Hi JER-- You were so prompt yesterday replying to my inquiries re: Corpus Cristi and the bull's ear so here goes again. My husband and I are bringing our two teenage sons to Spain for two weeks (he and I were there 30 years ago--yeh, we're OLD!) and one thing they DEFINITELY want to do is go to a bullfight--in lieu of many of our other ideas I daresay. According to your calendar, San Isidro will be over before we arrive (Sunday, June 2) but as I researched the web this morning, I'm finding no tickets for Sunday June 9th or even the 2nd(albeit jet-lagged). Any hints or insights??? Otherwise, I may as well cancel the trip Will someone at the hotel (Hotel Suite Prado) be able to help or else (alas)scalpers outside Ventas?? Please save me as a mom and tour director!!!
Much�simas gracias!

Hi CKBA, awwwww, ya making my heart ache with this one

Actually, just because the San Isidro festival is over by the third week in May, the San Isidro bullfighting festival goes on till mid June and even when that ends you still have them (bullfights) on into October. San Isidro is only a wek to 10 days long as far as general festivities (concerts, expositions, events, etc...) are concerned but the "toros" go longer.

The season runs from early March to the end of October here in Madrid

I cut the following for the June 9th bullfight from the page at www.las-ventas.com/temporada/temporada2000.htm#junio (you will notice that it is still part of the "Feria de San Isidro").

quote:

9 de junio (Feria de San Isidro)
Toros de Victorino Mart�n para
Juan Mora. Pitos y saludos
Manuel Caballero. Saludos en los dos
Jos� Luis Moreno. palmas y saludos

...and this one for June 2nd...

quote:

2 de junio (Feria de San Isidro)
Toros de Domingo Hern�ndez para
El Zotoluco. Pitos y silencio
Rivera Ord��ez. Saludos y saludos con protestas
Miguel Abell�n. Oreja y oreja

The only thing I see happening here is that you have to pay a small fortune to get tickets but can you really put a price on a son's smile

I will call the Las Ventas bullring information office (+34 91 356 22 00) here on Thursday (tomorrow is a holiday here in Madrid - San Isidro) and ask about tickets and prices for that day and get back to you on this thread

Saludos & keep the faith!
jer...

CKBA,
I wished I could lend you a hand with "the bullfighting issue", but I'm not a big fan (actually, it doesn't interest me at all), and therefore I really can't be of any help.
However, I thought I'd write these little lines, since the hotel where you'll be staying belongs to what I consider "my neighborhood", I live nearby, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions, need suggestions or whatever.

Pim,
What do you know about the hotel? I found it in Rick Steves' book and they had a quad room.
when I was in Madrid in 1972, I had an apartment or else stayed in pensiones with bathroom down the hall. So how is the area? It seemed to be a great location for easy access.

JER,
Gosh, no rest for the webmaster, huh? I really did look at the Ventas site but...as I admitted my Spanish is 30 years old! So are there corridas the entire week, not just los domingos? Don't you just love Spanglish? Whatever you can ascertain is more than I know now! Thanks for all your efforts! By the way, we're going to Granada(your 2nd favorite city, no?-see I am exploring your website) for a week after Madrid.

Hi,

Well, I am very familiar with your hotel....but only from the outside I'm afraid. I've always thought it looks pretty good though, the building is a fairly new one considering the much older surrounding buildings, and the balconies of their suites(I'm guessing here) look really good.
However, I would subtly ask for the less noisy room available, the area is very lively at night, lots of young people, specially on weekends; your kids will probably love that.
It's my favourite part of Madrid, that's why I live here!!! You'll be at a short walking distance from the three major museums: Prado, Reina Sof�a and Thiessen; the Atocha train station and the Botanic Gardens(both are great choices on a hot day!), Cibeles(te symbol of Madrid), the Puerta del Sol(the very center of Madrid and Spain), the Plaza Mayor(where Jer lives!), also the Ritz Hotel, the Palace Hotel, the Retiro Park(the oldest and biggest one downtown), etc....
Plus, you've got great places to eat, have coffe, or a few drinks....

Jer, I'm wondering about the 'malditas obras' (construction) going on at Pza. Sta. Ana. Do you know if there's a chance they will be finished by the time they'll be here?

�Saludos!

pim

Pim,
This is amazing! Isn't it 3 A.M. there--I guess the area is lively! Good idea about a quiet room--I'll e-mail them right away!

But, now what is this about construction?????

Hola again, this thread has become hot fast, I love it.

Yep, no rest for the wicked, jejeje.

Wow, I totally missed tha name of your hotel in the opening post CKBA, what a coinkidink, I have been to the Hotel Suites Prado 3 times (at least) delivering cell phones to clients who have rented from me and I can tell you that it is nice both inside and out.

