If you are looking for unique but of course inexpensive souvenirs, the best places to go are Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. With a great concentration of souvenir shops, you will find here a wide array of souvenir items at relatively cheap price; among the best souvenir items to buy in these shops are the toro (miniature of the Spanish bull), abanico (hand held fan), miniature monuments, and football souvenirs. Because Madrid is also known for its art pieces, art and paintings would also make a good souvenir. However, these items may come at a ceiling high price so the best option to have as souvenir would be the high quality prints of the paintings displayed in the city. You can buy these prints for very cheap prices in many of Madrid’s art galleries.

On average, T-shirt souvenirs in the city would cost around 5-18 euros (depending on the quality of the cloth; decorated plates can start at 5 euros; baseball caps 12 euros, and post cards at 1.50 euros.

In general, shopping for girls items in Madrid is far cheaper than with the boys. Although it may depend on the brand and style, girls will have more economical choices than the boys.

Hortaleza, which is located just of Gran Via, is the paradise for hipsters. Here, one will get to buy many different shoe styles at affordable prices. If you, on the other hand, has fetish for computer hardware, then do no miss to buy at PCBox as many locals and tourists consider it a haven for the best and cheapest computer hardware in the city. For video games fans, GAME, which has over 27 branches in Madrid sells cheap video games, both new and second-hand.

Aside from the interesting yet cheap buys in Madrid, the best thing about shopping in the city is that it is tax free! Just ask around about where to go and what to do to get back 17% of your purchase price prior to your departure. So enjoy shopping in the capital of Spain without totally emptying your pockets.

The first thing to take care of before going to the city is your residence permit. If you are coming from EU states, this should not worry you at all. However, if you are a student coming from another country, you will have to apply for a visa prior to your departure. Be very careful in applying for the right visa because a tourist visa only gives you a 3-month frame to be in the city and thus does not make you a student in the city.

After you have secured your visa or your residence permit, the next thing you will have to worry think about is your accommodation. With such a big city as Madrid, finding the perfect place to stay can be both a blessing and a curse – there are so many options to have but which one should you have? You can stay in residence halls, apartments, or in flat share rooms. Whichever you think is best for you, the important thing is that you do a thorough research.

Because you are to live temporarily in a strange place, insurance is a necessary thing to get as you head to Madrid. Among the must-get insurances in the city are health insurance (a no-brainer decision) and accident insurance (a sensible one granting you are in a strange place).

After securing the first three things (residence permit, accommodation, and insurance), the next thing you’d like to think about when living as a student in Madrid is the cost of living itself. Like other large European cities, living in Madrid – whether as a student or not – does not come cheap. The monthly expenses you should expect to be spending in the city would not go less than 500 €; although this would greatly depend on the cost of your rent and your lifestyle (e.g. food you eat, leisure, and nightlife activities).

Living as a student in Madrid is not all about glitters and frills. The city may promise you a lot of unforgettable experiences but this would also have to depend on how much preparation you gave prior to your arrival in the city. So do your research and learn the basics.

Below are some of the most romantic spots to propose to your partner:

Plaza Mayor

With a backdrop of stunning 17th century architecture, the Plaza Mayor lies at the heart of old Madrid and positively breathes romance. Those who hope to propose in the plaza will have to be bold, as their actions will undoubtedly have an audience. The 129-by-94-metre plaza is very popular with tourists and locals alike, and there are 237 balconies that overlook it.

La Fuente de Cibeles

The Cibeles Fountain occupies the centre of La Fuente de Cibeles square and depicts a lion-led carriage ridden by the goddess Cibeles. The majestic fountain provides a good excuse to sit down and take a deep breath before metaphorically diving in.

Retiro Park

Wherever you met your soon-to-be fiancé or fiancée, whether it was online dating Glasgow singles or while travelling in Sydney, Madrid’s Retiro Park is a wonderfully romantic place to pop the question. Situated at the edge of the city centre, the 350-acre park is filled with beautiful sculpture, a boating lake, formal avenues of trees, rotating exhibitions and a glass pavilion. The Rosaleda rose garden is a particularly apt place for wedding proposals.

