SOUL OF MADRID

September, 2015

As a photographer travelling the world, there is one thing that is most important to me. That is, capturing just a little of the heart and soul of an unfamiliar country. I don’t mean happy travel snaps, but small moments not often seen by those who simply pass through. I want the gritty and the beautiful. The way the sun shimmers through the leaves and reflects shadows on the crumbling wall exactly as the clock strikes 2pm. The laugh-lined old man making his daily commute to buy the local paper. People laughing and drinking outside of bars as day turns to night. Everything that makes a city tick.

In Spain, I finally feel like I caught a glimpse of that magic through my lens. It was alive, it was everywhere.

We saw four cities, slept in a mixture of hostel/guesthouse/apartment and loved every moment. Our Spain chapter begins in the city of Madrid.

 

Our flight arrived in the early morning hours, and we caught the train to the heart of the city to make our way to our hostel.

What better way to get acquainted with a city than a walking tour of its streets. We joined the hostel walking tour to get a feel for the soul of Madrid. In the first few moments I was already captivated. Learning the grand history behind the buildings, the Queen’s opera, the struggle between the moors and the spaniards. Seeing incredible gardens, palaces, cathedrals. I didn’t know what to expect from Madrid but it was more beautiful than I could have imagined.

All that walking and history learning really worked up an immense hunger. Luckily Lucy was somewhat of a Madrid guide herself (having visited the city before) and lead us to the most famous place to eat Churros in all of Spain, Chocolatería San Gines. It was so busy we almost couldn’t get a table, so I knew we were in for a treat. They were hot, oily and delicious, and you dip them in that mug of melted chocolate until you pass out from bliss.

It only took us one day to learn the way of life in Spain. Dinner is eaten after 10pm, often around midnight and some bars only open at 3am. During the day shops close from around 2pm for an afternoon siesta where everyone goes home for a nap. At this time the streets are deserted, everything is closed, and Madrid becomes a temporary ghost town. Until  around 4-5pm where everything comes to life again. The Spanish are passionate, loud, joyful and kind. We quickly adapted to eating our dinner at 11pm, late nights smoking shisha at a local bar and joining in on the siesta on sunny afternoons.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday our hostel offered a giant home cooked Paella for only 3 euro a plate. Unfortunately for me it was of the meaty variety so I couldn’t partake, but from the looks on the faces of Martin and Lucy, it was just as delicious as it smelt.

On our final day in the city we explored the neighbourhood of Justicia. Vibrant and full of life, we stopped to peer into vintage stores, coffee shops and just get lost amongst the alleyways.

And an afternoon of art admiring at the Reina Sofia art gallery, with free entry on Sunday’s. (We also had spent another afternoon at the Prado museum which was equally as wonderful, and has free entry after 6pm!).

Eating delicious cupcakes and watching the leaves rustle in the wind while laying on the soft grass at El Retiro Park.

And late afternoon wandering and admiring the second hand books.

Madrid had the charm of Paris, the eclectic little streets of London, the nightlife of Berlin. It was wild and tamed, beautiful and totally unexpected. I would love to return some day and try and discover a little more of it’s hidden secrets, see a little more of it’s beautiful neighbourhoods.

But it was time for us to be on our way again, next stop, Granada.