.k.a. Los Gatos, - cats - thanks to their amazing stamina to stay out and party late through the night - la madrugada - and *still* roll into work the next morning)..... an open, vibrant, tolerant, optimistic, experimental, individual and welcoming people... who have already played a significant role in my experience of this Spanish city. I imagine that if I were to leave Madrid, there would always be a door open for me here to return. What a wonderful feeling!! |
~~Other Notes~~and~~Latest Updates~~ Suggested Reading:
- Time Out Guide to Madrid.... Good (fairly reliable!) general city guide, packed with a wide selection of info about eateries, attractions, open spaces, ideas, cultural notes, and suggested trips out of town...
Different versions available in English (most recently updated) and Spanish.
- El País (newspaper) on Fridays... it has a weekly magazine (OnMadrid) with a good guide to restaurants, cinemas, and events happening in the city for the coming week. Excellent listings and ideas, with lots of inspiration.
-Calle 20 magazine - free 'alternative' magazine available from some bookshops and bars, especially in the Malasaña and Chueca zones. Includes information about places to go out and current/upcoming events, concerts and festivals across Madrid and major cities in Spain.
- El Cielo De Madrid - Julio Llamazares
Useful Websites:
- www.gomadrid.com/madrid-maps.html - various maps of Madrid, very useful for planning journeys and plotting distances between hotels-restaurants-bars-attractions!
- www.esmadrid.com - latest news and updates on what's going on in the city, including plenty of ideas of what to explore off the beaten track. Monthly magazine available free in some bars, theatres etc. and written in both Spanish and English.
- www.guiadelocio.com/madrid - Leisure guide, with magazine Guia del Ocio published weekly, available from quioscos (kiosks) for just 1 euro :)
- www.munimadrid.es - tons of general info, including events listings in the city.... particularly useful is the calendar, where you can select a date and it shows you anything happening around town on that day - great for last minute spontaneous ideas!!
- www.in-madrid.com - InMadrid is a popular English publication in Madrid, available free in many bars/other establishments frequented by English people. It contains articles, event listings, local cultural tips and ideas of places to visit outside of the city. Updated on the 1st of each month, all of this information is summarised on their website.
- www.bybike.info - bike rental company based next to el Retiro.
Choice of languages available.
I'll be back, hasta pronto!
meantime... why not have a look at these travelogues and more:
***Nochevieja 2006 photos!!!***
**.... a few photos in Madrid from my 30 day's celebration for my 30th birthday - Mi Cumpleaños de 30 Años!....**
***a bird's eye view... flying south of Madrid in a small private plane - Un Vuelo Desde El Sur De Madrid***
~~***~~Saludos a Todos y Abrazos Gratis!!~~***~~
| | | Reflecting... at the Open Air Sculpture Museum |
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> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Lovely Lovely People, Great Ambience, Fun Fiestas and Fantastic Food" | | Cons: | "Dog Poo on the streets, Excessive Smoking" | | In A Nutshell: | "I am falling in love with this city, and I've only just arrived!" |
mollymoo0oo0's Madrid Travel Tips
 mollymoo0oo0's Madrid Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for mollymoo0oo0 about Madrid | | | | |
Robmj Sun Aug 30, 2009 02:18 UTC
Great effort on this page, gives me some ideas for my trip later in year | unaS Sat Jun 13, 2009 09:18 UTC
Great links on your home page. Found most of the good Eats tips on To Do :) Thanks. Am getting hungry already. Apopreciate the tip on local eating times too! | hunterV Tue Aug 5, 2008 19:44 UTC
Hello, Molly! Thanks for your useful and interesting tips! | Roadquill Fri Jun 13, 2008 00:54 UTC
Molly, Good info on Madrid, great page, Daniella's should also be under the restaurant tips. I will enjoy Madrid again in July, best regards, Karl |
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