The city that captured my soul

by Rasha Abdelmakek (Spain)

I didn't expect to find Spain

Despite the floods of tourists streaming in its most famous squares and eateries, Madrid cannot be more underrated. Before I moved in there, I was under the impression it was just another busy capital, well besides the royal properties and a bunch of museums. It wasn´t till I lived there that i started to explore the generosity of the land, mostly the people. It is warm even when its cold. It started with my movers, to my doormen and I thought they would be nice anyhow since they wanted to please the customer. However the care of my colleagues, who would get to meet me once a month, was overwhelming. Anyone who will suspect you are lost on the street will reach out with a helping hand. Ofcourse not in place like Plaza Mayor where there are floods of tourists. In the beginning it seems that Madrid is all about the royal palace, caterdral, sabbatini gardens, gran via, plaza Mayor and the museum zone (Prado, Reina Sofia...etc). So depending on your interests, it´s just the way to spend a day or two, coupled with some shopping in Gran via or Las Rozas fancy outlet. Except that it´s not, the city is younger than others in Spain yet is also a state of art, think of Sorolla, Rosales, Cervantes and their footpathas, think of all the royal heritage and the surroundings of Madrid from palaces to forest to mountains hugging the city and containing it within. There are plenty of royal estates like El Escorial or Aranjuez where you will be faced with stunning nature specially during spring and Autumn where the gardens and trees are dressed in the most colorful costumes. The city where the story of Don Quijote and his old Sancho Panza takes a different dimension and lure you into its charm, where do we start? Alcala de Henares, the academic city or suburb with preserved roman walls and a diverse set of neighborhoods reflecting its history and character. The city where Cervantes was born and Don Quijote along with him. Where people dance in squares and you would feel like entering a time machine just 20 minutes away from the capital noise.. Don Quijote path extends to Toledo, Avila, Ciudad Real and more and more location from 30 mins to an hour further from the city centre. If you are not that poetic and not much into museums, maybe you are into nature. Explore Patones, Sierra Norte or Guadarrama natural park. Where just the mountain views and scenery is beyond. If you are into Gastronomy or maybe like me into vineyards, the region and the valleys around it are full of potential places where you can drink and feast your stomache with local treats from asparagus to piglets. A place like Chinchon where not only the nature is fascinating but also the small centre kibbled streets and simple but mostly beautiful architecture. Take your car from there to a series of wine making villages with the extension if their farms and vineyards, a feast for the instiables. If I wouldn´t move from within the centre, there are magical escapes: Parque del Oeste connected with Casa de Campo forest through the cable cars. El retiro and Rio parks where the variety of colors and small statues with foutnains or artificial lakes will wash away any noise in your head. Is culture and music what you are looking for? Flamenco might be too traditional? There are rock and Jazz bars. El Matadero cultural centre and Casa Mexico alone will keep you busy, with hundreds of cinemas and theatres independent and commercial. I never thought I would find all of that within a capital, one that is actively aiming for less emissions and more green spaces year after year. Locals think it´s stressful, well coming from Egypt, I would say they have not seen stress. It shows in their self denying characters and generous souls. The way they make fiestas and enjoy life. In each neighborhood, you will find a treasure along with an escape. If I would write a book to share my experience in Madrid this would be a mere introduction the city that captured my soul.