MADRID Hot Spots

El Rincón

2011-02-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

By Ali Abramson

For those of you with an appreciation for candy, El Rincón should be right up there with the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) for places to see when visiting Madrid. El Rincón ("The Corner") is a self-serve candy store with multiple locations around Madrid. Whether you're just craving some old familiar sweets like gummy bears and chocolate-covered peanuts or you want to try some candy native to Spain like gummy ham hocks (pata de jamón) or cream-filled licorice (regaliz con nata... my personal favorite), this is the place to go. If you're more of a savory snacker, they also have all sorts of nuts, chips, and trail mixes that you wouldn't normally find in the States... all self-serve so you can pick-and-mix to your liking. Just want to pick up a fresh baguette and a cold drink to go? Yep, they've got that too.

El Rincón is the perfect stop to get you through a long day of sight-seeing. And consider it a cultural experience... as I doubt you'd find gummy ham-hocks anywhere outside of the Iberian peninsula.

Cien Montaditos

2010-08-12T23:36:00.000-07:00

By Chuche

If you're looking for a quick, cheap, delicious little bite to eat... Cien Montaditos is the way to go. Montaditos are mini-baguette sandwiches (about 4 inches long). And Cien Montaditos has over 100 varieties of these little sandwiches. Each of them vary between 1Euro>1.75 Euro, and worth every centimo.

They give you a menu to fill out at your table and you bring it up to the counter. I usually get about 4 montaditos to fill me up... but you can always order more. And they are accompanied by a hefty pile of potato chips. Yum!

My faves: Salmon & Filadelphia (cream cheese), Tortilla de Patatas & Queso Brie (spanish tortilla and brie cheese), Carne Mechada y Mojo Picón (some kind of slow-cooked beef with a spicy sauce). I guess this is considered fast food in Spain, but you don't walk away from there feeling like you do after a Big Mac.

They've even started to have healthier options, and offer pan integral (whole wheat bread) with all sandwiches. There are multiple locations throughout Madrid and the good thing is they are open all day long, in case you're like most tourists looking for someplace to eat outside of the normal Spanish meal times. Enjoy!

Statue of Felipe III, Giambologna and Pietro Tacca (Plaza Mayor)

2010-06-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

This monument to king Philip III of Spain (1578–1621) is at the Plaza Mayor in Centro district in Madrid. This bronze equestrian statue was started by Giambologna (1529–1608) and finished in 1616 by Pietro Tacca (1577–1640).

Photo I Wikipedia

Plaza de España

2009-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Don´t try to find any similarities with Piazza di Spagna in Rome. This one is a different plaza. It´s flanked to the east by Edificio de España (1953; 117m -384 ft) and to the north by Torre de Madrid (Madrid Tower; 142m -466 ft), two big and tall buildings but not very charming.

In the centre of the square you can find one of the favourite tourist spots: the statue of Cervantes (1927); at his feet, his two most inmortal characters: don Quixote and Sancho. Getting taken a picture there is mandatory!

And now some History: It was one of the locations where the French firing squads execute the madrileño rebels after the May the 2nd uprising in 1808. Francisco de Goya painted that scene in one of his masterpieces.

You can easily get there since Metro lines #3 and 10 have stops right in the plaza.

Foto I Wikipedia

Calle Serrano

2009-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

In Calle Serrano you will find one of the most prestigious fashion and accessories' designer brands in the world.

Loewe, the exclusive Spanish brand, offers its exclusive garments and accessories both for women, at number 26, and men, at number 34. Also, at the corner of Serrano and Ortega y Gasset, you will find Gucci.

Owning a pair of Manolos is a temptation that few women can resist and since Manolo Blahnik, a Spaniard himself, has his own store at number 58 of Calle Serrano singers, actresses, models, aristocrats and millionaires are the crowd of his store.

At Serrano 27, we can find the store of Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, the Madrid-born designer, whose fresh and colourful collections are well known in the whole world. Galicians companies Adolfo Domínguez, Roberto Verino and Caramelo also have outlets on Calle Serrano, at number 18, 33 and 19 respectively.

Calle Ortega y Gasset

2009-07-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

Known as La milla de oro (The Golden Mile) Ortega y Gasset street is the most exclusive shopping street in Madrid. Armani, Channel, Dior, Dolce & Gabana, Escada, Hermés, Hugo Boss... all the best design companies have their stores there.

If you don't have enough with them you always can go to Serrano street, perpendicular to Ortega y Gasset, or to other streets like Castelló, Goya, Velázquez, Jorge Juan or Príncipe de Vergara, all of them located in the Salamanca district and full themselves of designer stores.

The street is named after Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955).

Gay - LGTB Pride Parade in Madrid

2009-03-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Madrid Gay Pride (Orgullo Gay) is an international gig with similar parades taking places in cities across Europe (Paris, Berlin, etc.) on the same day.

The event kicks off with an inaugural festival in Chueca (a city district were most of the gay shops, cafes and bars and some smaller clubs are located), followed by a round of discussions, debates and other events in the week which leads up to the parade and party. An awards ceremony bestows Pink Triangles upon those who have assisted in the advancement of gay rights, and Pink Bricks upon those who have hindered it.

Gay Madrid

Madrid is full of sights, museums and world-renowned art galleries either. Not surprisingly Madrid has become an insider tip for party guys from all over Europe.

You should know that very progressive laws of gay marriage and anti-discrimination were approved by Spain's government and parliament in 2005.

Madrid 2016: dreaming the Olympics

2009-03-28T00:53:00.000-07:00

Transportation telephone numbers in Madrid

2009-03-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

If you are calling from out of Spain remember to dial the country code: +34

AIRPORT

Barajas Airport (T1 Terminal)
91 305 86 56

TRAIN

Atocha Railway Station
91 563 02 02

Chamartín Railway Station
91 323 21 21

RENFE (Spanish National Railway)
91 563 02

BUS

Méndez Álvaro Bus Station
91 468 42 00

Continental Auto
91 533 04 00

Autocares Herrantz
91 543 36 45

Auto-Res
91 551 72 00

ALSA
91 468 42 00

Cocido madrileño (Madrilene stew)

2009-03-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

Cocido madrileño is a traditional chickpea-based stew from Madrid, although we can find cocidos in other parts of Spain. It´s prepared with vegetables, potatoes and meat and it´s quite popular during winter, but served year-long in restaurants.

The dish was probably created during the Middle Ages as an evolution of a Sephardic -Spanish Jewish- dish called adafaina. The importance of the Spanish Inquisition -during the 15th and 16th centuries- modified substantially the dish because people wanted to prove themselves as christians eating pork in their meals. As a result bacon, chorizo (pork sausage) or morcilla (blood sausage) were added to the dish.

The main ingredient is the chickpea -garbanzo- along with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and turnips. Usually bone pieces are added to enrich the stew. The final touch is the bola, a meatball-like mix of ground beef, bread crumbs, parsley and other spices, which, it is said, was created as a substitute of the eggs used in the adafaina.

Foto wikipedia.org

Atocha Train Station (Estación de Atocha)

2008-11-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

The ultimate project for Atocha Train Station was finished by architect Alberto de Palacio Elissague (1856-1939), famous at that time for being the architect of the suspenssion bridge of Portugalete (in the Basque Country). Palacio was in charge of the design and decoration and the French engineer Henri de Saint-James designed the cover with a height of 48,76 ms. and 152 ms. long.

Atocha is one of the key points of Madrid transportation system. It has a Metro station and it´s also the train station for the commutater rail system and the high speed train that goes to Seville and Toledo.

Its main attraction is the Tropical Garden.

picture hieloazul.com

Museum of the Americas

2008-11-13T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Museum of the Americas (Museo de América) is a national museum that holds artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections from the American continent, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. Although there are more famous museums in Madrid this one, for sure, deserves a visit.

