Walking Madrid is the most accurate title of any tourism guide I have seen and has to be the most appropriate title for any summary that I have written. Two things to remember, then for the rest of this article, assume that I am either walking or speaking some form of Spanish. First, before you consider traveling to Spain, consider investing in a really, really, good pair of walking shoes, not the kind that will look cute with your outfit, the kind that will provide maximum support for your arches, shock absorption and ankle support.  Got it, a GOOD walking shoe. Next, Habla Espanol? If not, learn some, and I don't mean that tenth grade Mexican version they taught us in school. Spain is truly proud and all Espana. It's one of the most multicultural places that I have traveled to and everyone speaks one language, Espanol. The Chinese cooking traditional Spanish dishes in the fast food chain, Cafe &Te, speak it, The Africans braiding hair in the red light district, speak it, and the Dominicans on the subway, speak it. If you want to eat, sleep, get transportation, or go to the Bano, you better learn to speak it too. There will be times when you will get a familiar reprieve, like running into other tourists from the states in the all familiar TGI Fridays. Never did got their names, from Georgia and Alabama, just hearing the brother's voice made us stop long enough to appreciate each other and share a roar of laughter. By the way, we tried Sangria everywhere we went (research purposes of course) and I must say that TGI Fridays on Gran Via had the best Sangria mix drink and Moitos out of this world! If you have to have another blast of the familiar while you are in Madrid, drop by the Hard Rock Cafe in Plaza del Colon. Great food and drinks, a little more expensive, but familiar music and the waiters speak English. 

To help us out while we were in the country, we had a great tour guide on most days. Sholanda is from the US, staying in spain in a college study program. Her Mama's money is well spent, as we were lucky to have her with us in more than one situation. "Muchas Gracias Senorita!" Shalonda  hails from FAMU, in Tallahassee, Florida.

Now more about the unfamiliar. Madrid, its espana, not the westernized idea of Spanish, the food is unexpected, but if you order the right dish, deliciously satisfying.  The people seem a little less oriented towards tourism, at least not catering to tourist. Madrid is a rare gem, where you will experience a multitude of races coexisting. I wasn't there long enough to observe any obvious racism, (just 9 days) I did notice that many cultures seemed to get along and were appreciated for what they brought to the environment. As Americans, we were not appreciated so much,(mostly due to propaganda and politics) but we were left alone to enjoy a great trip in an exciting and beautiful city. Street cleaning was a 24-hour job. Everywhere we went, City employees were out and about keeping the streets clean and constantly getting rid of the garbage. The city definitely gets an(A) for cleanliness. If I had a grading scale, I would also have to add Transportation to the list.  Four of us shared a two bedroom apartment near the Barajas Airport. The Aparthotel and Suites, offered a free shuttle to and from the airport, a secure apartment complex style setting, and a Cafeteria on the premises. The area was well connected by the bus system, only a Twenty-minute ride to the downtown Metro terminal for about 1.65Euros. The Metro then connected to any other part of the city that you wanted to travel to for just 1.00Euro.  Maps were very well laid out and the lines were color coded and numbered. Having little experience with a subway system, I found it quite easy to maneuver after a couple of days. I was however, traveling with NYC natives who picked up right away. BEWARE OF PICK POCKETS! Not just on the subway, but in any crowded situation. They also work in pairs.  They almost got me, although it would have just been practice for them, I didn't have money in my bag. I stepped onto the train, and the man in front of the door stood still, allowing me to move just inside, but not further into the train, while his partner closed in behind me. I decided to push through and I looked down to make sure I had a good grip on my bag, just in time to see the hand of the culprit in the rear under the flap of my bag. I quickly pushed through the crowd to an empty seat. While I was worried about the guy in front who would not move, the guy behind me was supposed to pick my pocket. After that, I started picking them out of the crowds and holding on to me bag. I can't hold a few bad apples against the whole country, the transportation system still gets a (B+).

Urban, cosmopolitan,modern, welcoming...just some of the adjectives that describe the city of Madrid. The capital of Spain, Madrid has always been closely linked to royalty. Kings and Queens chose the city as a place of rest, where they could enjoy the farmlands and countryside and the favorite pass time of hunting. Then, under the rule of Philip II it was designated the Permanent home of the Court, much to the detriment of Toledo, which had until then been the centre of political and social life.  Plan for a couple of day trips while in Madrid to visit the countryside town of Toledo or nearby Segovia. Secure a tour for about 40 to 62 euros  or use the public bus transportation system for exploration on your own, for about 12euros round trip.

