We found them!

Before going to Madrid, Mariona Estruga had talked about Barquillos, which are a typical dessert we can eat on the streets of Madrid. When we were in front of the Palacio Real, in the street we saw a "barquillero". I think they are expensive, but maybe we will not return to Madrid, so we decided to buy them. In my opinion, they are junk, but we really enjoy them. We think, as we said, they are like the Catalan dessert that is eaten in Christmas holiday in Catalonia, Les Neules.

(Lluís Espallargas)

A little trip in Madrid

Yesterday, in the morning we arrive in Barcelona, we have some problems to arrive, but we arrive! In Madrid we passed a really good time, we love Madrid ( museums, parks, monuments and the city )and we like also the other cities that we visited: Alcalá de Henares, Segovia and Zaragoza. There were beautiful too!
In our time for prepared the project we went to " el museo del jamón" there, we lunch. We ate some delicious dishes like croquettes, ham, chesse, eggs with potatoes and ham and more delicious dishes. I recomened this place because you lunch delicious and it's very cheap. So, for this times, it's a really good place!
After we dinner, we went to Real Madrid stadium. There we visited the stands, the museum, the conference room and some more interesting places that, if you went to see a match you wo't see. There we took some photos and we make some videos too.
Other days, in our visits we make interviews to the people for known what they think about the traditions in Madrdid. When we have all the videos we upload that.
Now, I upload some of the photos of our trip in Madrid !(Paula Sobrino)

JUST SOME HOURS...

Just some hours to get on the bus and go to Madrid!! I'm so nervous and I wait to pass a good time! Well...Good night!! ( Mariona Estruga)

"JAMÓN"

A really delicious tradition in Madrid and in all Spain is "JAMÓN". In English we said ham and that is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of a pig or in other cases of an other animal.
One of the more exacting ham regulatory practices can be found in Spain, where ham is called jamón. Hams in Spain are not only classified according to preparation, but also the breed, the pre-slaughter diet and region of preparation are considered important. And we have two most importan types of ham. We have the "jamón serrano" that comes from the white pig and the "jamón ibérico" that comes from the comes from the black Iberian Pig, and is also classified depending on the amount of acorns they eat, which determines the ham quality.
In our tour to Madrid we would like to go to "El museo del jamón" because we loved this cut of meat and we have curiosity to this museum. In this museum apart to have one exposure of charcuterie they haved also one restaurant and one bar to test their delicious ham!
(Paula Sobrino)

Three routes.

I have been looking for some routes to do when we will be in Madrid. I have some doubts about what is better to visit, because we haven't enough time to visit all of them.

1st-The Madird's center.
In this way, we can visit:
PUERTA DEL SOL
This is the place where hundreds of people every year go to start the new year, on 31 of December.
We can go there by metro and it's free to visit.
Station: Sol

PLAZA MAYOR
It's a very important square for people who live in Madrid. It is surrounded by a lot of shops and bars.
We also can go there by metro at the Sol's station, and it is also free to visit.

PLAZA DE LA VILLA
It is next to Calle Mayor. We can go there by metro and it is free.
Station: Ópera.

AYUNTAMIENTO - CASA DE LA VILLA
It was built in 1644. It's free to visit the town hall. We can walking to there if we go before at Plaza de la Villa.

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA
It represents Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.
Station: Plaza de España.



2nd-North of Madrid
In this route, we can visit:

SANTIAGO BERNABÉU
Carlos Díaz has already talked about it before. If we want to visit it, we will have to pay 16 euros. Schedule: Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 19.00pm
Sunday - Public holiday: 10.30am - 18.30pm
Station: Santiago Bernabéu

PARQUE JUAN CARLOS I
Schedule: Sunday - Thursday: 7.00am - 24.00pm
Friday - Saturday: 7.00am - 23.00pm
Station:Campo de las Naciones.

3rd-Paseo del Prado y del Retiro
In this way, we can visit:
PARQUE DEL BUEN RETIRO
It is free to visit it. Schedules: 6.00am - 22.00pm
Station: Retiro, Príncipe de Vergara o Atocha.

PALACIO DE LAS COMUNICACIONES
In front of these building, there are La plaza Cibeles, where the Real Madrid fan's celebrates the victories. Both are free. Station: Banco de España

PLAZA DE NEPTUNO
This square is where the Atlético de Madrid fan's celebrates the victores,it is next to Cibeles.






These are some suggestions,we will not be able to visit all the places, so you choose a route or if you prefer, we can visit diferent places from diferent routes but the travel will be very long. You can also propose a different routes.


(Lluís Espallargas)

A chotis by Lola Flores

MADRID, MADRID........(Mariona Estruga)

MADRID PEOPLE!

Madrid has always been a city of immigrants. When Phillip II moved his court here in 1561, the citizens of Spain followed despite its insignificant status and faulty infrastructure. They have continued to do so since, filling a formerly unimportant city to the brims with an eclectic mix of regional and international cultures.

Ask anyone in Madrid and they'll tell you that it's hard to find true "madrileño," as most who were born here have at least one parent from elsewhere in Spain. Nevertheless, the fact that there are few autochthonous madrileños makes it that much easier for outsiders to feel at home. In short, you don't have to be from Madrid to be a "madrileño".

If you want to get a taste of authentic Madridian customs your best bet is to attend the Madrid festivals of San Isidro (May) or La Paloma (August).

The central characteristic that unites Madrid people is easy to identify: they love to socialize. You will find people on the streets at all hours of the night, every night of the week.

About 17% of Madrid's population (approx. 3 million total) are immigrants. The countries most highly represented are: Ecuador, Colombia, Perú, Romania, Bulgaria, Bolivia and Argentina. 