As an institution, The Museum of the Americas was founded in 1941 under general Franco, although the idea of creating a museum to hold the items carried to Spain by the conquistadores goes as back as Cardenal Cisneros. In 1962 it was definitively moved to its current venue, in the Moncloa neighborhood, that was built - architects: Luis Moya and Luis Martínez Feduchi - to hold the collection. The permanent exhibit is divided into five thematical areas.

"Groups, Tribes, Chiefdoms, and States," focuses on the social structure of the various peoples of the Americas. Another display outlines the various religions and gods associated with them. Also included is an entire exhibit dedicated to communication, highlighting written as well as nonverbal expressions of art.

The Colombian gold collection and some shrunken heads are very impressive.

Address

Avenida de los Reyes Catolicos, 6, Madrid, Spain
Tel: 91-549-2641

picture I wikipedia

Palacio de Gaviria

2008-11-11T00:35:00.000-08:00

Manuel Gaviria, a prominent Spanish banker in the 19th century, hired an Italian architect to create this Renaissance-style palace. Gaviria famous as one of the paramours of Queen Isabel II, outfitted his palace with the ornate jumble of neoclassical and baroque styles that later became known as Isabelino.

In 1993 the building was opened to the public. Ten high-ceilinged rooms function as richly decorated, multipurpose areas for guests.

The palace - known now as El Palacio Gaviria or Palacio de Gaviria - is very close to Joy Eslava and it is one of the hot spots of the night in Madrid. A really different place to party. The bad news is that you have to pay to get in although if you can meet any of the PR that offer discount tickets on the street you can get a good deal (the ticket includes a drink).

On Thursday night Palacio Gaviria celebrates an international night.

Web Site:

www.palaciogaviria.com

Address:

Arenal 9, Madrid

Open hours:

Monday to Friday from 9pm to 3am
Saturday and Sunday from 9pm to 5am.

Price:

Cover 8€-15€ ($10-$19), including 1st drink

River Manzanares

2008-10-28T04:59:00.000-07:00

The river Manzanares has its source in the Sierra de Guadarrama (a mountain range North of the city) where it´s sorrounded by the natural reserve of Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares.

The Manzanares then flows in a south-eastern direction and passes through the town of Manzanares el Real where it forms the Santillana reservoir, one of the most important water supplies for the capital city of Spain. After that the river enters the Monte del Pardo, a heritage-protected forest belonging to the city of Madrid where is placed the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the residence of King Juan Carlos I.

The river is canalised where it passes through the built-up areas of the city where it passes next to Atlético de Madrid's football stadium, the Vicente Calderón (known as well as the Manzanares Stadium). The river leaves the city at its southernmost tip and towards the river Jarama, into which it flows near the town of Arganda del Rey.

Francisco de Quevedo, on the main writers of the Spanish literature, made fun of the river in the 17th century. For him river Manzanares was an apprentice of a river.

picture wikipedia.org

Plaza de Colon

2008-08-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Originally called Plaza de Santiago the plaza was renamed Plaza de Colón in 1893 to honour Chistopher Columbus and the four hundred anniversary of the first trip to America, in 1492.

On the Paseo de la Castellana side there is a monument to Columbus built in 1885 (by Jerónimo Suñón). On Calle Serrano there is another monument, concrete macro-sculptures by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios. The concrete blocks are decorated with inscriptions about the Discovery of America.

The gardens in the plaza are known as the Jardines del Descubrimiento. At the base of the Columbus monument is a large fountain with a broad cascade of water. There are steps leading under the cascade and beneath the plaza that lead to the Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid (Madrid City Cultural Centre).

The Plaza is where the militar parade of the Spanish National Day (October the 12th) is held. Lately has become a place where the Spanish National football team supporters watch and celebrate their team.

photo pebesoft.com

The Royal Palace (El Palacio Real)

2008-08-06T00:33:00.000-07:00

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid or Palacio de Oriente) is the official residence of the King of Spain. However His Majesty King Juan Carlos I does not actually reside there but in the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. The last of the monarchs to use the building as a regular home was Alfonso XIII and his wife Victoria Eugenia. The Palacio Real is still used for state occasions.

The palace is the largest royal palace in Western Europe with over a combined area of over 135,000 m² and more than 2,800 rooms.

The site of the palace dates from a 10th-century fortress, called Mayrit or Magerit, constructed as an outpost by Mohammed I, Emir of Córdoba. After Madrid fell to Alfonso VI, king of Castile and Leon, in 1085, the fortress was only rarely used by the kings. In 1329, King Alfonso XI called the Cortes in Madrid for the first time.

Carlos I (Emperor Carlos V) and his son, Felipe II, turned the building into a permanent home for the Spanish royal family. The Antiguo Alcázar ("Old Castle") burned on Christmas Eve, 1734; King Felipe V ordered a new palace built on the same location. The entire complex was built with stone and brick vaulting, without any wood, so that no future fire could destroy it.

Construction spanned the years 1738 to 1755 and followed a Berniniesque design by Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in cooperation with Ventura Rodríguez, Francesco Sabatini, and Scirmento. The new palace was occupied by Carlos III in 1764. His successors, Carlos IV (responsible for the creation of the Hall of Mirrors) and Fernando VII, added many decorative details and furnishings, such as clocks, items of furniture and chandeliers.

The palace is richly decorated by artists such as Velázquez, Tiepolo, Mengs, Gasparini, Juan de Flandes, Caravaggio or Goya among others.

The Royal Armoury is kept in the palace with weapons dating back to the 13th century. It also keeps the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet, as well as collections of tapestry, porcelain, furniture, and other objets d'art of great historical importance.

Below the palace, to the west, are the gardens of the Campo del Moro. To the east is the Plaza de Oriente and the Teatro Real (the operahouse of Madrid). To the south is a vast square, the Plaza de la Armas, surrounded by narrow wings of the palace, and further the Catedral de la Almudena. To the north are the Jardines de Sabatini (Sabatini Gardens).

The palace is open to the public and it is closed when used for state functions.

Transportation: Ópera metro station.

picture wikipedia.org

Statue of Cascorro (Rastro)

2008-08-03T23:16:00.000-07:00

The statue was made of bronce by sculptor Aniceto Marinas (1866–1953) and inaugurated in 1902. It represents Eloy Gonzalo, a soldier from Madrid and hero of the Spanish-American War (Guerra de Cuba) in Cuba. In 1897 he went alone, with only a can of petrol, and heroically set fire to the houses of the Cuban community of Cascorro - swarms with people.

Tipping in Spain

2008-07-31T19:40:00.001-07:00

Tipping in bars and restaurants in Spain is not like tipping in the States, AT ALL. You just tip what you want to tip. No one is going to think you are cheap. No worries. Just enjoy the tapa.

Spaniards leave what ever's left over when the waiter gives the change back (just coins though). Bar tenders and waiters do not rely on tips for making a living. So you don´t have to expect the fake smile that you have to see a lot of times at home. Say no to the TGI Friday´s culture!

Remember: The American 20% tipping scale is only for the States...

Spain's Iberia, British Airways in merger talks

2008-07-31T01:31:00.000-07:00

Late last year British Airways backed away from a bid it had made with four private-equity firms for Iberia, Spain’s flag carrier, after Caja Madrid - a Spanish savings bank - bought a large defensive stake. On Tuesday July 29th, with the price of oil up 25% and BA and Iberia shares down 25% and 37% respectively, the two firms said they were in talks about an all-share merger. Both companies’ boards support the deal, as does Caja Madrid.

Iberia will bring it extra capacity at Madrid Barajas Airport, which has four runways, and fast-growing long-haul routes between Spain and Latin America.

