Spanish Holidays and History - Dos de Mayo

Spanish Holidays and History - Dos de Mayo

Dos de Mayo (the Second of May) coupled with the May Day (International workers day, the first of May) forms a two-day festival in Madrid that is sometimes a Puente (literally bridge or long weekend) depending on how the dates...

photo of the day

The Mirasierra Hotel

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid are are great complement to the action-packed days and nights in this 24-hour city.

Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)

Travel in Spain: The Feria de Sevilla (Seville)

by Sean McNamara
The six-hour southbound bus ride passed quickly, as my anticipation for Sevilla’s famous spring Feria (Fair) grew and the monumental silhouettes of Andalusian bulls floated over the hills. Socibus, the company that shuttles travelers...

Atocha Station in Madrid: Trains, buses, subways and... turtles

Atocha Station in Madrid: Trains, Buses, Subways and... Turtles

Next time you’re headed off on a day trip from the Atocha train station make sure you arrive early enough in order to enjoy all that this historic Madrid landmark has to offer. Yes, really...

Photo of the Day

Atocha Station

Atocha Station in Madrid comes complete with a... tropical forest inside. The rare mix of French architecture, swaying palms, cafes, candy shops and, yes, even night clubs ought to keep you entertained while you wait for your next train. See review for details. Photo by Kike - also see his websites 1 & 2.

Tenerife - Cheap Holidays

Tenerife - A Holiday Paradise

by Laurie Smolenski
Endless banana plantations that stretch like seas of elevated green palms, black sand beaches populated by happy nude families, perilous narrow unnamed mountain roads…This is Tenerife. It’s drinking cold, cheap Dorada beer in a ramshackle...

Photo of the Day

A Holiday in Tenerife is an Investment not a Purchase

From black-sand beaches to crashing waves and luscious palms, Tenerife is sure to be an enriching experience. Story and photo by Laurie Smolenski.

Photo of the Day

A Holiday in Tenerife is an Investment not a Purchase

Botanical Gardens of Madrid

Everyone Needs a Day in Madrid's Botanical Gardens

Although the Real Jardín Botánico (Royal Botanic Gardens) may sound like a destination for those who travel by horse-drawn carriage and not sleek, modern jet, it shouldn’t be overlooked when...

photo of the day

Royal Botanical Gardens in Madrid

The Real Jardín Botánico is in full bloom and waiting for your visit.

Photo of the Day

Salamanca by Night

Salamanca is a city that boasts a world-famous 13th-century university, Cathedrals, and Roman architecture - not to mention huge tapas and great discos. How can you resist? See review. Photo by Andre Nakazawa.

Castles - Castillo de Manzanares el Real

Fairytale Castle Just outside Modern Madrid: Castillo de Manzanares el Real

by Andre Nakazawa

Knights in shining armor, the King on his throne and sentinels patrolling their watchtowers. Everything you assumed was mere childhood fantasy materializes in the 15th century Castillo de Manzanares el Real. Beautifully preserved, the castle lies a stone’s...

groups - Madridmas

Parties, Dancing and Language - Get More out of Madrid with Madridmas!

Spain is known for its laid-back atmosphere; ironically, this tranquility is...

review of December

While You were Out...

Welcome back! Madrid’s international population dipped a bit during December as everyone flew here or there to do this or that. We truly hope your livers and your bank accounts survived the season. Ours did - more or less. Come on, what’s a bit of sclerosis and debt, it’s the f%&king holidays! Anyway, the elves at MAP were busy the whole while happily writing away. Here is a quick update. Spanish current events were...

travel - Barcelona

Bridgin' to Barcelona

Stepping off the bus in Barcelona we had the hunched posture of knuckle dragging Neanderthals – a consequence of “sleeping” in fetal position on the night bus. Not an ideal start to a trip; however, a teacher’s salary doesn’t afford one the luxury of flying. Sticking with the travelers' motto: “No bad experiences, just good anecdotes”, we soldier, or rather lumbered, on...

Travel - Marakesh, Morroco

Marakesh, Morocco - A Puente Possibility Just Two Hours Away

Our plane arrives Thursday evening at 7 pm. We meet Simón in the airport reception hall. Square-shouldered, brown and baboushed, he sweeps away our luggage with a coral smile...

escape - Segovia

Segovia - Close, Cheap, Great Suckling Pig - What More do you Want?

Once upon a time, there was a quaint little town by the name of Segovia, found deceptively close to the metropolitan city of Madrid. Perfectly preserved in its medieval splendor, the city of Segovia exemplifies the more traditional side of Spain. El Casco Antiguo of the city is where a majority of the historical sites are located, all of which can be found within walking distance of one another. This scenic walk begins at the ancient Roman...

Get down!

Laydown Rest Club Madrid

It’s an age-old conundrum: should I languidly lie in bed or head out for a night of revelry? For many, too tired to go out but too restless to stay in, this constitutes a genuine conflict. Fortunately for the indecisive masses, there is now a brilliant compromise: a venue called “Lay Down” - or should that be “Lie Down”? Anyway, usage aside, this club/restaurant – provides an opportunity to do just that: relax in bed with friends while dining out and enjoying live performances and DJs...

Cocktail Bars

The Penthouse - The Top of the Top!

Do you ever get that urge to reach new heights? To be above the fray? To transcend Madrid’s marcha-madness? If you have this urge, and enough pocket changes to pay up to 14 euros per cocktail, we have a suggestion for you...

Tickets on sale: 30€

Code Summer Festival

Just when you thought the weekends were safe… Code is taking the party to the next level with CODE Summer Festival. After throwing their famed monthly blow-outs here in Madrid, they’re going to redefine “summer festival” with 30 Djs, two dance zone, 14 hours of music, and 10,000 clubbers!

Health - swimming pools

Outdoor Pools in Madrid Are Open!!!

Hey Kids! It’s officially summertime in Madrid – the pools open tomorrow! Even if you don’t consider yourself a “pool person”, you might want to check this out. In place of the typical concrete and deck chairs, many offer grass, trees, music and alcoholic beverages. Trust us, it can make for a perfectly lovely day...

From our former site

The Retiro - Best Park in Madrid

image by Ilana Panich-Linsman Retiro Park Enjoy the Park, Beware of the Bushes... As nice as the water looks, you can’t jump in. For that you have to wait until the 28th of May when all of the municipal pools open – we’ll keep you posted. Until ...