Hola hombres y mujeres, it's official: I'll be at Canterbury in July-Aug for the Spanish/TEFL programs and living in Madrid thereafter! I reserved a piso compartido through EASO residences for 3 months (July through September). The address is: C/ Gran V�a n. 64, piso 8 izqd. (1) 28013 Madrid.
I was wondering how the surrounding area/neighborhood is. From looking at maps of Madrid centro it looks pretty central, right? What is the correct name for the neighborhood I'll be in? Does it have a relatively more touristy feel or more "authentic" Madrid?
Anyways, I'm on cloud nine right now (have been for the past week) and can't wait for June to arrive! I'll probably get to Madrid 2 weeks or so beforehand (and stay in a hotel/hostel) just so I have time to find out where everything is before my Canterbury orientation.
Hope you're all doing well, Vincent
Posts: 8 | Location: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Registered: 25 January 2005
hey smoothoperator, first and foremost, congrats on your upcoming trip. HERE IS A MAP of where easo is.
no local feeling up there, mostly touristy and business.
the from hilko is referring to the area a but futher up nad behind gran v�a (north of) surrounding "calle desenga�o" which is quite sleezy.
your exact area is ok (it�s amazing the difference a few streets over can make) and would be considered the city center or referred to as san bernardo or plaza de espa�a area.
Hi man, about where you will be staying, I personally have stayed at that address before, a couple of years or so ago in fact, the good news is, that, it's a great building, but it is on the Gran via, (not so good)...a hell load of traffic fumes 24/7, constant traffic noise during the day, not too bad at night, and if your room is an inner facing room, and up on the 8th or 9th, then that's even better, except for the frelling elevator door, which chimes and beeps, everytime someone uses it, but otherwise, pretty much okay, it's an "Old" but cute elevator, with outer & inner doors.
You will be right next door to La Plaza de Espa�a..(that's Plah-tha, by the way) never PlaaaaZa, as in Joey Zaaaa Za, always with a distinctive "Th" when in Madrid, they love that.
From there, you can travel anywhere, it is jam packed with every immaginable Bus & Metro route, all around that area, and it is well withing walking distance of all the major attractions, Other than that, you will have a great time, and I hope you will use your time in Madrid well, and don't stay in town too much, get out to the subs..(burbs)..(Los Pueblecitos) en las afueras, away from McDonalds and all that stuff, and eat some real Spanish cooking, you will get a pretty decent dinner in ARANJUEZ, (that's Arrran + Khwe(th)..they'll love you if you say it properly, and give you bigger portions too, (with a smile).
Okay, I'll say chao for now, and buena suerte.
Saludos.......Santiago
Posts: 696 | Location: Santander | Registered: 11 August 2003
I don't think that part of Gran Via is bad at all. It's very bustling and big city. Just watch out for pickpockets and steer clear of Plaza de la Luna, like Jer said, and you'll be fine. There's a great food market nearby (Mercado de los Mostenses).
There are lots of cool tapas bars behind Plaza de Espa�a. Loads of movie theaters--many with "version original" movies. You'll also be close to Malasa�a, not too far from Chueca, and within walking distance of lots of other great neighborhoods...
Posts: 1067 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002
Hola everyone, I just wanted to say muchas gracias for the replies you've posted. From what you've told me, Gran V�a is a pretty bustling area & ok if you have common sense/street smarts. (Having lived in Chicago for quite some time and, unfortunately, coming in contact with its not-so-great parts has prepared me well in the "street smarts/common city sense" area.)
jer, the map was especially helpful... I think I can walk to my classes & I'm not too far away from other areas I want to check out. By the way, I found the Plaza de Chueca, which I assume is the center of Chueca, but I'm not sure where Lavapies is- I've read other people's posts on this board saying that Lavapies is a cool, funky, "artsy" neighborhood (again if you have common sense to be safe). Where is it centered on? Does it have a plaza?
me llamo santiago, I've been definitely working on my Madrile�o accent... after the Buenos Aires porte�o accent, the Castilian/Madrile�o accent is my 2nd favorite. If I consciously think about it, I think I can do a pretty good imitation for a foreigner (although I have trouble with the hard, guttural /j/, /ge/ and /gi/ sound).
Anyways, thanks again everyone for the replies/advice... I can't stop singing the praises of the multimadrid.com message board. :cheers:
Saludos a todos, Vincent
Posts: 8 | Location: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Registered: 25 January 2005
Yes, there's a Plaza de Lavapies. It's right where the metro stop is (see map below). There are lots of cool/funky neighborhoods right in the center of Madrid. I live in La Latina (in the upper left corner of the map) and love it.
smoothoperator: let me add my congratulations and best wishes to you first of all.
