Advice and suggestions from IES students as they finish their semester in Madrid. From what to bring and what to expect to which attractions and restaurants you should definitely go to if you’re in Madrid for the semester.
Here’s a really great Interactive Map of Madrid.
It has all the major attractions in the city, including these places mentioned in the video:
- Parque del Retiro - Madrid‘s “Central Park“
- Puerta del Sol - Center of Madrid
- Plaza Mayor - Center of Madrid
Mesones - Hundreds-of-years-old Spanish Restaurants
Here’s a guide from Frommers to one of the more popular ones, Mesón de la Guitarra.
El Tigre - Tapas bar
Some reviews of the bar from Virtual Tourist.
Chapandaz - “Cave Bar“
Here’s the website.
San Ginés- Chorros con chocolate
Here’s a guide from Virtual Tourist
El Kapital - Famous Night Club
Location
Malasaña - Popular Neighborhood
A good place to meet Spaniards
Here’s a guide to Malasaña from Softguide Madrid
Fútbol
Atlético is the less famous team in Madrid, but the games are really fun because they’re not too touristy and often times are cheaper. Real Madrid is the big team here, the games are pretty intense and the stadium is huge.
TO BUY TICKETS: You can get them online, but it’s usually cheaper to go to the stadium a day or two before the game to buy tickets. The seats aren’t great usually, but the price is right if you’re on a budget, and you still get the experience.
Madrid Metro Website:
http://www.metromadrid.es/
The election last month was one of the most monumental events in the history of the United States, and we at IES Madrid had the unique opportunity to experience it from abroad. We figured out how to keep up with the news, how Spaniards feel about American politics, and how to watch the election from 3,500 miles away. This video gives viewers a feel for what it was like to be in Madrid leading up to and during the election.
A description of what types of food they eat in Spain and when they eat. Some IES students explain some typical spanish dishes and tell us which ones are their favorites and their least favorites.
Here is what I eat for breakfast everyday:
And here’s one of my favorite meals in my homestay:
I left Honolulu, Hawaii on September 2nd at 9pm. 3 flights and 24 hours later I landed in Madrid. I flew from Honolulu to Los Angeles to Philadelphia to Madrid. There were about ten IES kids on the flight from Philadelphia to Madrid, so we all hung out while we were waiting at the gate. The trip was alright, there were no major problems like missing a flight or loosing baggage, so I was thankful for that.
I of course had my video camera with me and I have created a one minute video of the trip. Enjoy!
My flight leaves in 4 hours and 27 minutes. I fly from Honolulu to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Philadelphia, and then Philadelphia to Madrid. I will be in Spain in about 28 hours. My suitcase is packed, all 52 pounds of it (I’m hoping the sky cap won’t notice the extra 2 pounds). I am rushing to finish everything so I can jump in the pool one more time before I leave.
I will be on planes and in airports for the next 26 hours or so. I have a coloring book, a ball of yarn and a crocheting needle, a computer, an ipod and some dramamine (NOT the non-drowsy formula). I’m also bringing an ukulele that I may or may not play on my layovers.
I downloaded a fantastic application onto my ipod last night. It’s a spanish-english dictionary with a conjugator. I think it will come in handy. As I’ve gotten closer and closer to leaving, I’ve begun to realize how much easier technology is making my life. I will be able to talk to friends and relatives back home on my computer for free. I will be able to carry around a dictionary, some photos of home to share with people, my music, and some videos on my ipod. And I will be able to make short videos while I’m in Spain that anybody will be able to see on this blog. Hopefully I will have some up soon.
Until then,
Aloha and Adios
