There is no doubt that this is a beautiful city and the 'Madridians' know it. October is particularly balmy this year and the folks of Madrid are out in force at the parks, pavement cafes and plazas enjoying life so I am left wandering what is this economic crisis that the Uk and Germany seem to be in such a tizz about? 'Cos the Spanish don't appear to be tizzing at all. With small to medium sized pooch in tow, the spanish are shopping, eating out, indulging in their regular desayuno cerveza and putting the world to rights on benches in streets and parks throughout the city.
Almost every cafe, bar and restaurant offers a menu del dia at a reasonable 8 to 12 euros per pax (that's 3 courses, a drink and bread); the dishes for selection sound apetising and are tasty and substantial to boot. Ofcourse, menus are written in spansih and translating item by item with the trusty phrasebook can leave you more confused than clear - I am still bemused by what I translated as 'jumping, jewish beans'?! Most offer a cerveza but some even offer wine into the price - brilliant! And after that gargantuam meal you can work it off at one of the various parks that all have 'work out' areas fitted for public use - such as the pedal machine at the end of the park benches, or the bars for arm exercises; or simply join the seeming thousands on wheels - roller skating, skateboarding, cycling - during the paseo in the late afternoon/early evenings.
Madrid,for all its modernisation and efficiency has not lost its historical identity. Everything works but nothing feels rushed or bothered. The Metro is clean, reliable, safe, extensive and ... attractive. The public transport system above ground is efficient and innovatively includes what I call 'diddy' buses to cater for the smaller roads that criss cross the larger avenues. Genius.
Then, ofcourse, there are all the palaces, galleries, plazas, museums and Real Madrid's ground that initially attract people here in the first place. All easily accessible by public transport or on shank's pony if the weather's ok and you fancy soaking up the atmosphere as you go; either pay individual entries if you are not planning to go into many or get the Madrid Card which gives free or reduced prices on almost all places of interest and the tourist bus!