I live pretty close to where you'll be moving to and jog past that building everyday. I would have no hesitation at all saying that it's a great place to be. The only minus I can possibly think of is a bit of noise (but then I live on one of Madrid's noisiest streets on weekends, and the speakers of the bar next door seem to point straight to my bedroom...)
La Latina, Chueca, and Lavapies are all fun, funky neighborhoods. But don't neglect the neighborhoods which will be at your doorstep- San Bernardo / Malasa�a. If Lavapies is the most "ethnic", i.e. immigrant neighborhood in Madrid, and Chueca is the most gay, and Huertas the most guiri, and La Latina the most.. oh God, how to describe it, well to me it�s the most "old world" European neighborhood, San Bernardo and Malasa�a are the most "grungy." Calle de Pez, from where you�ll be a few minutes walk, is one of my favorite streets in Madrid, both night and day, there�s lots of atmosphere, restaurants and bars galore. Also nearby is the Conde Duque area which also has lots of bars and restaurants and a nice atmosphere. The Mercado de Mostenses which mariposita mentioned is easily one of Madrid�s cheapest, and is also the best stocked market in town for Asian and Latin American groceries. For whatever it�s worth you�ll also be a stone�s throw away from two of Madrid�s best and cheapest Chinese restaurants, and a short walk away from the Casa de Campo, a large (and in some places rather dodgy) park. Should you start missing large shopping malls, there�s always the Centro Comercial Principe P�o nearby.
Posts: 132 | Location: Manila | Registered: 28 February 2004
i agree with sunny_2, you'll be right next to malasa�a which is a close to "funky" as madrid gets. in fact, in my opinion, madrid doesn't have "funky" in the sense that you find in some neighborhoods in cities like london, berlin, or in the us. the funky here is just a bit more spread out and you might find it anywhere in the center of the city.
as far a sense of well-being and safety goes, madrid doesn't even compare to chicago on the danger thing. i had a bit of fear when i first came here and walked around lavapies. but now, nothing. on the other hand, after "accidentally" touring on foot the area around the stadium in chicago 15 years ago, a friend and i were lucky to escape with our lives one night, and i mean that literally. one of the greatest things about living in madrid, is you really never have to carry around that fear that at anytime someone is going to pull a gun on you. sure someone will try to grab your bag, and if you are really unlucky someone will pull a knife on you, but that rarely, rarely happens. the really violent crime around here is almost always gang-related and nothing like the what you come up against in the states. at least this is how it is until now.
"I move in a landscape where revolution and love speak overwhelming words" Ren� Char<br /><br />"Using a stone for a pillow, I drift toward the clouds" Santoka Taneda
Posts: 124 | Location: san francisco, usa | Registered: 23 August 2002
Hey everyone, thanks mariposita, jer, sunny_2 & boneshaker for the replies- can't wait to check out all these places when I actually get to Madrid this June. The map website that you've been using to show me where things are is very good, easy for me to read/understand (I'm not the best with maps & directions). Madrid maps look so much more confusing than, say, a New York City map where everything in Manhattan looks like a big grid, or even most of Chicago.
I think I read somewhere on the board that threads are never deleted- all you have to do is search for it & you can find any thread, right? I'll definitely remember to check for cool places to check out when I want to explore Madrid- one thing I love doing in cities.
Have a fun weekend, Vincent
P.S. boneshaker, I'm pretty sure that you were referring in your post to the area around the United Center, right (Chicago Bulls & Blackhawks)? I see what you're saying & don't doubt you barely escaped with your lives 15 years ago... Henry Horner & Robert Taylor Homes were some of the worst (if the THE worst) projects in the U.S. Yikes! I can see what you're saying- if there really isn't anything to that level in Madrid, then I'll be ok. :m:
Posts: 8 | Location: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Registered: 25 January 2005
yeah that's right, the united center. it was still called the chicago stadium when i was there.
"I move in a landscape where revolution and love speak overwhelming words" Ren� Char<br /><br />"Using a stone for a pillow, I drift toward the clouds" Santoka Taneda
Posts: 124 | Location: san francisco, usa | Registered: 23 August 2002
from hilko is referring to the area a but futher up nad behind gran v�a (north of) surrounding "calle desenga�o" which is quite sleezy.
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