Templo de Debod

One of the city’s more surprising finds, the Templo de Debod is over 2,200 years old. It was presented to Spain in gratitude for the country assisting Egypt rescue the Abu Simbel temple in Namibia. The inside of the temple is tranquil enough to compose pre-proposal thoughts and the garden outside provides great views over the Casa de Campo.

Casa de Campo

Whether you began by dating at eHarmony.co.uk recently or you have known each other since childhood, the hearts of every couple will be stirred by the wildness of Casa de Campo – a large park situated on the right bank of the river Manzanares. People tend to congregate around the lake area, so branch out into the wild land filled with pine, chestnut, ash and Holm oak trees. For a memorable arrival into the park, take the teleférico (cable car) from the Paseo del Pintor Rosales in Arguelles.

Pitcure by Michelangelo Carrieri, http://www.flickr.com/people/malakhkelevra/

Pablo Ruiz Picasso, who died in 1973, was a Spanish expatriate sculptor, ceramist, stage designer, print maker, and of course, a famous painter. He is known to be one of the 20th century’s most influential artists not only for his varied styles in painting but also for being the Cubist Movement’s co-founder. Picasso spent almost all his life in the arts; devoted his time in the development of modern art. Considered radical in nature, Picasso’s arts have influenced so many artists then and now.

Reina Sofia Museum of Madrid is known to host the most extensive exhibition of Picasso’s great art works. Among these is Guernica, a painting which was created as a form of response to the bombing of the Italian and German warplanes in Guernica, Basque Country during the Spanish Civil War. Picasso was commissioned by the government of the Spaniards to create the large mural and have it displayed in 1973’s Paris International Exposition. People who will visit the painting will see the tragedies and sufferings that the war has brought to individuals, particularly the civilians. Made of grey, black, and white, the painting measures 3.5 metres tall and 7.8 metres wide.

As one of the Golden Museum Triangle of Madrid, along with Prado and Thessen Museums, Reina Sofia Musuem showcases over 400 works of the artist, which include sculptures, paintings, engravings, notebooks, drawings, and ceramic arts. Next to the Musee National Picasso in Paris, the museum holds the most number of pieces from the renowned artist.

Art may not be your cup of tea but, hey, when in Madrid, you might want to embrace it to fully appreciate its unique offerings. It’s not only the sights and attractions that make Madrid remarkable, it is its rare collections housed in its museums, and Picasso would top on this list.

Vocabulary

Qué pena! – Sorry. In Spain, this means “What a shame”.

Nonas – no. Spaniards just say ‘No’.

Tranquilo – Calm down In European Spanish, this is ‘Calmate’.

“¡A la orden!” This is a friendly greeting you will hear from shopkeepers and taxi drivers, meaning “at your service”.
“Pues” This doesn’t really mean anything. Sometimes it can mean ‘well’, but it’s often used in the same way ‘like‘ is often used in Britain: “I, like, went to the shops and, like, bought something.”

Characteristics

Both Colombians and Spaniards often use diminutives for nouns. For example ‘gato’ (cat) becomes ‘gatico’ (little cat) in Colombian Spanish whereas in Castilian Spanish it is ‘gatito’. More so in Colombian Spanish, this is sometimes also done with adjectives and verbs – for example ‘corriendo’ (running) becomes corriendito. ‘Little running’ presumably means not running very fast, which is a pretty elegant phrase.

In Colombian Spanish, ‘que’, meaning ‘that’, is often used where it doesn’t seem to belong. For example, someone might thank you by saying ‘Que gracias’, which means ‘[They say] that [I should give you] thanks’. This apparently comes from children running errands for their parents, who would always say something like ‘Que gracias’ – it gradually became adopted as a general habit.