As is customary in cross-border airline mergers, BA and Iberia will merge financially, but not operationally—at least in the immediate term.

Savings will come from combining back-office activities and from joint purchasing of aircraft, fuel and ground services. Joint purchasing of aircraft, potentially the biggest source of savings, may take some time.

Convent of the Royal Barefoot Nuns / Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

2008-07-24T00:50:00.001-07:00

The Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales was placed where was an old palace. The same one where Carlos I and Isabel de Portugal lived and where their daughter Juana was born in 1535.

When Juana became a widow, after the death of her husband the prince of Portugal, she founded, in 1557, the convent that became one of the richest in Europe.

Juana is buried there (she died in 1611), in a chapel with a sculpture by Pompeyo Leoni. In the convent lived too the sister of Juana, María the Empress-widow.

Sponsored link: Descalzas Reales/ Royal Barefoot: El Legado De La Toscana

Address: Plaza de las Descalzas Reales, s/n Madrid 28013

Spain

Tel: 34-914-548-800

Fax: 34-915-426-947

http://www.patrimonionacional.es/descreal/descreal...

info@patrimonionacional.es

The Shootings of May Third. / Los Fusilamientos del 3 de Mayo (Prado Museum)

2008-07-23T16:58:00.001-07:00

This picture by Francisco de Goya was painted by commission of king Fernando VII together with "The Charge of the Mamelukes" to perpetuate the Madrid people´s stand against the forces of Napoleon.

It was made from sketches drawn by Goya who was one of the witnesses of the shootings in Moncloa.

This is the first great picture which can be called revolutionary in every sense of the word in style, in subject and in intention; and it should be a model for the socialist and revolutionary painting of the present day. Unfortunately social indignation, like other abstract emotions, is not a natural generator of art; also Goya's combination of gifts has proved to be very rare. Almost all the painters who have treated such themes have been illustrators first and artists second. Instead of allowing their feelings about an event to form a corresponding pictorial symbol in their minds, they have tried to reconstruct events, as remembered by witnesses, according to pictorial possibilities. The result is an accumulation of formulas. But in The Third of May not a single stroke is done according to formula. At every point Goya's flash lit eye and his responsive hand have been at one with his indignation.

Text from LOOKING AT PICTURES.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum)

2008-07-23T09:52:00.001-07:00

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum was opened in 1992 after an agreement was reached between Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Spanish government. Spain purchased the private collection after a nine-and-a-half-year loan.

The collection contains over 800 paintings, sculptures, carvings and tapestries, ranging from primitive Flemish works to contemporary pieces. Highlights include works by Fra Angelico, Van Eyck, Dürer, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Sebastiano del Piombo, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Murillo, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Vittore Carpaccio.

Also important for the Museum's collection are Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by artists like Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Vincent Van Gogh, as well as twentieth century masterpieces like a Cubist work by Picasso or late works by Piet Mondrian and Edward Hopper.

Paseo del Prado 8

Tel: (91) 369 0151.

Website: www.museothyssen.org

Opening hours: Tues-Sun 10.00-19.00. Closed Mon.

photo wikipedia.org

Tropical Garden (Atocha Train Station)

2008-07-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

If we enter Atocha Train Station from Plaza de Carlos V will be welcome by a tropical garden. A garden designed to keep tropical species, plants and fauna. The garden was placed back in the 90´s when Spanish architect Rafael Moneo remodeled the whole station and surrounding city area.

The garden takes the place of the old atrium of the station. Its surface is 4,000m² and has more than 500 species and... its famous turtles.

photo wikipedia.org

Madrid´s skyline

2008-07-20T10:48:00.001-07:00

photo credits diazvillanueva.com

Equestrian portrait of Count-Duke de Olivares (Prado Museum)

2008-07-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Equestrian portrait of Count-Duke de Olivares is a painting by Spanish artist Diego Velázquez, and it was finished in 1634. It is housed in the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum), Madrid.

The subject of the picture is Gaspar Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, Prime Minister of Spain during the reign of Philip IV. The Count-Duke is portrayed riding a horse, an honour generally reserved for monarchs at the time. He wears a plumed headgear and a gilt cuirass, and holds a command baton.

Count-Duke de Olivares

He was born in Rome, where his father was the Spanish ambassador at the time. He inherited the title of count of Olivares, but was created Duke of San Lucar by King Philip IV.

During the life of King Philip III he was appointed to a post in the household of the heir apparent, Philip, by the interest of his maternal uncle Don Baltasar de Zúñiga, who was the head of the prince's establishment. Olivares made a point of acquiring the most complete influence over the young prince.

When Philip IV ascended the throne in 1621, at the age of sixteen, he became a valido — something more than a prime minister, the favourite and alter ego of the king.

For twenty-two years Olivares directed Spain's destiny. It was a period of constant war, and finally of disaster abroad and of rebellion at home. The Spaniards held the favourite responsible for the misfortunes of the country. The count-duke became, and for long remained, in the opinion of his countrymen, the accepted model of a grasping and incapable favourite, though this opinion changed over the centuries.

It would be unjust to blame Olivares alone for the decadence of Spain, which was due to internal causes of long standing. The gross errors of his policy — the renewal of the war with the Netherlands in 1621 (Eighty Years War), the persistence of Spain in taking part in the Thirty Years' War, the lesser wars undertaken in northern Italy, and the entire neglect of all effort to promote the unification of the different states forming the peninsular kingdom — were shared by him with the king, the Church and the commercial classes.

The fall of Olivares was immediately due to the revolts of Portugal and Catalonia in 1640. The king parted with him reluctantly, and only under the pressure of a strong court intrigue headed by Queen Isabel.

sources wikipedia and spiritus-temporis

Antonio Lopez places to gigantic statues in Atocha Station

2008-07-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Spanish sculptor Antonio López is very excited to see his 2,000 kilo bronze sculptures of two babies faces, ‘Día’ and ‘Noche’ placed in the Atocha railway station to welcome travellers of the high speed AVE train.

The three metre high pieces are the first ones the artist has installed in a public place. He says he hopes that passengers on the train will enjoy their welcome. In fact the baby is his grand-daughter, awake (día) and asleep (noche).

Madrid Gay Pride 2008

2008-06-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Gay/LGTB Parade 2008

The Gay/LGTB Parade 2008 in Madrid is running on July 5th.

From 28th June to 6th July, Madrid celebrates the "Pride Week".

From 10th June to 20th July, the "Festival Visible" (COGAM International LGTB Culture Festival) runs in Madrid and other surroundings cities.

The 2008 leit-motiv / subject is: "Por la visibilidad lésbica". Acknowledgement of lesbian women’s struggle will be highlighted.

Chueca

The party at night takes places in the best-known gay area in the city, Chueca. This neighbourhood (barrio) is downtown Madrid, just off Gran Vía. You can get there easily by Metro (Line 5, Chueca Metro station).

Don´t expect to find just gay people there. Those nights a lot of straight people party in Chueca with the gay community.

Hundreds of gay-oriented businesses, including bars, coffee-houses, restaurants, design shops, clubs, and clothe shops are available. Chueca has found a new lease of life in recent years, with the gay population investing money in local business and property.

more information orgullo.cogam.es

Marc Antoine - Madrid (Smooth Jazz)

2008-06-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

Reina Sofia Museum

2008-06-25T02:22:00.000-07:00

Reina Sofia Museum (named after Queen Sofia of Spain) holds Spain's most prized modern art (second half of the 19th century - 21st century)

The top floors are accessible by exterior windowed elevators. The building it's characterized by wide open spaces and high ceilings centered around a spacious patio. A striking red addition designed by French architect Jean Nouvel was completed in 2005 and holds an auditorium, library, bookstore, restaurant, and room for temporary exhibits.

