Beh, quando le ferie arrivano, inaspettate ed apparentemente inutili, bisogna certo impreziosirle. Ecco perchè non ho avuto alcun dubbio e sono partito. Madrid la scelta, un po' per il mio amore for Spain, a little 'because I was able to take advantage of a promotion Vueling: London Heathrow-Madrid 57 euros a / r. From Bari to Rome I moved with the train ok , which lately is not so ok. 19 euros the first leg on Tuesday, 29 returning Sunday.
I called a board more or less in the center of Madrid, Malasaña area, where I pay a single room with bathroom 25 euros per night: Cartagenera hostal. Bookings can be made only by phone. The lady I spoke with did not understand Italian, I do not speak English and only responds in English, but the patient listens to my itagnolo . I need a bathroom with individual for three nights. He understood, or rather I understood that he understood and I'm happy, but a doubtful wavering on the thrilling book I will travel back to Madrid.
The journey is almost organized zingaguida the exhaust, I buy the lonely planet and I'm ready to go.
TUESDAY
The alarm rings at 3:30. Too bad that I However, I fell asleep on the couch watching TV and then that, the alarm, it sounds unnecessarily. Fortunately I have with me the phone on which I had already prepared the emergency alarm ten minutes later. Breakfast-shower-pee-poo-bag now strictly hand-documents-all-ready. My father
patient with me at the station. The train leaves on time and will arrive 10 minutes late, on time. Next to me is a guy who travels over the telephone: it is 5 am, with who the fuck are talking about: she is one, will be his girlfriend. Then finally closes, but called back, and not to her. In my fantasies are calling her lover, but it is not, is a friend, one who has to solve a problem of accounting: six to ten minutes. Boh. When I can finally stop talking and focus on my seat to think of bed. Do not you agree with me that the girl is in front of me listening to the headphones, but we do suffer around the notes, an old cd Pausini, perhaps the first, that of Mark. Lowers the volume when I can relax and just take the train to Rome. The plane leaves tomorrow. Today cazzeggiano and then I sleep for the night by my brother Danilo.
WEDNESDAY
Another cruel alarm. The plane leaves at 10.15 from FCO. I'll go and Termini. Start a regional there. But no: the first error. From time only Leonardo Express costs 11 euros, double the regional with a unique advantage that does not stop. Only now I realize that I should go and take it beyond the Tiburtina train to Fiumicino airport. But anyhow ... I take my postepay and do the business. In half an hour were at the airport, I get to the terminal B. Within minutes I had already spent the check-in.
the airport is a burning hot line for the control becomes very heavy. Someone this morning even avoided washing. Obviously I do not have with me the transparent bag for liquids and then take off the toothpaste out of the suitcase and the liquid for contact lenses, show them the control and reinsert them in the suitcase. Coffee, croissant and newspaper. We climb on board.
The plane leaves half an hour late. The complicated weather conditions make flying pretty funny. I read the Rolling Stone usually in English which is always on planes Vueling.
Landing without applause and Barajas Airport, T4. E 'lunch time, a recovery paninozzo from my luggage, my food and get down to the Metro stop. I'm looking airport. I use the vending machines for the subscription ten races. Cost 7.40 euros, 1 year validity. The machine does not accept the postepay and vabbù, but does not accept the banking and non vabbù. I have money, I use it. The kind of misses the point
info I have provided a map of Madrid, which is pretty useless because it will detect inaccurate, in other words the ways you have to invent. More or less I see no monuments to emerge from 'ste streets with no name. Map rejected. Profit instead of the subway line. I'll take line 8 to the last stop, from there cross the 10 until Tribunal and then to a one stop, the last: Gran Via. The Madrid Metro has 12 lines, all running from 06.00 to 01.30.