While Spaniards lisp the ‘Z’ and ‘C’ sounds, they are pronounced with the ‘S’ sound in most of Latin America, including Colombia.

Terms of endearment

In much of the Spanish-speaking world, people who know each other will often use the informal ‘tu’ greeting. This is rare in Colombia, where the formal ‘usted’ is preferred. One multilingual blogger was confused by this, saying “I heard mothers talking to children using ‘usted’… I’ve never had a conjugation drive me so crazy!”

There’s also the confusing habit, within Colombian families, of referring to the parents as as “mijo” and “mija” (my son and daughter), and kids as “papito” and “mamita” (daddy and mummy). You could take all the Spanish courses Manchester and London have to offer, and not get any closer to understanding this bizarre habit.

Slang

Berraco: This is a versatile piece of slang which can mean: a talented, courageous or angry person, a boar, or a complicated situation.

Perder el año: This literally means ‘to lose a year’, but Colombians use it to mean either failing at school, or death.

¿Vientos o maletines?: This is a friendly way of saying ‘How are things?’

Chicharrón: Literally meaning ‘pork rind’, this is used to show someone has a problem

Cojo: Lame

Fresco: This means fresh, but is used to say: “Be cool!”

Books

One of the best ways to learn Spanish is by reading novels in the language, and Colombian authors can help give you a good idea of how people speak in the country. The most famous, of course, is Gabriel Garcia Marquez, whose family drama 100 Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) is considered one of the best novels of the past 50 years. I prefer his 1985 novel Love in the Time of Cholera (El amor en los tiempos del cólera), about a tragic romance. Other important Colombian writers include Jose Asuncion Silva and Alvaro Mutis.

These tips should mean that you are equipped to listen out for and engage not only with the Spanish but also the Colombian community in Madrid. It is a great place for you to practise different Spanish dialects and perhaps even to prepare you for future trips further afield to South America.

Pitcure by Moyan Brenn, http://www.flickr.com/people/aigle_dore/

Romantic Attractions

The Retiro Park is an ideal place to get cozy and romantic in Madrid. You can spend the day watching people or row with your partner and savour the peace and quiet in the area. However, if you want to do something with a more Madrid feel, then take your date to the city’s big three museums: Thyssen, Reina Sofia, and Prado. With all the interesting collections showcased in the museums (something you and your partner will never find elsewhere), you’d be sharing something special that’s truly Madrid.

Romantic Cafés and Bars

After a day of strolling around the romantic attractions in Madrid, it’s time to give you and your darling a rest in one of the city’s romantic cafés and bars. Two of the best romantic dinner spots in the city would have to be the Geographic Club (Calle Alcala, 141) and Viva Madrid (Manuel Fernandez y Gonzalez 7) which are known for its quiet and intimate setting, which gives it a very romantic ambiance. Vinoteca in Plaza Santa Ana can also be a romantic dinner option in Madrid for its fine wines and exquisite tapas. For those looking for some great jazz music background for a more romantic setup, Café Populart in Huertas 22 is the place to be. With its live jazz and blues offering every night, spending the Valentines with your partner is made even more memorable.

Proposing

You’re in Madrid on a Valentine’s – what can complete your romantic date than sealing it with a proposal? The city has numerous spots that are perfect for a special event such as a proposal. Among these places are Plaza Mayor, the four sided public square which does not come short of tourists for a very public proposal; and the Retiro Park, which gives you a choice of going private or public with your proposal.

Madrid will never fall short of romantic getaways, whether or not it is Valentine’s Day, but of course, the occasion makes the date extra special and extra romantic so be sure not to miss spending this special day with a special someone in this special place.

As part of the New Year traditions in Madrid, tourists and locals alike head to Puerta del Sol by the 31st of December to all welcome the new year. A famous landmark in the city, all eyes in the country are on Puerta del Sol due to the clock mounted on the roof of the City Hall, also called the Ayuntamiento de Madrid, which chimes as the midnight strikes to mark the end and beginning of the old and new year, respectively. If you can’t be on the spot to welcome the New Year, you can also simply sit in front of your TV for a live coverage of the event; and while at it, it might also be good to take note of the advertisement that comes immediately after the last chime as that would be the year’s most expensive ad spot of the year!