On the 2nd floor it is where the Spanish vanguard of the 20th century is concentrated. Cubism and surrealism are widely represented by works like Picasso's "Guernica," Dalí's "El gran masturbador," Buñuel's "El perro andaluz" and Juan Gris's paintings.

The Reina Sofía also has fine collections of the works of Joan Miró, Julio González, Eduardo Chillida, Antoni Tàpies, Pablo Gargallo, Lucio Muñoz, Luis Gordillo, Jorge Oteiza, José Gutiérrez Solana and many other significant artists.

Abstract and pop art can be found on the 4th floor.

Info:

Address: c/ Santa Isabel, 52
Tel: (+34) 91 774 10 00

Metro stops: Atocha (line 1)
Bus lines: 6, 10, 14, 18,19, 26, 27, 32, 34, 36, 37, 41, 45, 46, 55, 57, 59, 68, 86, 119, circular

Open: 10am-9pm, Mon-Sat; 10am-2:30pm Sun
Closed: Tuesdays; December 24, 25 and 31; January 1 and 6; May 1; Sept 9; Nov 9

General admission: €6
Reduced admission: €3 with student/youth card and for educational/cultural groups
Free admission: 2:30pm-9pm Saturdays; 10am-2:30pm Sundays; May 28, October 12, December 6. Always free for under 18s, over 65s, retirees, unemployed persons, cultural and educational volunteers.

photo en.wikipedia.org

Madrid, Pereza

2008-06-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Café de Chinitas (flamenco show)

2008-06-16T19:00:00.001-07:00

Café de Chinitas is a restaurant and the most exclusive and popular flamenco show in Madrid. It´s placed in the centre of the city. Since it's opening, its stage has hosted lots of famous Spanish flamenco artists and has received important guests, such us His Majesty the King of Spain, Lady Diana, Bill Clinton, etc.

Cafe de Chinitas offers a different show every month. You can dine there before the show: Dinner and show from 70 euros, drink and show 32 euros.

Contact information

Address: Calle Torija, 7.
Phone number: +34 91 559 51 35
Email: chinitas@chinitas.com

Transportation

Underground stations: Santo Domingo.
Bus routes: 1, 2, 202, 44, 74, 147, 133, 25 and 39.

Hours

Open: Monday to Saturday: from 21,30 to 1,30 .
Closed: Sundays.

photo findenmadrid.com

Sobrino de Botin (restaurant)

2008-06-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Sobrino de Botin

is a restaurant established in 1725 and is located very close to Plaza Mayor. It was founded by a French cook called Jean Botín, his nephew took his place when Botín died and that´s why the name of the restaurant (The Nephew of Botin). It is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant currently in Madrid and the rest of the world.

They say that a young Francisco Goya worked there as a waiter while he was waiting to get a place at Madrid's Real Academia de las Artes. The Sobrino de Botin also gets a mention in Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises (1926): "We lunched upstairs at Botin's, it is one of the best restaurants in the world. We had roast young suckling pig and drunk rioja alta". Then again in Death in the Afternoon (1932) he writes, "I would rather dine on suckling pig at Botin's than sit and think of casualties my friends have suffered".

The Sobrino and its speciality of cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) are mentioned in the closing pages of Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises.

Its other signature dish is sopa de ajo (an egg, poached in chicken broth, and laced with sherry and garlic): a favourite pick-me-up with Madrileño revellers.

Contact Info:

http://www.botin.es
botin@restaurantebotin.com

Address: Cuchilleros, 17 Madrid 28005
Spain

Tel: 34 91 366 42 17

Fax: 34 913 668 494

photo madridpedia.com

Arde Madrid, Mikel Erentxun

2008-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

The "Magic Box" of Dominique Perrault

2008-06-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

“La Caja Mágica” (The Magic Box) is the new tennis complex that will hold the Madrid Masters Series in 2008. However it will be finished in 2009. The Magic Box is part of the buildings that the city of Madrid is building to be able to hold the Olympics in 2016.

How much...? 160 millon euros.

The "magic box" or in French the “bôite magique”, was named by its creator, Dominique Perrault. In fact it´s a huge "recipient" that has three tennis courts in its interior. An exterior cover makes it a unit. The main building will be sorrounded by a lake.

Its ceiling is mobile and has 103x73 ms. It will take just 15 minutes to open or close it.

Madrid supporting the Olympic dream!

photo madrid2016.es

Madrid Master Series

2008-06-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

It was in October of 2002, when for the first time in Spain, one of the largest tournaments of the ATP international circuit was celebrated. That year, André Agassi and the Jiri Novak met in the final. However, the match was not disputed because Novak was injured and could not play. Therefore, André Agassi was crowned as the champion of the first edition.

In 2003, the main attraction was the Spanish Juan Carlos Ferrero who had been crowned as Number 1 the previous tournament week. The Spanish reached the final where he faced the Chilean Nicolás Massú. Ferrero became the first Spanish player to win the championship.

From 2004, David Nalbandian and Marat Safín were faced in the final. Safín became the champion of the third edition of the Madrid tournament.

In 2005, Rafael Nadal faced Ivan Ljubicic in the final. The Spaniard began losing the two first sets. He never gave up during the entire match and he fought up to win the fifth set. He won the match in the tie-break.

In 2007, the tournament beat a new record of public. More than 136 400 people visited the site last year. Roger Federer and David Nalbandian played the final. Nabaldian won over the Swiss and started his “resurrection” as one of the better player in the circuit.

It will be the last time that the tournament will be held in Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo. From 2009 on, the new site will be the “Magic Box”.

Contact info

Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid Offices
Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo
28011 Madrid.
Telephone: 902-1-TENIS (902-1-83647)

Ticket Sales Office
entradas@tennis-masters-madrid.com

Marketing & TV Department
Cecilia Casla, Director.
prensa@tennis-masters-madrid.com

Commercial Department
Sales and Sponsorship
Borja Santana, Director
comercial@tennis-masters-madrid.com

Operations Department
Operations and Competition
Belen Camps, Director
operaciones@tennis-masters-madrid.com

Administrative and Financial Department
Gema Vela, Director
administracion@tennis-masters-madrid.com

Volunteers
voluntarios@tennis-masters-madrid.com

foto hablemosdetenis.com

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas

2008-06-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is the most famous bullring in Madrid and in the World.

It´s placed in the neighborhood (barrio) of La Guindalera, in the district of Salamanca. It was inaugurated on 1931. It has a seating capacity of 25,000. Its style is Mudéjar (Moorish) with pottery incrustations.

Bullfights are held every day during the San Isidro Fiesta, and every Sunday or holiday during the season. Bullfights start at 6 or 7pm and last for two-three hours. The price of the seats depends upon how close they are to the "arena" and their location: under the sun or in the shade (the latter being more expensive).

Transportation

Metro: Las Ventas station, lines 2 and 5.

photo chicuelina.spaces.live.com

Chocolate con Churros in Madrid

2008-06-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

Chocolate con churros is a popular breakfast (although you can have it at anytime) food in Madrid and Spain. Since the dough isn´t very sweet you should have them with "real" chocolate, thick Spanish hot chocolate. Although some people like to have their churros with café con leche. You can also order porras that are thicker than churros.

It´s common for Spaniards to have an order of hot chocolate and churros on their way home after a night out. In Madrid the classic Chocolatería San Ginés is a popular destination not only for its taste but also for its location and hours, because it´s open all night long.

Chocolatería San Ginés - Metro: Sol, Opera. Pasadizo San Ginés 5. Madrid

foto madridpedia.com

Pongamos que hablo de Madrid, Joaquín Sabina

2008-06-02T14:08:00.001-07:00

Madrid, Madrid - Miguel Bosé [singing in French and Spanish] (Videoclip)

2008-05-30T07:12:00.001-07:00

Lavapiés

2008-05-29T20:52:00.001-07:00

Lavapiés is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Madrid. It was the Jewish quarter of the city until 1492. Even the church of San Lorenzo was built on the former site of the synagogue.The name literally means "wash feet", and seems to refer to the ritual washing before entering the temple.

