Somewhat surprisingly, I felt at home in Madrid immediately. Maybe that’s because I live in a Spanish-dominated area like Miami or maybe it’s because I have a moderate grasp of the language. I’m sure both played a role.But I largely suspect that it’s because Madrid is just a welcoming place. And this isn’t because it’s a little insecure because it may be less visited than it’s European bretheren like Rome or Paris. Believe me Madrid isn’t trying to kiss your ass because it thinks it’s some second-rate destination dying for you to show up with your dollars. To the contrary, Madrid and it’s 3.5 million people are quite confident in who they are. This confidence results in a genial nature that manifests itself into the easy-going approach Spaniards, and Mardilenos in particular, take to life. It makes you feel at ease at once. It’s greeting in English would be: "Why don't we get a drink and a bite to eat?"
Consequently, Madrid, as trite as this may sound, is more about "Being than Seeing." That is, it’s more about being there and enjoying the people and atmosphere versus seeing famous sights. There are plenty of great things to see, but those things are what you do while you’re enjoying the city.
I spent the majority of my time in the area that is anchored by Puerto del Sol (image in Upper LH corner - click to enlarge). Although it’s not a Plaza, it has a Plaza feel to it with it’s fountain and large statue. It’s really a dual purpose spot serving as the hub for the various and crooked spokes that are the streets and pathways of this modern and Medieval city; while it also acts as the city’s social crossroads where Madrilenos of all stations descend, gather and diseminate in varying levels throughout the day and night. So even though this is the most touristy part of town, the high concentration of locals and their easy going nature assured I never felt like a tourist.
A short walk from Puerto del Sol in any direction and you’ll hit Madrid's most famous sights. Ten minutes to the West and you’ll find Plaza Mayor and Palacio Real (Royal Palace). Twenty minutes to the East and you’ll pass The Prado Museum and end up of the doorstep of El Parque del Retiro. But to live like a Madrileno, on your way to these places be sure to make a short stop at a bar along the way for some sangria and Spanish ham. And on your way back, hit up a bakery for a Cafe con Leche and a pastry too. In Madrid, it's not about the destination, it's about enjoying the treats as you go.
I posted some pictures below of my recent trip to Madrid. The captions are limited or non-existent for now, but they'll give you some sense of the things I saw. This is the first of a couple of blog entries for Madrid. I'm going to try to get everything done by the end of next week.
