It was wonderful to finally hear a language that I know, although a few differences from, "Fiesta!!! Si!!" on a Mexican vacation.
Let's have a quick leccion en Espanol:
All you need to know are the following things
1. Bathroom - is not bano, it's "Aseos"
2. Ok, yes, yea, sure, whatever - all can be translated to "Vale"
I would highly recommend saying this if you are clueless ( likely will happen at one point in Espana... )
3. "Di me" - talk to me.... Instead of hola or Ciao, everyone will say this to you in Spain... Everyone. It's kind of like, " what can I do for ya?"
I loved Spain, the language is so beautiful to listen to and it's not unlikely to go a few days without hearing any English. The hotel we stayed at had no one working who spoke English. I got used to saying, "cafe con leche" en la mañana, y "tienes cambio para la machina con agua?" a las tres en la mañana... I really will miss talking in Spanish, I think that's one thing that I do wish I did in college... Continue with Spanish. I never really felt that I was any good at it, but combined with the culture, I think I would have really enjoyed studying there. Getting on the plane back to Ireland, I was translating in my head about switching seats and then I realized the stewardess was Irish... (and we've been over the fact that Gaelic goes right over my head), so i reluctantly talked in English. It seems like I have been away from Ireland for months and I am so excited to return.
A few things about Madrid
Unless you have friends there who you can party with, don't stay in Madrid for more than 1 full day ( for tourism purposes anyway). I mean there are probably loads of stuff you can do there... well there are actually according to my tourism book, but if you are like me and don't really want to look at every piece of art ever created, go se other cities, like Barcelona - definitely on my list now... ( trip 2- when i have money, date unknown...) You will want to make sure you see a few important things.
Primera (first)
Madrid was founded by the Moors and it is strategically placed in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula for good reason. Emir Mohammed chose it as a strategic position from which to defend Toledo. The city's name, Madrid has Arabic origin and it refers to the many waterways that exist underneath the ground and irrigate the area. Madrid was conquered from the Moors in 1085 at the hand of Alfonso IV and grew from there. The mountains that surround the city makes Madrid one of the sunniest cities in the world - 200 days of clear skies and sun on average every year. It's famous Velazquez sky was full of sunshine when we were there and I actually might consider myself a little tan!
What we saw:
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor was constructed by Philip III to increase the "prestige" of his reign. It is impressive, but someone is a little full of himself don't you think? The work was began in 1617 and was completed in only two years. The project was a total innovation for the city due to its rationalisy and approach to town planning, in the Baroque style which was to become a characteriestic of architecture during the regn of the House of Autria. The ground floor, "Casa de la Panaderia," was used as the city's bakery and today houses the Civil Registry. Opposite this is the "Casa de la Camiceria" and between the arches of the actual square, the premises of numberous atrisans and tradesmen. The Square contains 136 house and 437 balconies from which up to 50,000 people were able to enjoy the celebrations and other events that took place there. Bullfights... tourneys... the pclamations of kings... royal weddings... executions... everything important in Madrid took place here.
A top view for a better perspective than what my camera can take!
In the center of the plaza, there is an equestrian statue of Philip III - the first monarch ofthe House of Autria to be born in Madrid. This statue was moved to the square in 1847 after the wedding celebrations of Isabel II, when the last bull run (corrida) was held in the square.
Cathedral of the Almudena and the Palacio Real
Parque de Atenas
This area is breathtaking... beautiful parks and benches and gorgeous sights over the area surrounding Madrid. The Cathedral of the Almudena was built in the 19th Century by the Marquis of cubas and is in a Gothic style (meaning it was heavily influenced by medieval architeture. The cathedral was not actually finished until 1993, and was consecrated that same year by Pope John Paul II. Until then, the Basilica of San Isidra had been used as a Cathedral. The catehdral is dedicated to the Virgin of theAlmudena, patron saint of Madrid, and venerated in the city for many century. The statue of the Virgin was said to have been hidden in the stretch of city walls or in a nearby grain stor during the Moorish occupation. Once the city was reconquered by Alfonso VI in 1085, the statue of Mary was then known as the Almudena, which then became a popular name for girls in Madrid.
Opposite the Cathedral of the Almudena is the Palacio Real. Philip V wanted to create a Palace that immitated the Palace of Versailles and in the syle of the designs for the Louvre Place (France as well). Filippo Juvara from Italy was originally commissioned to tdo this, but he died shortly after creating the plans, so Giovanni Battista Sachetti, disciple of Juvara was commissioned instead to build the palace. The palace was built in Baroques style with a mixture of French and Italian infludences in its constructive and decorative elements. The plaace is today used for important social and roaly events. It still contains many of the original furniture!
Parque de Atenas
Where we stayed: Hotel Josefina right on Gran Via. It was a perfect location and was very clean for what I thought I might be getting myself into. It was central to everything that we wanted to see and is close to nightlife, which is helpful. Everyone also knows where Gran Via is so if you get completely lost ( very unlikely, because very thing is so well labeled and with a map, you'll be fine- unlike Venice...).
The only and really the only issue I had with the hotel was the fact that the lift was super sketchy... It's kind of one of those elevators you look at and say, "yea, I don't think so, I'll be taking the stairs." However, here is where the issue gets a little more exciting. Hotel Josefina is on the seventh floor of an incredibly old building and the stairs are a serious deal to tackle. So, when I was stuck in the elevator between the 3rd and 4th floor with a man who was determined to climb out, I had a thought- I ate a lot of pasta in Italy, and I also promised Dad I would come home on the 29th. Stairs or my life? Obviously stairs. I only took the elevator one more time and it was to get my huge suitcase down.
Speaking of my suitcase, we are fighting. One wheel does not work anymore. That was fun to pull down Gran Via, not. I have lucked out though, of the four flights that I have taken on this vacation, my suitcase has been over by 3 to 5 kilos. I have yet to pay an overage charge (50 euro). I'm not sure why I haven't had to pay, I just keep smiling and say I'm sorry or lo siento! Once I get back to the states, I will no longer be the interesting foreign girl anymore so I should probably locate my personality.
To view all of my pictures from Spain, click HERE.