The ruins of Escuelas Pías, a religious school, were left to stand for many years after it was burned down by supporters of the Popular Front in 1936, only being demolished in 2002.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Lavapiés had acquired a reputation as a "vertical slum", with its tenement blocks either empty or occupied by older people paying low rents. As a result, it became the most important location for "okupación", or squatting, in Madrid. More recently, it has become the focal point for immigrant populations, particularly Chinese, Arabs and people from the Indian subcontinent. It has been estimated that around 50% of the population is of foreign origin.

Lavapies happens also to be the place where a significant number of people related with arts, musics and the like, are living, mainly because it´s a cheap place.

Lavapies is also where El Rastro (a huge flea market) takes place on Sundays.

photo wikipedia.org

Distances between Spanish cities

2008-05-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Are you planning are trip in Spain and need to know what´s the distance between, let´s say Madrid and Barcelona?

Check this out. There you can find it out.

Postal Service (Servicio de Correos)

2008-05-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Dealing with Correos (the Spanish postal service) is a traditional Spanish sport. One of the worse nightmares that you can suffer in Spain is having to go to Correos. Ask your family and friends to use UPS or FedEx if they need to send you anything.

If you have to go: Here you can find the nearest office to your address (in English).

You can reach the customer service on this phone number 902 197 197.

picture ucm.es

Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)

2008-05-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Prado museum (Museo del Prado) is Spain's largest and most famous art museum. Set on Paseo del Prado, the museum is a magnificent building from the 18th century and has recently been enlarged to show new pieces of its collection that until now couldn't been showed.

Visitors will find in it art works from all the great Spanish and European clasic artists. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of more than 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, 1,000 coins and medals, and almost 2,000 decorative objects and works of art.

Useful information:

Contacto info:

Tel.: 91 330 28 00
Fax.: 91 330 28 56

Email: museo.nacional@prado.mcu.es
Internet: http://museoprado.mcu.es/

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Sunday: 9.00 -19.00 h
24th, 31st December and 6th January: 9.00 - 14.00 h
Closed on Mondays, 1st January, Good Friday, 1st May and 25th December

Transportation:

Metro: Banco de España y Atocha stations
Buses: 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37 y 45
Nearest rail station: Atocha (walking distance)

Admission Price

Permanent Collection

Free entry:
Tuesday to Saturday 6 to 8 pm
Every Sunday 5 to 8 pm

Tickets in advance:
Individual visit (Up to 8 people): 9 €/ticket
Group visit (From 8 people on): 7.50 €/ticket
Under 6 years old: free admission

Entrance tickets sold directly at ticket office:
General entrance tickets: €6
Reduced price entry: €3 (proof required)

* Citizens of the EU who are members of large families.
* Students of non-EU countries under 25 years old.Holders of youth cards
* Groups linked to cultural or educational institutions, with 15 or more members previously authorised by the Director

Free entry (with proof):

* Children under 18 years old.
* Citizens of the EU over 65 years old.
* Pensioners in the EU (recipients only) aged between 60 and 65 years old.
* Persons on Permanent Disability Benefit (recipients only).
* Citizens of the EU who are officially unemployed.
* EU students under 25 years old.
* Large families: including one adult and at least three children, or two if
one of them is disabled.
* Staff of Public Museums of the Ministry of Culture.
* National and local tourist guides.
* Teachers.
* Journalists.
* Members of:
FAMP (Foundation of Friends of the Prado Museum)
APEME (Professional Association of Spanish Museologists)
ANABAD (National Association of Archivists, Librarians and Museologists)
AEM (Spanish Association of Museologists)
ICOM (International Council of Museums)

Free admission days:

* October 12 (Columbus Day)
* 19 November (Anniversary of the Museo Nacional del Prado)
* December 6 (Spanish National Holiday)
* May 2 (Official Holiday for the Region of Madrid)
* May 18 (International Museum Day)

Photo I Wikipedia

Plaza Mayor

2008-05-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Plaza Mayor de Madrid is located just few blocks away from Puerta del Sol. The Plaza Mayor is rectangular in shape, measuring 129 by 94 meters, and is surrounded by three-story residential buildings. 237 balconies face the Plaza. It has a total of nine entranceways. The Casa de la Panadería (behind the statue in the picture), serving municipal and cultural functions, dominates the Plaza Mayor.

King Felipe II of Spain asked Juan de Herrera (the famous architect that also built El Escorial), to devise a plan to remodel the busy and chaotic area of the old Plaza del Arrabal. However construction didn't start until 1617, during king Felipe III's reign.

The king asked Juan Gomez de Mora to continue with the project, and he finished the porticoes in 1619. Nevertheless, the Plaza Mayor as we know it today is the work of the architect Juan de Villanueva who was entrusted with its reconstruction in 1790 after a spate of big fires.

Giambologna's equestrian statue of Felipe III (the statue was finished by Pietro Tacca after Giambologna's death) dates to 1616, but it was not placed in the center of the square until 1848. Nowadays the square is a tourist attraction and you can enjoy its terraces or watch some of the comedians or musicians that every day performance there.

Puerta de Alcalá

2008-05-01T01:35:00.000-07:00

The Puerta de Alcalá ("Alcalá Gate") is of the monuments that makes us think of Madrid. It´s placed in the Plaza de la Independencia, just in front of the main gate of Parque del Retiro. The Puerta de Alcalá is a neo-classical monument and its name originates from the old path from Madrid to the nearby town of Alcalá de Henares.

Madrid still remained a somewhat drab villa in appearance in the late 19th century, it was still surrounded by medieval walls. Around 1774, king Charles III commissioned the Italian architect Francesco Sabatini to build a monumental gate in the city wall where the road to Aragón (Camino de Aragón) started, replacing the old and much smaller gate that was originally constructed in 1599 to welcome doña Margarita de Austria (wife of King Felipe III) to Madrid.

The new gate, constructed of granite and stone from the area of Madrid known as "Colmenar", was inaugurated in 1778.

Malasaña

2008-04-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Malasaña is an area of Madrid famous for its trendy alternative scene. Centred around Plaza Dos De Mayo, it is reminiscent of Camden Town in London, the East Village in New York City, or Barrio Alto in Lisbon, although the layout is quite different and the emphasis is less on shops and more on bars.

Malasaña neighborhood was the center of La Movida movement in late 1970s and 1980s in Madrid. It is vibrant scene full of lively bars and clubs overflowing with a lot of people. Its streets are currently being renovated, making it a much more attractive quarter (the streetworks are almost finished). It's one of the classic areas for partying the night away. The area's center is the Plaza del Dos de Mayo (in commemoration of a popular uprising on May 2, 1808, against the French invassion, it was brutally repressed by the French troops and it became the spark that started the Spanish Independence War).

The name Malasaña comes from the 15-year old girl Manuela Malasaña who once lived on the street San Andrés. She was executed by the French following the uprising in 1808. Today there is a street named in her honour very close to the roundabout Glorieta de Bilbao.

source wikipedia.org

Manu Chao said it: "me gusta Malasaña, me gustas tú" (I like Malasaña, I like you)

Madrid Barajas International Airport

2008-04-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Madrid Barajas International Airport (IATA: MAD, ICAO: LEMD) is the main international airport in Spain. Opened in 1928, the airport has grown to be one of the most important aviation centers of all Europe. It is also worth noting that Barajas is the name of the town in the immediate vicinity to the airport, with its own metro station on the same line serving Barajas airport.