Are Madrid people more friendly than Barcelona people? What do you think before and after the visit to Madrid? Well, we'll see it. (Mariona Estruga)

MAJOR MADRID FESTIVALS!

Nochevieja, December 31

New York has Times Square, but Madrid's ball drops from the clock tower at Puerta del Sol, where thousands gather yearly and Spaniards elsewhere watch the raucous on TV. Instead of counting down from 10, the clock chimes 12 to represent good fortune for the 12 upcoming months of the year. Tradition obliges you to eat a grape at every toll - more of a challenge than you might imagine - and uncork your champagne at midnight. After that, it's impossible predict where the night will take you!

Dos de mayo, May 2

On May 2, 1808, the people of Madrid rose up against Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, to free themselves of French rule. Thus began the 6-year War of Independence and, along with it, a new concept of Spain delineated by the country's first constitution. Madrid celebrates this beloved uprising around the Plaza de 2 de mayo in Malasaña, an important battle site and, since then, a counterculture epicenter.

San Isidro, May 15

San Lorenzo, San Cayetano & La Paloma, August

August heat prompts most madrileños to escape the city, but those who stay commiserate merrily throughout the centre at outdoor fairs, bars and concerts. First come the neighbourhood festivals of San Cayetano in El Rastro neighbourhood and San Lorenzo in Lavapiés, where local residents set up concerts, colourful decorations, games and outdoor food & drink stands. La Paloma, on the other hand, celebrates the Virgen's Assumption during the week of August 15th with traditions similar to San Isidro.

 (Mariona Estruga)

ONE MONUMENT MORE FOR THE TOURISTS THAT VISIT MADRID

Probably, this club, situated in the spanish capital, is one of the best clubs in the world dedicated to football (possibly, it's the most popular sport, so it's the most practiced around the world). The white team has won a lot of titles, because it has been the best club of 20 century, so in his museum, the tourists can visit the trophy that commemorates the successes of that century. Besides, From my point of view, "los merengues", his nickname, have the best players, they have improved in their countries and they have signed to participate in the best football club, at least so far. But not only nowadays, in addition, Real Madrid has had the best football starts, so the pearls of this sport have pass for here.

Real madrid is the club with more history. Officially, the real name of this entity is Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, although is more known as Real Madrid. However, the team was founded as Madrid Foot Ball Club, in English. It was founded in 6th of March in 1902. Oddly enough, the team was founded by two catalan brothers, Joan Padrós Rubió and Carles Padrós Rubió. That's strange, but it's true, because there's rivalry between spanish and catalan. Real madrid plays their matches in Santiago Bernabeu, an important and a big stadium, above all, in Europe. Santiago Bernabeu has became in a monument more for the travellers that come to madrid. It has capacity for 85.454 viewers. Actually, the manager or the coach is the portuguese José Mourinho and the director is Florentino Pérez.

Carlos Díaz

NIGHTLIFE FLAMENCO IN MADRID

If you are spending some time in Madrid,the best idea for your night free time is going to any bar and enjoying flamenco. As you know flamenco is more tipical from Sevilla, but Madrid is the capital of flamenco. There are many bars in Madrid that offers shows of this traditional dancing.

El Rincón de Jerez, in the Salamanca area, offers a most authentic atmosphere. ‘The lights go down, candles are lit to set the mood and the audience are given a song sheet so that they can join in.'

After an aperitif and a few mid-afternoon beers, we head off to enjoy a delicious meal next to one of Madrid's most long-standing tablaos, or flamenco bars. Some of the most prestigious artists of the flamenco world will take to the stage while we enjoy a glass of wine and a traditional Spanish dish. (Alba Balletbó)

"Siesta"

The siesta probably began in Spain, and then spread to many Latin American countries. This, is a famous tradition throughout Spain, is the daily rest period, typically between 2 and 5 p.m., when Spaniards go home to eat, sleep and be with family. Many shops and public buildings close during this time to allow workers to enjoy a respite from the working day. In some locales, the break is a necessity, allowing workers to get out of the oppressive heat of the summer's sun and cool off before returning to work in the late afternoon. 

I think that's the same as "la becaina" that we say here, in Catalonia. Do you agree?

( Paula Sobrino )

( Paula Sobrino)

"Toros"

Madrid is surely the place, together with Andalucia, where the feeling and the traditions related to bulls is most vivid thanks also to the magnificent and biggest "plaza de toros" in Spain and in the world called Las Ventas. Get carried away by the atmosphere of 25.000 people who take part to this incredible performance.
Corrida de Toros is bullfighting the Spanish tradition that is thought to derive from Roman influences more than several 100 years ago. Some love it, some hate it, but it’s a tradition that is still going on and strong all over Spain. So, you can go there, look it and explain your opinion !
(Paula Sobrino)

Are you ready to learn the dancing?

In this video we can see the last San Isidro festival in Madrid on may 15th, there are chulapos and chulapas dancing "El  Chotis". As I say, for me it's like "Sardanes" and for you?

(Lluís Espallargas)

"SAN ISIDRO"

San Isidro is the patron saint of the peasants and workers from Madrid, it's a typical festival celebrated from may 8th to the 15th, where the chulapos and the chulapas are dressed with the typical costume of this festval.

Some people think that San Isidro was a poor peasant farmer. He and his wife Santa María de la Cabeza were very popular for their generosity and they always gave food to the poor.

San Isidro has been an official festival in Madrid since 1947, during this festival, in La Plaza de las Ventas men are dressed in trousers and cap of blanc and white checkered, black vest and white shirt; women are dressed with the typical costume and a white handkerchief with a carnation in the head.

They dance "El Chotis" and they also tasted the famous donuts of Santo with tissues.

(Lluís Espallargas)