Madrid Outside

Drinking, noise, laughter, music... botellón. Spanish people tend to spend quite a lot of time outside on the streets and on the squares. Drinking outside is part of their culture, as well as going out to two or three bars in one evening. Spain is one of the liveliest countries you could visit in Europe. No wonder it is the number one destination for Erasmus students.

I am half-Erasmus in Madrid. I went there two years ago to study. I am a foreigner and I get along perfectly well with Erasmus students, yet I am an ordinary student who has the same obligations as the Spanish ones. I hope I can give some interesting ideas on where to go and what to do in Madrid.

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One of the things that made an impression on me when I went to Spain was that bars are everywhere and they are very casual. In my country and in other countries in Eastern Europe I have visited, bars are "high class": decoration, very very well dressed (maybe too much) people, expensive alcohol... It is all about being noticed and showing prosperity. In Spain, on the contrary, most bars are "normal". People go there after work and spend some time together with friends or colleagues. You could often see casually dressed young boys and girls, talking and laughing.

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Botellón is drinking on the street. Young people go out to drink. They buy alcohol form the supermarket because it’s cheaper. There even are special glasses for botellón. These are tall plastic glasses.

Now, my favorite places to go out in Madrid, and by out I mean out on the street or in parks. The weather is really good in September, October, and sometimes even in November. In the winter it is quite cold though (I know, such a surprise). The springtime is perfect. It is all about being out. There are lots of bars that have tables outside and those bars are usually full.

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El Parque del Buen Retiro: That is the most famous park in Madrid. It is situated in the center of the city, near Prado museum. It is green and very organized; every little bush is in its place. It is a good place to go during the day. There is a lake in Retiro, as well as a small palace, made of glass.

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Casa de Campo: This is the biggest park in Madrid. It is my personal favorite because it’s wild. No, I am kidding, it’s just that Casa de Campo is not as perfectly organized as Retiro. It is very nice to be there both during the day and the night. There is a lake in Casa de Campo. This park is perfect for running or biking.

La Latina: This is a district, which I personally love. If you happen to be in Madrid, you should definitely go to Lavapies (one of the squares) and drink with friends there. It just has its own spirit. There are many Latin Americans, and they are some of the coolest people ever.

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El Templo de Debot: I guess that is my favorite place to be in the evenings in Madrid. It is an old Egyptian temple, built again in the center of Madrid. There is water in front of it and it is beautifully lightened. I happened to be there once when there was a general rehearsal for an opera show. It was beautiful. Also, you can see the sunset, Casa de Campo Park, the Royal Palace, and a part of the city. It’s a great place to watch the sunset. There are always people near Debot and usually a musician would play and sing.

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Manzanares Park: Manzanares is the river that passes through Madrid. There is a park along the river, near the stadium of Atletico Madrid. It offers fun routes for bikes and roller skates.

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