Barajas serves as the gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and the World, particularly Latin America. In 2007, more than 52 million passengers used Barajas; it ranks as the world's 10th—and Europe's fourth—busiest airport and the biggest one by terminal area in the world. Barajas is the primary hub and maintenance base for Iberia Airlines. Consequently, Iberia is responsible for more than 60 percent of Barajas' traffic.

If you want to check your flight information you can visit Baraja's English website.

Customer service's phone: 902 404 704.
Email: clientesmad@aena.es.

Photo I mintramadrid.es

Civil War, Dalí (Museo Reina Sofía)

2008-04-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

Metro de Madrid (subway)

2008-04-28T01:08:00.000-07:00

picture juanmabravo.blogspot.com

The Metro de Madrid is the large subway system serving the city of Madrid and its suburbs. It is one of the largest metro systems in the world, though Madrid is approximately the twenty fifth most populous metropolitan area in the world. It is also one of many fast growing systems since every year they open new stations and improve the old ones.

If you want a cheap way to go to any place in Madrid from Madrid Barajas International Airport you can take there the line number 8.

You can find a map of the metro here.

Gran Via

2008-04-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

This is a clip from the movie Abre los Ojos, by Academy Award winner Alejandro Amenabar. The plot was used by Hollywood for a remake with Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Penelope cruz, the title was "Vanilla Sky".

Keep this images in your memory because it´s IMPOSSIBLE to see something like that in this street, even at night.

Templo de Debod

2008-03-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Templo de Debod is placed in middle of a beautiful park and is one of the rare work on ancient Egyptian architecture (4th-century-BC) outside Egypt and the only one of its kind in Spain. It was built in honour of the god Amon of Thebes in the Nubian desert. According to the legend the god Isis gave birth to Horus in this very temple.

In 1960, due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan and the consequent threat posed to several monuments and archeological sites, UNESCO made an international call to save this rich historical patrimony from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. As a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in saving the temples of Abu Simbel, the Egyptian state donated the Temple of Debod to Spain in 1968. The temple was sent block by block to Madrid in 1970.

The temple was rebuilt in one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid, very close to Plaza de España, the site of a former army barracks destroyed during the Civil War, and opened to the public in 1972.

Picture I Wikipedia

The new Madrid´s skyline

2008-03-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in more information about this skyline visit this link. The buildings have been placed in the old Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid.

Tapas

2008-03-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening. It´s time to decide where to go tonight and I only have a single thought: tapas. When you live abroad you have pros and cons. Among the last ones, the food.

I live in the States and I see "tapas" restaurants everywhere but flavours aren´t the same ones and the places and people... You just need to go to Madrid and just visit some of the "bares" around Plaza Mayor.

Palacio de Correos

2008-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

How many guiris have asked me "who lives in that building"? All of them were surprised hearing that it's the main post office (Correos) in Madrid. And soon it will become the seat of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid (the city town hall).

Palacio de Comunicaciones (also known as Palacio de Correos), located in Plaza de la Cibeles, was built in 1904-17 by Antonio Palacios. It combines elements of North American monumental style of that period along with Renaissance and Neo-Gothic touches

Beautiful, isn´t it?

Madrid´s joy

2008-01-29T14:48:00.000-08:00

Is there another place in the World where you can find so many people on the street? Enjoying the street...

photo notesfrommadrid.com

Thousands of kilometres away

2007-12-14T22:37:00.001-08:00

And missing walking on the streets of Madrid :(

Plaza de Cibeles

2007-07-27T03:15:00.000-07:00

"La Cibeles" is the name given to the marble fountain found in the Plaza de Cibeles on the Paseo de la Castellana. It is on a very busy road crossing. The statue was erected by Ventura Rodríguez in 1780. The lady is the Roman goddess of fertility, Cybele. She sits on a chariot pulled by lions. The lions' names are Hippomenes and Atalanta. They were turned into lions by the goddess because they ruined her temple. The lions were made by Robert Michel.

There are other very important buildings around Cibeles: The Palacio de Comunicaciones, Banco de España, Palacio de Buenavista and Palacio de Linares (also known as Casa de América).

Real Madrid players and supporters celebrate the championships in Cibeles. It's really crowded when that happens which is quite often.

Parque del Retiro

2007-07-24T03:32:00.000-07:00

artificial lake in El Retiro

The Retiro Park was created as a royal park; it belonged to the Real Sitio del Buen Retiro palace. The palace was built in 1632 by king Philip IV as a retreat for the Royal family. "Retiro" stands for retreat, hence the name of the park and palace. At the time, the park was well outside the city walls, but now Madrid has completely enclosed the Retiro park. The 130ha or 320acre large royal park opened to the public in 1868. It is partially laid out in a formal French style, while other parts are more natural.

The park is one of the meeting points for the madrileños and on the weekends a lot of foreigners meet there to enjoy some music played with drums. It´s also one of the favourite spots for jogging. If you are planning on meeting up with somebody to go to the park you might want to meet at Puerta de Alcalá.

photo I wikimedia.org

Fernando Alonso (Paseo de la Castellana)

2007-07-22T05:29:00.000-07:00

All the madrileños would like the opportunity of doing what the two times F1 champion, Fernando Alonso, did on Paseo de la Castellana, the main avenue en Madrid, at least once. Actually a lot of them drive their cars thinking that they are F1 drivers ;)

The madrileños are famous among the rest of the Spaniards because of their driving skills. Not many Spaniards think they are really good...

Are you a guiri?

2007-07-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

According to the RAE dictionary a guiri is a foreigner tourist.

The term is a friendly expression to mean a foreigner that doesn´t have a good command (or none) of the Spanish language. If you are blonde, pale and your skin burns easily under the sun no doubt: you are a guiri.

I would consider a "guiri": an English man, Americans, Germans, French (in general people from North Europe) but not Italians, Portuguese, Africans, Asians or Hispanics. I guess it depends on who´s talking. One thing is for sure: if you are Spanish, you can´t be a guiri.

Sometimes just looking at the feet of people is enough ;)

Felipe IV by Velázquez (Prado Museum)

2007-07-22T03:18:00.001-07:00

Prado Museum

Portrait of Felipe IV (1605-1665), on a dark background, with black clothes and white collar, as an element that extolles the face of the king. Velázquez painted an image of great proximity, showing the most human condition of the monarch. The portrait shows Velázquez´s ability to capturate the tiredness and melancholy of the king in his last years of life.

Felipe IV

Feeling himself not yet qualified to rule when he ascended to the throne at age 16, he allowed himself to be guided by the most capable men he could find. His favourite, Olivares, was a far more honest and capable man than his predecessor the Duke of Lerma. Philip, however, lacked the confidence to free himself from Olivares's influence once he did come of age.

By 1643, when disasters falling on all sides led to the dismissal of the all-powerful minister, Philip had largely lost the power to devote himself to hard work. After a brief struggle with the task of directing the administration of the most extensive and worst-organized multi-national state in Europe, he sank back into indolence and let other favourites govern.

He thought his duty was to support the House of Habsburg and the cause of the Roman Catholic Church against the Protestants, to assert his sovereignty over the Dutch, and to extend the dominions of his family.

He was idealised by his contemporaries as the model of Baroque kingship. Outwardly he maintained a bearing of rigid solemnity, and was seen to laugh only three times in the course of his entire public life. But, in private, his court was grossly corrupt. imself. On his death, a catafalque was built in Rome to commemorate his life.

Carlos III, Goya (Prado Museum)

2007-07-21T00:49:00.001-07:00

Prado Museum

Have you visited the Puerta de Alcalá? Well, that's only one of the gifts from king Carlos III (Charles III) to the people and city of Madrid. The madrileños seemed to like him and he is known as "el mejor alcalde de Madrid" (the best mayor of Madrid).

