Just to say hello to every one. Still checking out the website as I am new to it.
I remember when they were building the M30 road in Madrid. I was staying with some cousins which overlooked an open area in the northeast of Madrid, and they had just started to build the road, it was pouring with rain in August, which was very unusual, the lorries were getting stuck in the mud. As a young girl then, I found this fasinating. I also remember it was very hot, so the rain was most welcome. I went to buy roast chickens in JUMBO! is it still there?
I also remember great trips out that my parents took me on. Los valles de los caidos, was my favourite place and I would love to go back.
P/S the M30 is not that old!!!

Heeeeeeelllllloooooo Q, welcome to the group, so good to have you aboard & glad you decided to join and post.

I vaguely recall the JUMBO supermarket myself but it was bought up by ALCAMPO quite a few years back if I am not mistaken. I had been in the JUMB up by the Metro P�o XII that is now ALCAMPO.

Funny, the M40 has just been completed and since I was not yet in Spain during the constructionof the M30 I guess I can say I remember the construction of the M40

August in Madrid is still suffocatingly hot

Aside fom being one of the biggest monuments to fascism this country (& the worl for that matter) has ever seen, I agree that the Valle de los Caidos is an architectural feat to behold, well worth a visit.

Saludos,
jer...

ALCAMPO! yes I know it, been to a few around Spain, suppose its Spanish version of TESCOS.HA HA
Other great sites I remember well is 'Casa Campo' the park. Nothing like that over here.
Couldn't believe how much it offers, does it still have an onsite fun fair?
To know the real Spain I think Madrid is the place to start.

Hey again Q.

Yep, the Casa del Campo has loads to offer, jejejejeje

But seriously, by the "onsite fun fair" you probably mean the "Parque de Atracciones" (www.parquedeatracciones.es) amusement park. It is indedd stil there and is part of the www.parquesreunidos.com network here.

I am not huge on amusement parks but went to the Parque de Atracciones a few years ago with a group of American high school students I was the group leader for. It was their idea and I pretty much stayed on the ground but I did like the water rides they have.

Between the Casa de Campo and the Retiro Park, Madrid definitely outdoes itself on open air spaces.

Saludos,
jer...

I too am new to this website, and can't tell you how excited I am to have found it! The last time I was in Madrid was in October of 1998. I'm just finishing up law school now and so haven't been able to get over there in what seems like forever. So I'm going to live vicariously through everyone else for a while.

Other things I remember about Madrid (and other parts of Spain)for a large city, the older generation still use the rope & basket to collect the bread from the baker who used to deliver, by foot, pushing his cart.They would lower the basket from their windows with the money, and the baker would load on the bread and change.
This was also the same for the 'churreros'(hope I spelt that right)and the 'gaserra' (spanish lemonade) miss that loads. Still I make churros at home now, but can't get the gaserra.

Hey QuePasa, I bet I am more excited about your having found my website than you are about finding it

I only hope that you can get back here soon for I know what law school loans can be like to pay back In the meantime, feel free to live through me & multimadrid

Hey Q, rope and basket huh? Me thinks you were here a looooong time ago

Sadly enough the old customs are gone and the "panader�as" ("bread shops") in the big cities now expect us to go and get the bread from them in person

I would hav eloved to see Madrid in those days but alas, I will have to settle for your memories

Yep, you got "churrero" right but when you say "gaserra", I think you are referring to "casera" ("soda water").

You can get Casera through TIENDA in the U.S.A. but it is rather expensive.

Speaking of old customs and traditions, the Canal de Isable II (water system in Madrid) celebrated its 150 year aniversary last year with a cool "back in time" weekend in the Plaza Mayor.

The "Aguadores" (water carriers) and craftsmen of the 19th century were back in full force.

You can read about it at www.multimadrid.com/descrips/sites/canal.htm and see my footage of the event at www.multimadrid.com/sites/canalisabel2/canal_isabel2.htm

They even borugh back the "LADIES OF THE EVENING" in their 19th century outfits for the celebration as you can see in THIS PHOTO (eyes have been covered to protect the innocent)

Saludos,
jer...

Eyes may be covered, but I'd know that guy anywhere from peeking in at the defunct(?) jercam!

These 'old' customs, were last seen in the '80s. I'm not THAT old u know! and yes casera, that is what I meant.

Hi Sue, Jejejejej The jercam is actually not dead but rather is now showint the world the second half of the Plaza Mayor at http://www.multimadrid.com/jerlive which is, and I am sure you will all agree, much more attractive than littl old me It also makes the full Plaza view at www.multimadrid.com/total-plaza a possibility.

Maybe if I get enough requests I will put up a 4th webcam on me

Hey Q, sorry, I got to Madrid for the first time in 1994. I will say it again, I would love to have seen the bread in the basket coming up to my apartment balcony doors. After all, I live here in the Plaza in a 4th flor walk up that is more like an 8th floor due to the many flights between floors

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. another word for "casera" is "gaseoso".

Jer, I think you might be living my dream life. Or at the very least living in my dream apartment!!!

Hey QuePasa, let's hope the dream never ends

Saludos,
jer...

I have a fun memory, just a couple months old. I was in Madrid this past April and celebrated my son's 21st birthday with him and his friends at El Botin. We had a wonderful dinner: fine food, wine and friends, it was great. The funny part came as we finished our dinner, the waiter passed around the dessert menu. As we perused it, our head waiter and "his friends" came to our table singing happy birthday and carrying the hugest, most beautiful chocolate cake I'd ever seen, candles a blazing and everything. The whole restaurant joined in the singing, it was great. Well, since there was this wonderful cake, there was no reason to order additional desserts so we all declined to order from the dessert menu and just ordered coffee as we waited for our cake to be cut up and served. So we waited...and waited...and waited. Nothing. We wondered what was taking so long and someone joked and said maybe that's the "official" birthday cake that they use for all the patron's birthdays. Lo and behold out came the blazing cake bound for yet another birthday celebrant! We were right!! It was so funny we just howled. We were all too embarrased to order dessert at that point as much as we wanted something sweet to end our fine meal of roast suckling pig and roasted lamb. So I passed around some lint covered lifesavers that I had in my purse - just kidding!
Mama Chula