really finally emerge in Madrid, the day is spectacular (Always will). And the United Way is really great. around me more or less opulent palaces: Metropolis Building, Building of the phone which is my reference point. Even at home I learned the way to the board: easy. Arrive in 5 minutes: Calle de la Puebla. The board felt that more or less in the center seems to me quite in the center: I would say excellent. Shower, change and I'm out. I will devote the afternoon to visit a comprehensive walk, however, since Wednesday I have as a main objective Palacio Real because it comes free. I decide to take the Gran Via to Plaza de España, following a reverse route suggested by the Lonely. My odd gait and lanky locks before any gash to immortalize. Plaza de España is not like that of Rome, two photos of the statue of Cervantes and on. Point straight to the Royal Palace, three times wrong way, I find myself on the river and I understand that I have gone over. Not agree very wrong turn in Madrid, too many climbs and calves are affected. Rivage quiet unknown roads and useless when, a little 'suddenly, a little' I find myself in the ass before I'm huge and sfarzosissimo Palace. The apotheosis for my Nikon. Seven or eight shots, side, back against the sun, the wind, a kamasutra photo, because you can not pick him up well with a single click. Happy with my work I try to enter. Today is Wednesday, and citizens get in for free, except ceremonies. Indeed. Official ceremony. What bad luck! oh well I will return. I keep my vuelta and I see a couple of churches, including the cathedral and then, drop me in La Latina, where iglesia iglesia after I stop at a cafe for a break. Now I've decided: the center let me walk around today. Well, more or less, but I still want to camminnare and then resumes. I like the neighborhood where I am now, it's medieval, very much alive and then I look at him randomly, then climb back down, photographer, then I sit and watch that horrible map that they gave me at the airport, then resume, then massage your calves Then I realize that they are again in front of Palacio Real. I discover only now the square opposite the palace is the Plaza de Oriente, tasty. On the opposite side of the square compared to the huge building there are a number of elegant houses and bars not bad, a bit 'expensive though. I limit myself to the usual photos and riproseguo random. The first wind that caressed my cheeks now the slaps, then determines that the route anarchist must end here: I now organize and point straight at major street because I want to see the square. I decided to stop walking because my right is a pretty nice piazzettina. This is Plaza de la Villa. He finds himself opposite the town hall (Ayuntamiento), near Casa de Cisneros and the other side of Casa de los Lujanes a building more or less Gothic, the most oldest in Madrid. Continuing on the main road to the right there is always one of the entrances to the Plaza Major. Ah yes, that's great. It 's a square enclosed by these majestic palaces, one of which shows the facade painted completamnete, usually the center of the man on horseback, in the case of Philip III, who commissioned the construction of the square at the beginning of '600. All around a series of coffee with the inevitable outside tables. Here, where people stop to chat hours, until the beginning of 1800 we performed the terrible auto da fe ... I read that the square was also the site of bullfights, so always nice events! Again, these photos are wasted to misrepresent positions. My wandering extreme ends Puerta del Sol now at the heart of Spain can finally rest and think about eating, not before he had photographed symbol of the Statue of madrid oso y del Madroño, that is a bear leaning on a strawberry. what the fuck is a strawberry? Luck would have it there in front of us is a group of Italians and their guide, who explains. When translated the name of the statue and says "strawberry", all nod. But I just do not know him? I saw it looks like a cross between a cabbage and an oak. Melt my doubt only in Italy, and still in full moon nights I still wake up and smell the strawberry I think that the bear ...
Thursday
Primarily a visit to the Prado: and here a few comments because I'm not an artist nor a critic, and then I would not have the right words to describe the majesty of the museum and the works it contains. I stayed inside for more than six hours, but really full and I would have stayed a little more 'to see again Velazquez, Goya, El greek, Bosch (even to me as many have remained in the garden of delights eyes ).
entry 6 euros, audio guide (basic) 3.50. no reduction for those over 25 but still show me as the writing student identity card. arriving at 10.30 and I do not line up to enter, it's already dark when I leave, I headed to the center, I wander aimlessly. In the evening is from parts of Plaza de San Ana beak and a place where live music.
Friday
Visit thyssen: 10 euros (6 per ticket, for driving 4)-incredible. This is a huge private collection quite varied.
ranging from portraits of Ghirlandaio to pop art and modern artists like Grosz (a couple of paintings of the most interesting among his contemporaries), through the Flemish works by Picasso, van Gogh, Monet, and then the excellent Vernet portrayed as the slaughter of the innocents in van valckenborch and many many others. Esco
really pleased. are less tired than yesterday's visit to the Prado is a bit 'sad because I can not see the Reina Sofia, but it remains only for a day and I do take the daytrip to Toledo and then I go to the station to book. Actually I take the subway and stop at the Latin where I eat on the fly. Then walk, but walk the last part is not that good to Atocha. I'm curious about the tropical garden inside the station and the convenience of the station: restaurants, info point, as reception, ticket: everything works fine. The bathrooms are disgusting enough.