Albrecht Dürer, self-portrait (Prado Museum)

2007-07-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Prado Museum

Albrecht Dürer (May 21, 1471 – April 6, 1528)[1] was a German painter from Nuremberg, Germany. His still-famous engravings include Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513), Saint Jerome in his Study (1514) and Melencolia I (1514), which has been the subject of extensive analysis and interpretation.

His watercolours mark him as one of the first European landscape artists, while his ambitious woodcuts revolutionized the potential of that medium. Dürer's introduction of classical motifs into Northern art, through his knowledge of Italian artists and German humanists, have secured his reputation as one of the most important figures of the Northern Renaissance. This is reinforced by his theoretical treatise which involve principles of mathematics, perspective and ideal proportions.

His prints established his reputation across Europe when he was still in his twenties, and he has been conventionally regarded as the greatest artist of the Renaissance in Northern Europe ever since.

sorce wikipedia.org

The people of Madrid

2007-07-21T00:31:00.001-07:00

The people of Madrid (and Spain) are not afraid of going out and demonstrate against terrorism or anything else. The demostration on 3/12/2004 after the terrorist attack comitted by islamic integrists that killed 200 people was a sample of that.

Gatos / Cats

2007-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Did you know the madrileños are called "gatos" (cats)? Well, know you do ;)

Starbucks in Madrid

2007-07-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

If you arent´t ready to taste real ;) coffee and you would like to get some at Starbucks, you can look for one of the more than 40 stores that Madrid has.

In Spain, Starbuck is owned by the original company and VIPS, a Spanish chain, that ownes restaurants like VIPS, The Wok, TGI Friday´s, Ginos...

Plaza de Cibeles (Civil War)

2007-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

The picture shows the statue of Cibeles completly covered to protect it from the bullets during the Spanish Civil War.

Traditional squid sandwich

2007-07-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

The picture shows one of the typical "dishes" of Madrid cuisine. Obviously you can´t fish squid in Madrid, but the fish and the sea food in the capital city of Spain are quite fresh. It´s brought from the coast every night so madrileños can buy and enjoy fresh fish the very next morning.

Bocata de Calamares (squid sandwich) is a really cheap speciality. For 3 euros you can have one in many places around Plaza Mayor. You should have it with a beer -"caña"-.

ETA´s bomb in Madrid, december 30th 2006

2007-07-19T04:56:00.003-07:00

They kill to people in the Barajas International Airport. They were two Ecuatorians inmigrants that went to the airport to welcome their relatives coming to Spain to start a new life.

ETA = TERRORISM

The picture is from the parking tower of T4 (terminal number four). As you can see they completely destroyed the building.

Las Meninas, Velázquez (Prado Museum)

2007-07-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Las Meninas is a 1656 painting by Diego de Velázquez y Silva (1599–1660), in the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Las Meninas shows a large room in the Madrid Royal Palace (the old one that was destroyed by a fire) and presents several figures. Some figures look out of the canvas towards the viewer, while others interact among themselves. The young Infanta Margarita is surrounded by her entourage of maids of honour, chaperone, bodyguard, two dwarfs and a dog. Just behind them, Velázquez portrays himself working at a large canvas.

A mirror hangs in the background and reflects the upper bodies of king Felipe IV and the queen. The royal couple appear to be placed outside the picture space in a position similar to that of the viewer, although some scholars have speculated that their image is a reflection from the painting Velázquez is shown working on.

Las Meninas has long been recognised as one of the most important paintings in Western art history. The Baroque painter Luca Giordano said that it represents the "theology of painting", while in the 19th century Sir Thomas Lawrence called the work "the philosophy of art".

Between August and December 1957, Pablo Picasso painted a series of 58 interpretations of Las Meninas, and figures from it, which currently fill the Las Meninas room of the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, Spain.

source wikipedia.org

Guernica, Pablo Picasso (Reina Sofia Museum)

2007-07-19T04:50:00.000-07:00

Guernica is a painting by Pablo Picasso, depicting the Nazi bombing of Guernica, Spain, on April 26, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.

For over three hours, twentyfive of Germany's best-equipped bombers, accompanied by at least twenty more Messerschmitt and Fiat Fighters (Italy), dumped one hundred thousand pounds of high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the village, slowly and systematically pounding it to rubble. The attack killed between 250 and 1,600 people (the number of casualties is not clear), and many more were injured.

The Spanish Republican government commissioned Pablo Picasso to paint a large mural for the Spanish display at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris. The Guernica bombing inspired Picasso and within 15 days of the attack he began painting the mural.

On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour. This tour brought the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention. The mural came back to Spain after Franco´s death according with Picasso´s last will. After being displayed in el Casón del Buen Retiro for some years the painting was finally moved to Reina Sofia Museum.

Spain (and Madrid) will desappear

2007-07-18T03:06:00.000-07:00

Fernando Díaz Villanueva interviewed Mark Steyn for Libertad Digital. This is part of the interview:

... I´m going to give you an example. I live in New Hampshire, that it´s a state with a very small government, without any social programs. So if economics gets into a recession, it´s not a big problem, because the state won´t have to afford expensive pensions or social services. It´s just the opposite that happens in Europe, where it could happen a social collapse in that case.

What have the Europeans done to resolve this problem? They just have stopped having babies. In fact, in Spain, the fertility rate is of 1.2 for every woman, and this is not a good solution. If you don´t do anything in the future Spain will desappear because of the lack of Spaniards. That has happened before in other parts of Europe: Malmö is not Sweden anymore, certain parts of Amsterdam aren´t the Neatherlands anymore…

A view from my office

2007-07-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago my company rented a new office. It´s in the 12th floor of a building in the O´Donnell area and this is the picture I got this morning. The broadcasting tower on the right side is known as El Pirulí.

Madrid´s traffic lights

2007-07-18T01:41:00.001-07:00

You need to be in very good shape to cross Madrid´s crosswalks. It only takes 5 seconds to show the red light.

The Metro during the Civil War (Calle de Alcalá)

2007-07-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Sevilla Station, line 2.

Bus drivers in Madrid

2007-07-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

Bus drivers in Madrid aren´t known as the most friendly people ever. Are they in other countries?

Monty Python´s best sketches (Teatro Alfil)

2007-07-13T03:36:00.000-07:00

Teatro Alfil, Madrid
Author : Monty Python
Director : Santiago Sánchez y Joseph O´Curneen
Actors: Carles Castillo, Antonio de la Fuente, Fernando Gil, Richard Collins-Moore, Diego Molero y Sandro Cordero.
Production : Yllana y L´Om Imprebís
Language: Spanish

Where´s the treasure?

2007-07-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

I know all the foreigners that visit Madrid have the same question. One day will find it!

Constructions is kind of a sport for madrileños. Somehow we are used to them.

Lo que no soporto de Madrid

2007-07-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

Que en una de las capitales mundiales más limpias tengamos que aguantar la mierda en la acera de los perros de unos auténticos "cerdos". Y que conste que todavía no he pisado uno de esos regalitos.

Espectáculo en la Comisaría de Santa Engracia

2007-07-10T01:18:00.000-07:00

Sabía que tendría que madrugar, pero no tanto. He perdido-me han robado la cartera así que me tocaba hacerme un nuevo DNI. Aparecí en la comisaría de Santa Engracia a las ocho de la mañana y ví una cola larga, muy larga...

Total y resumiendo a las dos de la tarde había conseguido ser atendido.

Mientras tanto hace unos días me tocó abonar a Hacienda la bonita cifra de 900 euros. Desde luego que el dinero que recaudan no debe tener, precisamente, como destino la financiación de las oficinas del DNI.

¡Qué país!

