Streets and walking, Madrid

Favorite thing: We were hot and worn out and just needed something cool to help us out. We found a solution in a fountain! We were the only ones who thought of this idea. When we walked up to this fountain, two guys were just climbing out after a full-on swim! We just put our feet in ... and it sure felt good!

Favorite thing: There's only one thing I don't like about the Metro system - the fact that it's underground. I much prefer to travel above ground, to see the different neighborhoods flying past, to voyeuristically take the pulse of daily life of those who don't rise and fall to the beat of tourist footsteps. To go underground is to be denied this show, which is a shame.

On the other hand, I appreciate engineering marvels of all types and the metros and subways of big cities have to be put right up there with some of the greatest of all time. What a brilliant system, truly. So in short, use the Metro. It just makes sense.

If you arrive at the airport in Madrid, ask for directions to the Metro. The help desk will make it sound like it's a long walk, that's cause it kinda is. It's about a 10 minute walk through the terminal on the upper level. Don't worry, just follow the signs and you can't miss it.

And don't mess around with single tickets. Right when you arrive by a packet of 10, the savings make it worthwhile even if you somehow don't end up using them all, which you most likely will anyway.

Favorite thing: Normally I am very fond of old cathedrals, as I love the gothic ones or the baroque ones for instance.

But this one of the last century, destroyed and renovated a few times, got me interested because of its mix...

But this doors, this entrance doors, are incredible.

You can find some at the main entrance, and also the ones looking to the Palacio Real, and the drawings represent history of the Catholicism or history of Spain and its kings

Favorite thing: This paint is from Mingote, is in Calle Sal, just in direction to the Plaza Mayor.

Mingote comic paints had been in the newspapers with others as Summer, Forbes Chummy Chumez and more.

This one is very castizo lol

Favorite thing: This building in on the way from Puerta del sol to Plaza Mayor.

I love the paintings on the facades, make it very special. I founded quite a few buildings like this walking around the Austrias area.

Favorite thing: Madrid, I liked your Calle Mayor, it's one of the most elegant and gorgeus streets which I managed to see.... beautiful palaces, trendy shops and restaurants... it's like a bridge connecting two poles - hustling and bustling Puerto del Sol and majestic Royal Palace.

Favorite thing: And then Madrid took me to another place, more comfortable and friendly, the place where it could tell me about its life a bit... so I could see some of its buddies and listen to the music it likes to listen, smell the soon to be ready dinner and secretly giggle at a stupid comment of one of its guests... Hey, Madrid, it seems I've started to like you!

Favorite thing: This marvelous trompe-l'oeuil on the side of a building is near the Plaza de Jacinto Benavente in Old Madrid. Blink an eye and you might just walk right into the building! Another wonderful surprise waiting to be discovered.

Favorite thing: One of the beautiful treats in Madrid are the surprises in architectural details, tilework, mosaics, sculptures, etc. You pass a little hole in the wall and marvel at the intricacy and charm that has been so lovingly preserved all these years.

Take time to appreciate these details...

Favorite thing: Walk along Calle Mayor from Almudena to Puerta del Sol... You will be taken to ancient Madrid... And get into one of the typical bars and have a cup of red wine or a beer, with delicious "tapas"!

Camina por la Calle Mayor, desde la Almudena a la Puerta del Sol... Serás transportado al Madrid antiguo... Y entra en cualquiera de los típicos bares, toma una copa de vino tinto o una cerveza, con las deliciosas "tapas"!

Fondest memory: I arrived to Madrid a two weeks before Christmas... and the whole city was a party! Squares, monuments, avenues, streets, where specially enlightened for the holiday. I will never forget my first sight of Madrid by night.

Llegué a Madrid dos semanas antes de la Navidad... y toda la ciudad era una fiesta! Plazas, monumentos, avenidas, calles, estaban especialmente iluminadas para las Fiestas. Nunca olvidaré mi primera visión de Madrid por la noche.