I head to the ticket. I have need to book a trip for the next day I take the note-save queue and wait to call me. Those who must buy a ticket for the day can make a row, which does not seem so long.
do an a / r cost me 13.80. One way would cost 8.60. I could also take the bus, cheaper, but I hate the bus. Well tomorrow in Toledo. I am left with a sliver of light and decided to go to watch football fans, at least outside the Santiago Bernabeu. A photo, so you can say "I have seen." That have come before the hotel I discover, thanks to the touts who assail me every seven to eight steps, that tomorrow there is a game, play it Spain against Sweden: last day for the European Championship qualifiers. The time is good for 22 horas, I'll be back from Toledo. Buy your ticket at the ticket touts sti because those who know them, and go, but where do I go? I'm still a distant goal and hidden but interesting: Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida , or a church on the banks of the Manzanares, more or less behind the royal palace, where Goya is buried and where you can see, free, beautiful frescoes. Went by metro, bus stop pious prince and then walk about 15 minutes. Back fascinating walk around, for my choice. The walk, which enhances my face photo, tap the Royal Palace, Plaza de Oriente (beautiful at night) until lavapies plaza and plaza S. Ana and around aimlessly as usual, in fact I find myself eating in any location. The evening went over my pension, Malasaña area. is a very rock, and I like it.
Saturday
I leave the room. The gentle lady of the board makes me a favor and keep the maleta , the suitcase for the entire day. In reality there are lockers at the station for luggage and are open from 6.30 to 22.30. costs are also Bassini and vary depending on the size of the cabinet that you choose (2.40/3.00/4.50). Arrive early to Atocha and I realize that I have time to take the train earlier than what I had booked. I sling at the ticket office and make me a free exchange, because there is still room. we start on time, arrive in thirty minutes. Comfortable train, as well as fast. Toledo is wonderful and I go down since the little station. I, like most of the tourists on the train, I choose to walk up to the old town. Will be 10 minutes of pleasant walk on a bend of the river, the Tagus. are eleven in the morning and cold, even if the sun shines. Finally, across the river and are in the historic village, still steep roads until you reach Plaza de Zocodover which represents a tactical rather than geographic center of Toledo. here I use the bathroom of the McDonald's and ask for a map of the city to the point info. There is a train that does a nice tour, I've refused and I preferred to walk as usual. Toledo Art is all well and you can see in an entire day. You pay (from the 0.60cents 2.40euri) to go anywhere, but there are several churches, including a synagogue where you enter for free on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. visit the cathedral costs 6 euros. Walking and photographer, begins to get hot at lunch time and I find myself lying on a wall overlooking the river in the sun. When I start looking for a place to eat, I notice that there are many restaurants with set menu, especially in the main streets, but then looking at the hidden alleyways we encounter in some Cerveceria that does more for me. A few tapas, a birrozza and forth. Point out, because more than one told me about it well, I have not tried a restaurant, La Abadia. Then let me know. the vuelta in Toledo. I recommend you join the Iglesia de Santo Tome (1.50 euros) only volumes to see the painting of El Greek. Entrate insieme ad un gruppo organizzato soltanto per beccarvi la spiegazione della guida. Imperdibile il quartiere ebraico, la juderia e soprattutto visitate la Sinagoga del Transito. Di lì poi preseguo tenendo a sinistra il fiume e mi imbatto in tante altre chiese, chiesette, monasteri, musei. A naso mi lascio incuriosire e quindi entro, altre volte guardo e passo. la lonely mi suggerisce di cercare anche l'unica moschea rimasta in piedi a Toledo. in realtà è una mezza delusione perchè c'è veramente poco in piedi e la moschea te la devi immaginare. Ripiego verso plaza de zocodover, mi volto e saluto Toledo con gli occhi pieni d'arte, sono in stazione stanco e soddisfatto. Rientro a Madrid attorno alle 19, ho la partita alle 22, il problema of the case: yes because that does not enter the stadium. After several discussions, I decided to bring the luggage at the airport. In the T1 and T4 as well as the T2 is consigne , open 24 hours a day. Cost 2.75. I take the subway, I stop at the Santiago Bernabeu and are within less than 15 minutes. I will not dwell, but football fans will understand my feelings. Just a tip. I get dressed as Toto and Peppino went to Milan to look for the bitch. Serious mistake. in pigeon, where they are located, there are big stoves 100 million watt hot. I undress, I enjoy the show with an ear to the Scotland-Italy, I'll take pictures from a Japanese. At the end of the race in a farewell madrid bar near the stage at which he had gathered a lot of fans in Sweden, some English and an Italian fan, I, to celebrate. Last beer, the most bitter, and then off to sleep at the airport, tomorrow I go back to Italy. Terminal 4 is brand new and vuotissimo. you can sleep well. but I slept in and then wander bored chatting with the type of bar, open all night. Then the flight. Hello Madrid, come back and see Guernica.