On one of the deliveries I made I went up to a room (one of the rooms on the top floor with slanted ceilings and it was big and very comfortable. As the photography nut that I am, I took pics as well

1) room photo 1

2) room photo 2

3) building shot

4) doorway and lobby pic

The room I saw was a double on the tp floor and not a quad but you can get an idea of how nice it is from the photos

It is a Best Western hotel which are usually pretty nice and very clean.

As for the CONSTRUCTION (TEARING UP OF) THE PLAZA DE SANTA ANA mentioned by pim above, there is a long thread on "Monuments and Sites Under Construction� that I regularly updat so visitors know about this stuff, there are even pictures of the construction work, just CLICK HERE to go there and look for the posts on the updates about the work in the Plaza de Santa Ana. Anyway, I can assure you that there is NO WAY they will be done by early June It is ugly but the sidewalk caf�s are still out in full force in the Plaza.

Bullfights during the season her are normally every Sunday but during special "ferias" they are just bout every day.

Ena ( my girlfriend ) has told me that that Sunday (the 9th of June) should be a normal day for the bullfights which means that tickets should be readily available but I will double check tomorrow and let you know, cross tose fingas

I agree with pim, your location is great but on weekends the "marcha" ("partying" for lack of a better translation) can get loud around there. An interior room may be the key to getting sleep but they may be limited as to the quad room they can give you.

Also, I just remembered that I was there (at the hotel) last week and they are tearing up the sidewalk on the street that corners with the hotel (along one side of the hotel) so you may get early morning construction noise if you get "habitaci�n exterior" ("exterior room") that faces that street (the street in question is called "Ventura de la Vega"). I did not add it to the "casualties list" at my MONUMENTS & SITES UNDER CONSTRUCTION THREAD because it is not a monument or a sightseeing attraction but in this case it may affect your visit. Get an interior room ("habitaci�n interior") to be safe and sleep soundly

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. CKBA, you were close, Granada is actually my very favorite city in Spain but is too small for me to live in (big city boy I guess ) so Madrid was my second choice, a very close second at that. Who knows, multigranada.com could be in the future for me

JER,
De la corrida--�Ojal� que s�! the 9th of June would be perfecto! I'll hoe Ena is correct--picture my fingers crossed!

Re: construction--just what is "early morning"? Perhaps I should find another place--it's just difficult w/ a quad room. any ideas? (I realize this should be on another thread, I guess but...

Hey!, I don't know if you'll end up making it to the 'corrida de toros'; but, you could come to the big bbq!!!
(Maybe TonyTORERO could give us a little demonstration, and I'm sure, ummm....Jer would be happy to play the bull's part. (after a few beers and sangr�as that is ))

�FELIZ SAN ISIDRO JER!


pim

Pim or JER,
Re:construction on Ventura de la Vega--just what IS "early" morning? I e-mailed the hotel inquiring about una habitaci�n interior but no reply as yet. Any other insights as to hotels with good locations and quad rooms?
Also what is all the stuff in Plaza Mayor that I see on your webcams, JER? Celebrate San Isidro �no?

Hey Cathy, quad rooms are going to be tough to find. If you have one at the Suites Prado take it, it is probably interior anyway sinc emost exterior rooms are doubles.

Construction work usually starts at like 8:00am here

I went by the other day and took a photo of the construction that runs along one side of the hotel, CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

So, I saw no heavy machinery (they had some there last time I was by) and I think the loud noisy stuff is over with (digging up of the street) so you will probably be ok

You could always call the hotel to get the final word on the room (interior or exterior) in case they do not answer your e-mail.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. Yep! That's the San Isidro stage set up there, click HERE for the scoop

JER,

You are awesome!!! But I am wondering if you have wayyyyyy too much free time that you can get a photo of construction
Any info from the taquilla at Ventas re: corrida June 9th (since you all are having a BBQ, everyone who is anyone should be there, not at a bullfight, right?
Saludos,
Cathy

p.d. Mire my new entry at "planning tu viaje"

JER,

Sorry to be the proverbial squeaky wheel but have you had an opportunity to inquire at Ventas re: availability for the bullfight you found listed for June 9th? Or do you suppose I'd have any chance of talking to someone in English if I phoned? jeje
Saludos,
Cathy

Hey Cathy, just got back from the south of Spain and BOY was my e-mail piled up

No answer at the bullring at all and I have tried calling at different times of the day

Seriously doubt that they would speak English and even if they did, the guys at the bullring are not famous for their patience

I know it is your son's life long dream to see a "corrida de toros" but I can't help feeling that it would be silly to cancel a trip to Spain just because you may not be able to see one

If you really want to lock in the tickets, you may want to contract my "custom stuff" services, I have been known to do some pretty whacky things for a "donation" to multimadrid

Also, there is a expo on "carteles tuarinos" (bullfighting posters) in the Metro stations of "Retiro" and "Ventas" (the bullring stop) on until June 13th which I am sure your son will love. It is an expo of carious graphic artist that have designed posters dedicated to the "toros", Spain's national passtime.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. I will keep after the bullring # and see if they answer.