We accidently forgot to hit post so this is for the week of August 20ish😅
Hello from Laura, Sanjana, and Fatima!
Our first week here in Madrid has been absolutely incredible. We have spent the majority of our time exploring our local area, while also visiting some of Madrid’s more popular spots, such as Gran Vía and much more. It has been so exciting getting to experience both the tourist side of the city and the more local, everyday side of Madrid.
The area we are staying in is filled mostly with locals and, honestly, has little to no tourists. Because of that, people around us are usually pretty curious about who we are and what we are doing here, but always in the sweetest way. Since the neighbourhood is so local, there is also very little English communication. Surprisingly, though, this has not been something we have found difficult to navigate. Everyone has been so kind, patient, and willing to help us, even when there is a language barrier. In fact, being surrounded by constant Spanish communication has already helped us learn so much of the language. We are picking up new words and phrases every day simply through conversations, ordering food, shopping, and going about our daily routines.
In the more tourist-heavy areas of Madrid, there is much more English communication, so getting around and speaking with people is very easy there as well. No matter where we have gone, though, everyone has been incredibly friendly and welcoming.
One of our favourite things so far has been going out at night and simply sitting in one of the MANY parks around the city, laughing, talking, and enjoying the atmosphere. We quickly noticed that there are parks everywhere, usually only a couple of minutes apart from each other. Some are smaller playgrounds or neighbourhood parks, while others are more scenic spaces where people sit, relax, socialize, and spend time together. There always seems to be somewhere nearby to sit down and enjoy the city.
The architecture throughout Madrid is also breathtaking. Even when we are just walking around with no particular destination, there is always something beautiful to look at. The buildings have so much character and detail, and exploring the different streets and neighbourhoods has been an experience in itself.
Getting around Madrid has also been much easier than we expected because the metro system is super easy to navigate. There are so many stations throughout the city, and we even have multiple stations within about a 10-minute walk from where we are staying. Having such easy access to public transportation has made exploring different areas of Madrid so convenient.
Another thing that has really stood out to us is how safe Madrid feels. No matter where we have gone or what time of day it has been, we have felt incredibly comfortable walking around and exploring. There is also such a strong sense of community here. Everywhere you go, you will notice people laughing, talking, singing, dancing, and spending time together. The city always feels lively, and there seems to be so much happening around you at all times. It has been really nice to see how social and connected everyone seems to be.
We have also started noticing some funny cultural differences. One thing we quickly realized is that it is completely normal to accidentally bump into people while walking, especially in crowded places. No one seems offended, and people do not feel the need to overly apologize for it, which is definitely something we Canadians are not used to LOL. Another important lesson for anyone planning on shopping here: apparently, you cannot just take your size off the mannequin and buy it… we learned that one the hard way. 🙂
The food has also been incredible. There is so much variety, and we have been pleasantly surprised by how many different dietary options are available. Whether we are eating out or buying food to make at home, there always seems to be plenty to choose from.
Groceries are also muchhhh cheaper than what we are used to, which has been such a nice surprise. There are sooo many grocery stores, markets, and food shops all around us, so it is extremely convenient to pick up fresh food whenever we need it. We love being able to walk only a few minutes and find fresh ingredients or something to eat at almost any time of day.
Overall, our first week in Madrid has been such an amazing experience. Between exploring our local neighbourhood, visiting the more popular areas of the city, learning Spanish through everyday interactions, trying new foods, experiencing the culture, and simply spending time together, we have already made so many great memories. We are excited to keep exploring and see what the rest of our time here brings!