Madrid is the Spanish Major: I know I’m biased, but it’s nice to see that the New York Times agrees with me!
I think Spain will always have a special place in my heart because it was there that I went on my first overseas trip. I was 16 and traveling with my high school classmates as a part of an exchange trip. Sure, there were chaperones but this wasn’t a family trip, we were out and about on our own.
When I returned in 2002, I was able to revisit some favorite spots and find some new ones, but it was overall a feeling of homecoming. This time I was ‘grown up’ – at 22 I’d chosen to return to Madrid to take the TEFL course. Sure, I could have taken it anywhere in the world including home but why do that when I could take it in one of my favourite cities?
When looking into flights for Prague, I checked prices from Madrid. It’s an option, though not an easy one as it’s not always fun to get from Barajas to the city and I’d have to go via London. When I flew from Prague to Madrid on easyJet in January 2003 I joked that I spent more time travelling from Stansted to Luton than I did from either Prague to London or London to Madrid.
I think what I love about Madrid is how comfortable I feel there. It was about 7 or 8 PM when I arrived from Prague in January 2003 and I had no qualms about not having a room reserved. I called around from the airport and found one easily enough.
I’m not a partier, but I love the city and the country. One day, I’d love the opportunity to live there. Spain and Australia would be a real toss up for me.
Links:
My Spain Page – from October/November 2002 and January 2003.
10.19.02 – two days spent exploring Madrid and re-discovering the city.