Another tradition to take part in when in Madrid during the New Year is to eat grapes! Yep, not in wine or in raisin form, but the real grapes. This is a long standing tradition that the Madrileňos do on New Year’s Eve; each chime of the clock, one would have to swallow a whole grape, which means they are expected to have consumed a dozen of grapes as the 12th chime of the clock finishes. Many of those who go to Puerta del Sol to meet the New Year bring their grapes with them; many restaurants and bars in the city provide free grapes for their customers a quarter before 12 midnight.

After the grapes and the greetings, many of the youngsters in Madrid then head to some of the top bars and clubs and in the city. Here, they will party ‘til the morning light.

New Year in Madrid is a big celebration. When in the city, do not miss to take part in the merry-making and traditions to really feel what it is to celebrate the New Year in the Spanish city.

The Christmas atmosphere in the city usually kicks off with the opening of its Christmas market in Plaza Mayor. Although its official opening takes place on the first week of December, several stalls are already up for business on the last week of November. If you want to avoid the Christmas rush, coming to the city on its opening week to buy presents for your loved ones will pretty much help.

With the opening of the Christmas market, you can then expect other Christmas-related activities to take place. If you go to c/Ortega y Gasset and c/Goya, you will surely be fascinated with the spectacular Christmas lights that will cover the streets. Many department stores will also start filling up their stores with Christmas decorations too – so it’s just impossible for you not to feel the spirit of Christmas in the city.

If the lights and decorations aren’t enough to fuel you up, then head on to Plaza de Oriente on December 15 for a big show of performances. If you are traveling in the city with kids, you can take them to the Gardens of Discovery located near the Plaza de Colon for some sound and light display that the kids will surely enjoy. On Christmas Eve (December 24), the Retiro Park also holds an animal parade and other activities that will entertain your young travel buddies.

Other Christmas-related events that often take place in the city are the Nativity Scenes and the Three Kings Procession that start from El Retiro Park all the way to Plaza Mayor.

Since most attractions in Madrid close on Christmas Day, it would help to find yourself some alternative activities to do on December 25, but of course, this just makes sense since most of the locales will be spending their time with their families too during this time.

Merry Christmas!

But although the capital and the country in general, do not make a big fuss about the event, this does not necessarily mean of a zero celebration. A few spots in the city hold activities dedicated to Halloween (of course, this occasion gives reason to do business to the city’s tourists). Among the highlights in Madrid Halloween is the Semana Gotica de Madrid which takes place from October 24-November 1. Here, concerts, magic, and other ‘spectacles’ are to be expected. If you want some real Halloween feeling in Madrid, you must not miss the party in the Dark Hole – a gothic club located in c/Mesonero Romanos, near Gran Via. For kids, the Warner Brothers’ Park offers special Halloween-themed shows to keep the families entertained (it’s always great to look forward to something new after all). If you want some scare, the Zoo Aquarium and Faunia showcase something that has to do with that.

Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery

Sure, there’s not much partying in the city as there is in other places around the world, but your Halloween in Madrid should just be defined by the parties and costumes. One way to spend your Halloween in the city is to visit one of its famous cemeteries, the Our lady of Almudena Cemetery. The Cementerio de Nuestra Señora de La Almudena or the Our Lady of Almudena Cemetery in English is the largest cemetery in the city and one of the largest throughout the Western Europe. With an estimate of over five million bodies buried in the cemetery – which is actually larger than the population in the city – tourists will find visiting the place an interesting Halloween destination. Many famous personalities are buried in the cemetery; there are actors, actresses, singers, philosophers, and producers among others.

Despite the lack of merry-making and parties in Madrid during Halloween, tourists can still consider this time in the city as a perfect opportunity to get to know Madrid more.