HiramGirl...

quote:

I'm sure I've just made Spain perfection in my head,...

I hear ya on that one!!! :cheers:

Saludos,
jer...

OK, folks, I'm weighing in for Barcelona for one main reason: waterfront. The Manzanares doesn't cut it for me, who grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. A sea view gives perspective.
Of course, Spain in general has a higher than average percentage of coastal cities for Europe, so you could pick any number of great places.

Madrid is chock full of fabulous cultural stuff and has a splendid bunch of educational opportunities, and of course, our fearless leader lives there, reason enough to go. The expats I met at the BBQ in 2002(?) were nice folks, too.

I'm back making my phantom-once-in-a-long-while appeance on the board.

No matter what anyone says, this topic never gets old. Hell, the biggest sports rivalry in Spain, one of the largest in the world, is based on this argument.

Personally, I chose to live in Barcelona because of its physical attributes. The architecture is amazing and being an urban planner, it was heaven. The scenic backdrop of the mountains and having the beach nearby is priceless (no swimming pool compares to the real thing). From a little park up the street from my house you could see the Pyrenees going into the Mediterranean. Also, the presence of palm trees and citrus trees throughout the city means that the temp doesn't drop below freezing. However to be fair, I think that BCN averages only 5 degrees C warmer than Madrid during the winter.

Barcelona also has very eclectic neighborhoods with immigrants from all over the world. I know that Madrid is diverse as well, but it seems more prevalent in Barcelona. The city itself is also located a lot closer to the rest of Europe.

The best thing that Madrid has to offer is its people. I would even go as far to suggest that as far as an urban population goes, none is livelier, friendlier, and intriguing than that of the madirle�os.

Catalans on the other hand tend to be more frozen and I've heard many Spaniards refer to them as the "Germans" of Spain (no offense to any Germans on the board). They are open compared to other Europeans, but kind of cold when compared to castellanos and andaluces.

As for learning Spanish, it can be a little more difficult in Barcelona because of Catalan. I often became confused when talking to some locals who at times had a tendency to speak a hybrid form of the two. Logically, being located between the two Castillas, Madrid is the best place to learn Spanish.

As well, Spanish culture is more alive and prevalent in Madrid. Sometimes the nationalism in Barcelona is too much and some people reject anything "Spanish", which I believe is very reckless.

If I was God, I would take the physical beauty of Barcelona and the people of Madrid and make the perfect city.

Madrid vs Barcelona???

Must say I prefer Ronaldo to Rivaldo any time. :jeje: :cheers:

I just found out that I cannot study in Barcelona or Madrid !!! Those programs do not offer enough units! It looks like right now I am going to Seville instead. But that could change! Either way, I am excited! Thanks for all your responses. I will be sure to visit both those cities and many others and form my own opinion on them. CANNOT WAIT! Roxana

hey nac�, sevilla is amazing as well.

the city debate could go on forever but in the end...

any way ya slice it, it comes out spain!!! :cheers:

saludos,
jer...

Now I know what I want to add to this debate and it is a question.

Why do people feel that they have to choose between the two? It seems silly to me that you can't like both.

Every place that I have studied Spanish in, I like them all. Maybe because I don't want to be restrictive in my way of thinking.

Granted, I haven't visited Barcelona yet, but when I go and if I like it, I can see myself likeing BOTH cities.

Let's see if anyone is brave enough to tackle this question, or if it will be skirted around.

Shawn

Although I�m a HUGE Barcelona fan and love it much more than Madrid for hundreds of reasons,I would not reccomend it for study abroad unless the student already had a good grasp on Spanish. Catalan will confuse you, you won�t hear Spanish as much on the street, all the telediarios are in Catalan and you will be much more tempted to speak English because of it.

If you don�t speak Spanish at a high level, go to Madrid. If you do, go to Barcelona and take catalan while you�re at it. It�s free through the ayuntamiento. At least it is in Girona.

Melinda

Redwood, I�m with you on this one...

I really like Barcelona... just as much as I like Madrid and for different reasons.

Socially speaking, Barcelona and Madrid are like night and day... I find Barcelona to be a more "hip", if you will, city. Much more eclectic, more diverse, more international in an integrated sort of way.

Madrid is more staid. Like Washington DC. or Philadelphia, Conservative in view points and/or "old fashioned". Yes, Madrid is international, but in a more segregated sort of way.

When you mention the neighborhood of Lavapi�s to an average madrile�o, you get a disdainful look of "uggghh... a neighborhood that has gone down due to the high population of morrocan immigrants". Or you mention Tetu�n and you get a similar reaction of, that�s "Little Latin America".

Get over it folks. This world revolves around immigration. It�s an age old concept.

I have to admit that I haven�t spent nearly as much time in Barcelona (not by a long shot) as I have in Madrid, so perhaps my perceptions of multicultural integration are off...but I definitely do get the feel that the immmigrants are better integrated there than in Madrid.

Anywho... I love both of the cities. I love the arts and culture and Madrid offers plenty of that. And I also love architecture and Gaud�... and Barcelona is the place to be for that. I love the sea, I love the mountains...I don�t think I could choose between the cities if I were forced to. I like them both for different reasons!

i don't think this thread is so much about having to like one or the other but is more about where people prefer to "live" (not just to visit).

for me, madrid is home and barcelona is a wonderful place to visit

saludos,
jer...

Jer,

If you really read what people have posted, this thread exactly IS about liking one place over the other.

THANK YOU CHICA, for someone bold enough to answer the question.

Although, I have yet to visit Barcelona, when I do, if I like it, I will like both cities and not say I like one over the other.

Shawn

shawn, read my post again...

i said it is not about...

quote:

having to like one or the other

emphasis on having to

naci en madrid simply asked which was a better place to live and study spanish in...

quote:

from late December 2004- early June 2005

as perfect as it would be if there were no "one or the other", it is not realistic, each person will have their own opinions and preferences for places to "live". of course people will give their opinions but it comes down to the question at hand... "which was a better place to live and study spanish".

saludos,
jer...

Jer, excuse me for responding and that my existence is BEYOND YOU. :jeje:

I do see what you are saying, but only Chica has answered the question. I think this is a tough one.

Have a great day,

Shawn

hey buddy, good one :jeje:

actually, i understand your existence , it is your sexiness that is beyond me

saludos,
jer...

Jer,

If you think my SEXINESS eludes you now, just wait until this summer. I will really have to get CHUECA on you. :ks:

Shawn