The city's golden age arrived in the 18th century, thanks to Charles III, under his rule, streets, squares and avenues were renovated. Public lighting, the sewer system and pavements were all established. Paper money was created and Madrid's great monuments - The Puerta de Alcala, the Royal Palace, the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains, the Post Office, the Paseo del Prado and the Botanical Garden, were all completed. We visited many of the great sites, check out the photos on our website, www.worldvillagetravel.com. Click on Photo Gallery,  then go to the photo list for Madrid,Spain.

Today's Madrid is a massive city divided into 21 districts, with a population of more than 3 million inhabitants. By adding the population of the metropolitan area of Madrid, the total population is just over 6 million people, of whom 16.4% are foreigners. Madrid's fame as a cosmopolitan and welcoming city is well deserved, given that citizens from more than 180 different countries live there. The biggest groups are the Ecuadorians, Romanians and Bolivians, followed by the Colombians, Peruvians, Moroccans and Chinese.

Along with the flag and shield;Madrid also has its own symbol, the sculpture of El oso y el madrono (The Bear and Madrono Tree), found in Puerta del Sol. Created in 1967, by the artist Antonio Navarro Santafe, the figure represents the heraldic symbols of Madrid; the madrono tree, a bush with edible fruit present in the forest of the Madrid of the past and a bear, on two feet, who was incredibly an everyday "inhabitant" of the forests of our city. The squares, or plazas all serve as a meeting place in different areas of the city and were always a hub of activity. My favorite spot was Puerta del Sol. There is always something going on, and the shops and stores are just tremendous.  Bakeries, ice cream shops, and the grocers, all near the Metro exit. Try the bavarian cream filled pastries in the shop just at the opening to the Metro station, everyone in the square will be walking around with one, you can't miss it.  The food in Madrid is just as versatile as the people who live there.  The variety however, is no barrier to enjoying real Castilian cuisine. Meats and curried meats were my favorites. Traditional restaurants offered, ox tails and rice with heavy brown gravies, roast lamb, roast suckling pig as well as seafood. Ta pas deserve a chapter all by itself, at anytime of day  the small offerings of different delectables compliment any glass of wine, beer or the classic vermu' (vermouth).You can find a Ta pas Bar in every plaza all throughout the city. Be sure to visit The Museo de Jamon. They are located throughout the city too. No it's not a museum dedicated to ham, although the cured ham and the chorizo should be honored. Try the croissant with chorizo for just 1.00euro all day. Best ham sandwich I ever had. During the month of November, which is when we were visiting, try the chocolate con churros (thick hot chocolate or coffee with long thin doughnuts), a tasty breakfast treat for the cool weather.

Madrid is famous for being one of Europe's liveliest cities at night and this fame is well deserved. While restaurants and pubs throughout the capital's neighborhoods are open into the early hours of the morning, there are of course some classic spots for enjoying Madrid's nightlife. Every square has something different to offer. The Arguelles-Moncloa ares is the meeting place for university students, given its proximity to the Campus of the Universidad Complutense and halls of residence. Another area for young people is located around Alonso Martinez, where there are numerous pubs and tapas bars. Meanwhile, another one of the city's top spots for nightlife is Chueca and visitors searching for the gay and lesbian scene will be in their element here. The thirty-something crowd can be found in Huertas and Plaza de Santa Ana. In recent  years, La Latina and the surrounding areas has become one of the city's most fashionable areas with its tapas bars, terraces and restaurants. Those searching for something more luxurious should head for Paseo de la Castellana, home to posh restaurants and the most exclusive clubs.

Madrid is a city where life is lived outdoors, especially in summer, however, near the end of November, at the start of the Christmas season, we found no shortage of activities or street performers. By the end of November, hundreds of holiday lights decorate the streets of the city centre. Meanwhile, every plaza taking a different theme and different style of Christmas tree is decked for the holidays. For those who want to escape the crowds and cut down on some of the walking, take the Madrid Vision, the city tour bus. The one or two hour tours offer two routes, for historical Madrid or modern Madrid for just 17Euros.  I suggest you take the two-day pass for just 4Euros more and have the luxury to hop on and hop off  at any of  the stops around town. The bus runs every 20 minutes. You'll want to stop at the Prado National Museum, The Royal Palace, The Almudena Cathedral across from the palace and The Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Espana, just to name a view "not to miss" sites. Don't forget to explore the shops and stores on Gran Via, mainstreet Espana style.

Whether you are there to enjoy the modern city sites, take in a countryside "old world" day trip or learn the art of  Flamenco dancing and visiting Tapas bars, Madrid makes the grade for a captivating, cultural vacation. Pedestrians have the right of way all over town, but there will be plenty of places to stop and relax, each one of them evoking a new and exciting adventure to remember about your visit to Madrid, Spain.