Madrid - A Fickle Friend

My experience of Madrid was certainly a tale of contrasts. I thoroughly enjoyed the food, the hotel and the grand plazas and parks, I even begrudgingly enjoyed some of the mammoth art gallery we trudged around for several hours. What I didn't enjoy, however, was the moment that I became a genuine bone-fide victim of crime (more on that later).

After the 5 hour journey up from the Murcia region (much of which I napped through - there's only so many farms and dusty wasteland I can force myself to find interesting) we arrived at the Madrid Atocha station. From here we went directly to the hotel, noting along the was that the temperature was mind boggling 44°C. 

Our hotel was beautiful - just the right amount of luxury whilst at the same time not showing my friend Jai and I up in the posh stakes.

That there with the swanky glass elevators is the Reign of Sofia

That evening we went first to the Plaza Mayor, the largest plaza in Madrid and it's most famous. It's absolutely massive - I mean, see how small I look!

 

Onward from there, Jai introduced me to one of the best places I think that I have ever been - San Miguel Market. Part Tapas bar, part market, part pub, it had an incredible, vibrant atmosphere and the food was divine! With Sangria at €2 a glass, we couldn't go far wrong!

That place is truly divine!

It was en route back to the hotel that we saw some of the stranger aspects of the city:

Casual Segway city tour

Not entirely sure what this jiggling tinsel goat was meant to represent?

Pretty sure that they didn't think this through.

Apparently this protest had been there since 2009 - you'd think they'd give up and go home already?

On day 2, we got up with every intention of getting the art gallery over an-ehem, I mean of going to get cultured by visiting the Reign of Sofia, only to find out that it was closed for the day. We therefore decided to go shopping. It was at this point that everything went rather titties up!

Despite the fact that the Grande Via is definitely no Oxford Street, I had come across several tops that I considered going back and buying later - so all seemed to be well. It was whilst waiting for Jai to try something on during which time I was wandering the shop, touching the clothes (as you do if you are a woman - even if the clothes are hideous) that it all went wrong. I was looking at a dress in a particularly lurid shade of pink when I realized that there was someone standing uncomfortably close to me. I could pretty much feel them breathing on me they were that close (ew). Anyways, I didn't really think much of it at the time, except that they obviously didn't understand the very normal concept of personal space. 

Following this faintly awkward incident, I was browsing in another shop and I decided that I wanted this fab tassely necklace. When I went to pay, I realized that that sneaky bastard had not only been 'all up in my grill' as it were, they were also relieving me of my purse. Along with the remainder of my Euros, they took my drivers licence, my debit card and my room key. Cue me having some kind of public meltdown/ panic attack and calling my Mum so that she could calm me down and tell me what to do. After this  briefing from my ever-amazing mother and some frantic texts to my dear papa, off to the police station we went. After some initial confusion, I found myself speaking to a lady with a very heavy Spanish accent on a phone with a terrible line connection. Believe me when I say that I could not understand a word she was saying, hence more confusion. Following this, the police told Jai (in Spanish) that their printer was broken and to return later.

So went back to our hotel, the staff of which were really very helpful, especially the fun bald reception man, who I think felt really sorry for me. I cancelled my debit card and rang my insurance company and all of the other trappings of becoming a victim of crime on holiday. 

Later that afternoon we returned to the police station to officially report the theft and get my crime number. Enter Mr Hot Policeman into this tale, one part Shayne Ward to one part Michel Roux Jr. Now, I'm not saying that this fine specimen of a man made the theft worth it, but it did add a glimmer of silver lining to the whole debacle. It was with him that we went through the details of the incident. It was only after we left (lets face it, I was a little distracted) that we realized that bad-phone-line-Spanish-lady had, in fact, noted down that I live in 'Deboses'. I do not. Ah well, I thought - I just hope it doesn't effect my insurance claim (it didn't).

It was decided that Jai and I would share her remaining moneys for the last day and a half and that I would simply have to pay her back upon return to England. 

And so endeth this portion of my Madrid experience, and as you can see, thus far, the city has been very fickle with me indeed. Stay tuned for the second part of this crazy city tour, whereby I survive an entire modern art gallery and nearly have a barney with a member of airport staff!

On a personal note, feel free to comment etc in the box below - I'd love to hear from y'all lovely people! =D

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