Madrid by night

Madrid by night: Madrid has amazing architecture (I will repeat it J ), gorgeous buildings, monuments take your breath away on a sunny day…  Yet you have to see them at night too... so keep in mind that not only pubs, bars, cervezerías are “must be visit places“ in the evening but also Gran Vía, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real,  Parque de Oeste, Plaza de España etc. One of the possibilities to have a look at these ‘pearls’ is to take a route in local bus called ‘Circular 1’ which goes round the centre. (It is not commercial bus, but normal local transport). You can get off, come closer to the building, take a picture and get in the bus again (in the next one off course, this one will not wait for you ;)

Travelling alone / Shoe shops

Travelling alone: It’s good to have a company to travel, yet if you by chance stay alone, do not panic. Travelling alone has many advantages (travelling with someone, lessJ ). You are a single tourist, you are more open – even unconsciously, you start to search a contact with other people, you become more sociable and brave (provided that you have been a bit before J ). In tourist spots it’s very easy to start a conversation, to find a company - by joining either a group or another individual explorer. Here is the simplest way: “Do you speak English? (positive answer) Can you take me a picture?” – “Yes, sure, and can you take me?”. And it flows.. You can spend a really nice afternoon with a totally new – strange person. (My case: a newly met girl from Mexico- Gloria. Best regards for you my friend J )

Shoe shops: I have noticed that Spanish people simply love shoes. Every third shop in the centre of Madrid is ‘zapatería’ – a shoe shop. I don’t know why. For me, this weather here allows people to wear 2 maybe 3 pairs of shoes. Why such variety then? I will find out.

Speaking about the shops, Spanish language has this funny suffix (the ending) “-ería” for the name of a given shop e.g. ‘pan’ (bread) – panadería (bakery), ‘cerveza’ (beer) – cervesería ( simply a bar), ‘libro’ (book) – librería (bookstore) etc. Some names might be really enjoyable.. especially those made up for commercial purposes such as: ‘hamburgería’ or ‘yogurería’ ;D What do they sell? J

 (I have a quiz question for Polish edition “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” – “What can you buy in Spain in ‘roparía’ ?”)

Nap (siesta;)

Nap:  I’ve already mentioned about those window shelters, that might be misleading in the morning  when you wake up and it’s dark - I mean at 9, as in the morning (which is 7-8) it is still dark without window shatters. However, this ‘window covering’ is really practical when you are having ‘siesta’ J - you have a nap at 3 p.m., you roll the shatter down and your afternoon becomes ’bed-time’. Then you wake up at 6 p.m. and you have no idea what time is it ;D

Metrobook / Shopping centre

Metrobook:  I’ve mentioned about the super developed ‘madridmetro’… really developed.. I haven’t seen so many people reading books in metro before (in London, Warsaw, Rome, Munich). Yes books, not newspapers. It seems Spanish people really love literature. Moreover, they promote it. Standing in the crowd in train, when you have watched all the faces already, have a look on the window wall.. there is a piece of writing…  a story... nice, you like it .. you want more, and it’s only one page! and at the very bottom you find the words: “Do not finish with the one page.. follow the story”. This is of course for Spanish reading people J but don’t you think it is a great way to promote book reading?  Apart from that, in metro there are  ‘Ventas de libros’ something like a coffee machine but with books J

Shopping centre: Doing a big shopping in Madrid, you will visit suburbs ;) Most shopping centres, really huge ones, with a variety of shops, are located outside the city, or I should say – in nearby towns J These shopping centres are typical, where you have got food chain discount such as Caffefur, Tesco, or here Alcampo and the rest are boutiques. Of course, in Madrid there are many single boutiques in the very centre (Zara, Bershka, Springfield etc.), including a wonderful building devoted to H&M on Calle Alcála. But if you want to visit a specific shop (let’s say Primark!) it’s situated in one of those remote places. Worth going anyway J

Buses / Shopping

Buses:  Madrid has a very good transport system. All the buses, alike in London, have the time table of this type: From 7 a.m.-21p.m. every 8-12 min and you get in the first door. (However, here, they are all blue;) What I found new and really helpful in buses is: a kid seat with belts! and a voice telling you not only proxima parada (next bus stop) but also, conectión with other lines here: "la parada común para los lineas: 14, 36 C1, 43”. Easy to find the way.

Shopping:  If you do the shopping and pay by card, make sure you’ve got your ID. All shopping assistants in all kinds of shops are checking the name of the card’s owner, which is pretty good. You cannot use your mum’s / dad’s card even ;) Cash only kid J

Shops / Park / Church

Shops:  Sunday is a holiday here. Therefore, the shops are closed! – yes all of them! Of course you can buy something  in Carrefur express but hurry up – open till 3 p.m.

Park: Madrid is called the cultural capital of Europe –Yes, it is called so, and it really is. Wherever you go, you will find piece of art; absolutely amazing architecture, live music in metro, shows in the central streets, Plazas. On Sundays, in the most beautiful, huge park in the centre- Park Retiro tens of artists are presenting their shows on the allays. You can see clowns, acrobats, musicians and even a theatre play. Whole families are coming to spend time here, so you do not feel as in a ‘tourist hot spot’ ;) but like in a family J

Church: Religious or not – DO read this passage, really interesting.

The Spanish are Catholics. So it was not difficult to find a proper church for me (it’s behind the corner, after all). (In UK, there are numbers of churches but to find yours... google)  My first impression after entering  Spanish church – “woooo how empty”… It means – modest. The buildings are made of red bricks and inside they are only painted white and they have only ‘basic furnishing’. Makes impression. Another thing is that (during evening mass) the man (but not the priest) plays.. surprise, surprise -  the guitar J 

And read this: At the end, you are pleased with the live music, the guitar sounds, then you go out from church and in front of you there is a big cervesería. Amen.

Flat (el piso)

Flat:  Spanish ‘pisos’ – flats do not have carpets.  So, do not think the flat lacks some furnishing ;) It would be simply too  warm in ‘casa’ J. (Btw. for me an empty floor quite strange - after 1,5 month-long stay in “carpet loving” UK ;)

What is more, I’ve heard you can rent a room without a window – cheaper, but..  It depends on your needs, if it’s only to store your things and yourself after the night-  it’s totally fine. Providing that you stay longer, do search ‘window-equipped’ rooms.