In love with Madrid (1st of 2 Parts)

Dear FREEMAN readers, welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain since 1561, and the center of my heart.

I was born in Madrid, and for me it is a pleasure to invite you to enjoy the charms of my favorite place in the world. Madrid is an energetic, naughty, funny, passionate, vibrant and glamorous city with an amazing history and an open door to Europe. To understand Madrid, we must go back to its past. In the beginning of the 8th century, most of the cities in Spain were walled to protect them from the invaders, that is why the city was closed at night and opened at dawn to greet the merchants and to be ready for commerce and the traders -- some of the gates are still there, and you will see them when you start your tour. The Madrileños (locals), specially the young men, didn´t like to be locked in and used to escape at night to see the girls who were living and studing outside the city, in the convents with the nuns until their marriage, as good and respectable women. That is why the Madrid citizens are called cats, because of their nocturnal adventures. It is said that, at night, many of those "Catmen" were seen climbing the walls. When the city   was closed, their imagination was opened to fun and freedom. This is our feline spirit that comes from the old times and is still alive in our blood, because the Madrid citizens are independent, seductive, elegant and cuddly. One of the doors that remain is the famous Puerta de Alcalá, a Madrid emblem. Madrid is now the largest city of Spain with no doors, welcoming all visitors!

A popular quote about Madrid is "De Madrid al Cielo" or "From Madrid to Heaven...", meaning that once you see Madrid, you have done the most important in your life. But before touching Madrid, you will have to arrive to Barajas Airport. You can take a taxi to your hotel but they will charge you a lot, around 50 € (3000 Pesos)! That is why, if you travel with not too many suitcases, you should take the metro. Some say that is the best European subway, and will only cost you 1 Euro extra for the airport. Then you can buy a 10-trip ticket, called Metrobus, that will make it easier to move around Madrid by bus or metro, without any extra cost or time wasted because of traffic.

Where to stay

  I know that as a tourist visa holder, you need to have the hotel reservations, so don´t waste time to book a good, safe and central accommodation. I do recommend Ayre Gran Hotel Colon. It is a hotel with wonderful stained glass and frescos by Manuel Ortega. Free Wi-Fi and a 4-star peaceful venue 400 meters from El Parque del Retiro (Madrid´s lungs – a beautiful, fairy tale and romantic park in the middle of the city). I´d been there and I can tell you that is just perfect, with 2 metro stations very close. They can also pick you up at the airport. The hotel is adjacent to the historic center of Madrid. A short walk through the park and you can reach the Golden Triangle of Art. Another of my favorite is Vincci Hoteles, specially the Centrum or the Capitol, those are boutique hotels, very close to the best museums.

MadridCard

   One of the best ways to visit all the Must See Places is by buying a MadridCard. You can choose for how many days and you have a free access to the most relevant museums, monuments and attractions of the city without waiting in line and much cheaper than paying each entrance fee. It also includes a bus tour and a tasting of Spanish tapas and wine to cheer your trip. Say SALUD! I personally prefer not following a group, but in this case, the tour is worth it. With the card, you will be able to move free all over, and taste the real Spanish art and culture. Don´t forget to use comfortable shoes. I'm sure you´ll also know how to combine elegance, sophistication and comfort to be a good Madrileño or Madrileña. Because there is nothing worse than being in a wonderful place but having aching feet!

Feeding the soul

  The main dishes in this cultural menu are (The Golden Triangle of Art) the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Modernist. These are super mandatory MUST SEE PLACES and I am sure you will enjoy them. Take at least from 4 to 5 hours per museum.

The Prado Museum is one of the most important art galleries of the world and the most visited. 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, and unquestionably the best single collection of Spanish Art. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculptures, it also contains important collections of other types of works. A new, recently opened wing enlarged the display area by about 400 paintings, and it is currently used mainly for temporary expositions. The large numbers of works by Velázquez, Francisco de Goya (the artist more extensively represented in the collection), Titian, Rubens and Bosch are among the highlights of the collection. If you have time, the best way to see it is in two days. Those paintings will show you Spanish history, traditions and lifestyle. In the old times, when there were no photos, internet or global comunications, those wonderful artists were the reporters of history. I am really in love with the Prado Museum, specially the works of Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights, or Las Meninas (Velázquez) or the whole Goya halls and his dark side at the end of his life. This trip will feed you soul and mind. Let me give you a tip: sometimes, there are retired art teachers that walk around the museums, and they will love to explain to you each area, because it is not the same just to look, but to feel and understand. So after a whole morning in the museum is lunch time, but maybe you will be a little hungry because in Spain we usually eat at 2 or 3 pm (so bring a snack in your pocket to acclimatize the stomach). In that area, you can walk and relax and maybe after visiting the Prado you can go to the Royal Botanical Garden. It is right beside the museum, created by King Ferdinand VI in 1755. (More next Sunday)