MADRID

REAL MADRID!

Rupali Dean loved the atmosphere and the architecture of Spains capital city, not to mention its cutting-edge cuisine and flamenco dancing


GETTING around Madrid is actually that citys USP! Given that transportation is a major tourist concern, Madrid truly has it down pat. From the subway to the bus servives, every thing is geared to take you places as comfortably as possible.
The metro is not only one of the most efficient but the cheapest too. Any trip, no matter what the length, cost 1 euro and the trains were roomy, and mostly not crowded. The hop on, hop off bus was another boon (21 Euros for two days) and we got to travel two routes, one historical and one modern.
The buses stopped regularly and we could hop on, hop off as much as we liked. A bus came along every 10-15 minutes. The two routes inter-connected at certain points and the starting point wasn't very far from our hotel in Gran Via either!
I decided to take the historical route first and I promptly positioned myself upstairs to get the best possible view. I thought it was a pretty good idea to stay on the bus the first entire trip around, pick a spot I liked, and get off at that spot next time round. What an idea, sirji!
From the vantage point of the upper deck I could admire the wide streets such as the city's main thorough way - Gran Via - with its mix n match of architectural styles from the 1920s and 1930s, with even a New York-style skyscraper thrown in for good measure.
Located right in the very centre is the Puerta Del Sol, an elongated plaza that we came back to time and again as we criss-crossed the city. Little wonder then that it is from here that all road distances are measured in Spain! Its also therefore the perfect place to start exploring... Large roundabouts boasting dramatic gateways and monuments easily compete with Rome and Paris, and along boulevards like the Paseo de Recoletos, catching glimpses of palaces and museums such as the Museo Del Prado, the famous art gallery, I also realised how green Madrid is. At the Prado museum, all those teens sniggering at the flesh in Rubens Judgement of Paris made me wonder whether some people are right when they say, too many people spoil good museums . Even so, the Goyas, Van dycks , Velasquez and Titians are a must see. Once I had a feel of the city, I got down to some serious walking and exploring the narrow streets and plazas full of tapas bars and restaurants more so when hunger pangs urged me on! Madrid is high on the fashion quotient and now food is a fashion item as much as clothes or home interiors. Interestingly, fancy foodstuff share retail space with cutting edge fashion, accessories, and there are plenty of chilled out bar and cafes. Being foodies, we loved Madrid for its diverse gastronomy. Madrids most characteristic dish is the cocido Madrileno , a stew which consists of a combination of three plates: first a soup base, legumes and vegetables on the second, and meat as the third. For dinner, each evening we had Tapa , which consists of a small portion of some culinary speciality, served cold or hot, accompanied by a glass of wine, vermouth or a soft drink.
The city is very laid back and no matter what time we went into a tapas bar, it was busy and full of loads of locals. A good place to get into this groove is to spend an hour or two sitting in the 17th century Plaza Mayor, a large cobbled courtyard entered through archways and overlooked by balconied apartments and painted frescoes. Which bar to frequent totally depends on what time of the day you find yourself there and whose tables are basking in sunshine.
One of the nights we took the metro and dined at La Broche, a 2 Michelin star restaurant, where a Spanish cooker (thats what they call chefs in Spain!) Sergi Arola offered his interpretation of the revolutionary foam-and-jelly cuisine of his former boss, El Bullis Ferran Adria. After a heavenly dinner, we went back to the hotel to ask the concierge what else we could do to experience Madrid, and he suggested a flamenco restaurant nearby. We arrived at about 11:30pm and walked in to a full, very rustic dining room. After being told to wait a few minutes, we were seated at a table in the centre of the room, right in front of the performance area.
The next performance was at midnight and we ordered a required minimum drink Sangria, naturally ! We thoroughly enjoyed the two-hour show that ended at 2am! There was a lot of atmosphere a dim room, plaintive songs, and even a good conversation (in English) with a traveling English couple next to us. On the whole, a good deal!
Our walk back through the streets at 2am was wonderful, quiet, safe, and we admired architecture on our way to the hotel. The trip was a wee bit exhausting as we wanted to everything in just four days, but for first timers I think we did a good job. But I simply can't wait for the next time!