Be careful with taxi drivers in Barajas Airport

2007-07-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Be careful with the cab drivers in Barajas Airport. Some of them will try to take advantage of the foreigners and charge them with a huge fee.

A friend of mine, professor at a California college came to Madrid with her students. She told me that some of her students were charged 170 y 200 euros for a trip from Barajas to Paseo del Prado. The usual fee is 18-20 euros for that trip.

photo javiercostas.com

Plaza de Ramales (Madrid de los Austrias)

2007-03-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Lately Plaza de Ramales has became quite famous. Diego de Velázquez y Silva, painter of king Felipe IV, was buried in the church of San Juan Bautista. The church was placed in this square and the recent construction of a public parking lot underneath it allowed to discover its ruins.

However the mortal remains of the painter and his wife weren´t discovered during the construction.

The location is very close to plaza de Oriente and the Royal Palace.

Plaza de la Villa (Madrid de los Austrias)

2007-03-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

reflejo, Gran Vía

2007-03-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

Cariátide, calle Arrieta (Ópera)

2007-03-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

Puerta del Sol

2007-03-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Puerta del Sol is one of the most well known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the centre (Km 0) of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year.

The Puerta del Sol was one of the gates in the city wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. Outside the wall, medieval suburbs began to grow. The name of the gate came from the rising sun which decorated the entry, since the gate was oriented to the east.

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the area was an important meeting place. As the goal for the couriers coming from abroad and other parts of Spain to the Post Office, it was visited by those eager for the latest news.

The Casa de Correos (Post Office) was built by French architect Maquet. The building was the headquarters of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Security during the Francisco Franco dictatorship. It is currently the seat of the Presidency of the Madrid Community.

Gorda de Botero (Aeropuerto de Barajas)

2007-03-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

I think I took this picture the first time I took my -then- future wife to Barajas International Airport :-)

Fernando Botero (born April 19, 1932 in Medellín, Antioquia) is a Colombian neo-figurative artist, self-titled "the most Colombian of Colombian artists" early on.

Botero tends to primarily focus on situational portraiture. His paintings and sculptures are, on first examination, noted for their exaggerated proportions and the corpulence of the human figures and animal figures.

Botero explains his use of obese figures and forms as such: "An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it."

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

2007-03-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

photo pedrousa

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the home of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. Work on the grounds started on October 27, 1944. Originally called Estadio Chamartín after Real Madrid's previous stadium, it was inaugurated in December 1947. It´s centrally situated on the main avenue that goes across Madrid, Avenida de la Castellana. It´s very easy to go to the stadium since there is a subway line that has a station right in fron of the stadium.

Real Madrid officially adopted the present name, "Estadio Santiago Bernabéu", on January 4, 1955 in honor of the club president Santiago Bernabéu. The stadium has been officially sanctioned by UEFA as Elite or 5 Star on its 60th year of its existence.

We vivedly recomend to take the Stadium tour. You can visit the pitch and the locker room where all the stars get ready for the games. And don´t miss the trophies room!

click on the picture to download the wallpaper or visit football-wallpapers.com

Palacio de Congresos de Madrid (Paseo de la Castellana)

2007-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

Palacio de Congresos de Madrid
Paseo de la Castellana, 99.
28046 Madrid
Spain

TRANSPORT

METRO

- "Santiago Bernabeu" Metro Station (line 10)

- "Nuevos Ministerios" Metro Station (line 8) 3 min. walking, 12 min. trip to T1, T2 &T3 of Barajas Airport.

BUSES

Lines 14-27-40-43-120-126-147-150

TRAIN

- Chamartín Train Station: 5 min. by bus.

- Atocha Train Station: 15 min. by bus.

ACOMMODATION

Palacio de Congresos de Madrid is very close to many hotels offering over 10,000 rooms.
4&5 Stars Hotels

Contact info:

Director: Octavio González Manteca

Palacio de Congresos de Madrid
Paseo de la Castellana, 99.
28046 Madrid
Spain

Telephone: + 34 91 337 81 00 / 01
Fax: + 34 91 597 10 94
General e-mail: castellana.palacio@tourspain.es

Bookings e-mail: reservaspalacio@tourspain.es

English website: http://www.pcm.tourspain.es/zIngles/index.htm

Torres Blancas (Avenida de América)

2007-03-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

The architect of this residential building was Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza. Torres Blancas is one of the best known modern buildings in Madrid and it´s quite expensive to buy an apartment there.

If you are interested in architecture and want to check it out you can easily go to there, just take the metro to Avenida de America station.

Calle de la Mina (Malasaña)

2007-03-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Calle de la Mina is one of the typical streets in Malasaña. Narrow and very "castiza".

Cine Ideal

2007-03-08T00:53:00.000-08:00

Spaniards aren´t used to see movies in their original version. That´s why our English sucks ;)All the movies on TV or in the theatres are usually dubbed. One of the advantages of a city like Madrid is that you can find a bunch of theatres were you can enjoy movies in English an the selection of movies in other languages is wide as well.

Perhaps the most known cinema for non dubbed movies is Cine Ideal. It´s located in the begining of Barrio de las Letras, five minutes from Puerta del Sol. The crowd is quite international and you might want to go early because is usually packed. It shows all the last blockbusters and independent films.You can check the showtimes of Cine Ideal here.

Enjoy the movie!

Café Comercial (Fuencarral)

2007-03-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Café Comercial is a nice and old (it was founded in 1887) coffee shop in Downtown Madrid. It´s the perfect place to meet people and maybe enjoy reading a book.

It was one of my favourites spots to meet my language-partners (Spanish 4 English).

Calle de Alcalá

2007-03-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

Calle de Alcalá is the longest street in Madrid. It goes through many of Madrid´s most known places, like Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Alcalá or Plaza de Cibeles. Another famous spot, Las Ventas, where the bullfights take place is on calle de Alcalá.

Also Calle de Alcalá is one of the oldest streets in Madrid. It was created in the XV century from an old path that back then went out of the western limit of the city, Puerta del Sol. That path went to Alcalá de Henares all the way to the old kingdom of Aragón. Its first name was Olivares, because of an olive grove that it crossed. Queen Isabel I la católica ordered to cut down the olive grove due to all the thieves that hide there.

The development of the city and the grow of the population (because of Madrid becoming the capital of Spain) made its sidewalks a favourite spot for the houses of the aristocracy and the convents.

Barrio de las Letras

2007-03-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

Plaza de Santa Ana

The adjective "castizo" describes something that is quintessentially "madrileño" and, as far as neighborhoods in Madrid go, few are more castizos than the Barrio de las Letras. Climbing the hill opposite to the Prado museum, this district of narrow streets, brick houses and elaborate ironwork balconies was named after Spain’s men of letters from the 17th century like Miguel de Cervantes, Pedro Calderón de la Barca or Lope de Vega. You can see plaques remembering their names and quotes of their master pieces under your feet.

In recent years, this warren of time-worn workshops and taverns has been invaded by a gold-crested wave of interior designers who are not only opening showrooms, but also styling sushi bars, upscale pizzerias and boutique hotels. Some people think that this makes the neighborhood loses its character but others might think that it's a chance of making Madrid look more "European". What do you think?

Plaza del Dos de Mayo (Malasaña)

2007-03-07T01:53:00.000-08:00

This popular plaza was the scene of historical events during the War of Independence against Napoleon´s troops, in 1808. The central arch was the entrance to the Monteleón barracks, where Madrid's defenders rose to arms.

Two captains, Daoiz and Velarde, who led the Spanish people and troops are commemorated here with statues. Other heroes of the same war, like Ruiz and Manuela Malasaña, have nearby streets named after them.

The square became famous in the 80´s as part of La Movida. Today, it's still full of lively bars, clubs and sidewalk cafés.