Madrid, Spain?

[TheKai]

Hello everyone,

Ill be moving to Madrid, Spain for work at the end of the year. Will probably be there for a couple of years and it's my first time in Spain. Any one who's traveled or lived there have any tips?

From what I understand, everything is tied to a Spain Bank account as far as payments for utilities, rent, etc so Ill have to find a trusty one of those. And the internet can take up to 6 months to get set up in your home.

Any and all tips/advice would be most welcomed.

Thanks for reading!

Kai

[Nyeleni]

True, you will need a bank account and a DNI=card of identification, which you will be getting from your local police office. Shouldn't be more than a day, organizing both.

Not true (although if the strike goes on like now, it might take much more longer than usual), you won't be waiting 6 months in Madrid. Usually it is done really fast. Maybe somewhere in a lost valley of Galicia or Extremadura... but certainly not the capital.

As for hints: Madrid is the biggest city of Spain, but nonetheless it has a feeling of big villages thrown together. It is very cozy as long as you dont live near criminal hotspots. Every quarter is a hamlet very different from the others: Puerta del Sol would be probably the best place to start exploring it.

[Arakis]

Learn Spanish:) At least its basics. Every time I was in Spain that was the biggest hurtle. They do not want to speak in English, at least that was my biggest problem there when it came to facing police or in the bank, or even at the shop.

[TheKai]

Thanks Nyelani!

That is really good to know that it's that quick. I was a bit concerned. All I am going off are websites and the like so thank you for that bit of information.

Thanks for the info on Puerta del Sol. Ill look for it in terms of how far it is away from my job. Ill be shipping a vehicle as well, but I read that cars are almost not neccessary due to the excellenet train system available. Im pretty excited to start traveling when I finally get there.

Thanks again!

[TheKai]

Learn Spanish:) At least its basics. Every time I was in Spain that was the biggest hurtle. They do not want to speak in English, at least that was my biggest problem there when it came to facing police or in the bank, or even at the shop.

Thanks Arakis. Yea, I have a few friends fluent and they're teaching me the basics. I also wondered about the language barrier, so thank you for letting me know now.

Rosetta stone, here I come!

[Nyeleni]

Learn Spanish:) At least its basics. Every time I was in Spain that was the biggest hurtle. They do not want to speak in English, at least that was my biggest problem there when it came to facing police or in the bank, or even at the shop.

Why should they learn english? They were an empire once... Or does the american empire learn other languages than the anglosaxon one? Did or still do the french, does the british empire? Only small countries really learn other languages on a grand scale.
I should know it, I teach languages .

Thanks Nyelani!

That is really good to know that it's that quick. I was a bit concerned. All I am going off are websites and the like so thank you for that bit of information.

Thanks for the info on Puerta del Sol. Ill look for it in terms of how far it is away from my job. Ill be shipping a vehicle as well, but I read that cars are almost not neccessary due to the excellenet train system available. Im pretty excited to start traveling when I finally get there.

Thanks again!

Im no ...lani, but why not ... You really don't need a car, unless you have a family (children etc.). Madrid is living off all the other provinces. All the new buildings are almost only done in the capital. The infrastructure is almost everywhere modern. There are still third-world-country remnants, which are quite romantic actually, if you like that kind of location.
Well still not as good as in the Basque country or in Navarra. But that's because the first are castilians and the latter basques. Even the catalans almost keep up with Madrid, and with a lot less money for public constructions.

Disclaimer: I'm an independist for smaller countries like Euskal Herria (basque country), Catalonia and Galicia for instance. Living in Catalonia atm. I don't hate Spain (the castilian part), but they really shouldn't decide over us too.

[TheKai]

Oops, sorry about the mispelling!

I'll have to look up most of what you just said, but thank you for the information

[freekender]

Hope you have a great time in Spain. Madrid is an awesome city, every time I go there I can't go everywhere I want, always short of time! I recommend you visit all the places you can as long as you are here in Spain, it has many different and beautiful areas to discover. And don´t forget to go up north, we are not only beach and paella. And (ahem) the most beautiful city in the world Bilbao lol

[TheKai]

You know, everyone I've spoken to about Spain keeps mentioning paella..I will definitely have to look into it.

Thanks for the info freekender. I plan to do as much traveling as my job will allow

By chance, can anyone recommend any beaches for some beach vball?

[Solaris]

I've been in Madrid quite often on overnights. Pretty cool place! For beach vball however...best place in spain I've been was in San Sebastian, close to Bilbao. If you ever like to make a roadtrip to the north, go there!





Top it off with a nice dinner or lunch at one of their Michelin star retaurants. (Most michelin star restaurants per square meter in the world apart from Kyoto XD) I myself have been to Arzak myself.

If you need any other info or hints for Barcelona, Bilbao, or Madrid let me know! I stay there pretty often! If there are any locals here with even better info, let me know! I love to try out new things

[Nyeleni]

Donosti (San Sebastian) is fine for the view, but it's much cheaper in Bilbo (Bilbao). And you will notice that Euskal Herria (the Basque Country where those two cities are) is much better in terms of infrastructure than the rest of Spain. Navarra too, an adjacent province, because they keep 95% of the taxes and they make good use of it too.

If Catalonia would have the same terms as the "Fueros" like those two in the north, we wouldn't even think about independence...
Barcelona is worth a visit too of course. And there are even spots where you eat cheap and good still. Further away from the Ramblas of course...

Enjoy the Iberic peninsula. Btw. Portugal is worth a visit too. Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve to name three of the nice places.

[Solaris]

Nyeleni, do you know any good restaurants and/or bars in Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao?

(sorry Kai! For using this thread to my own advantages XD)

[TheKai]

I've written those places down for further research. Thanks Nyeleni

Nyeleni, do you know any good restaurants and/or bars in Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao?

(sorry Kai! For using this thread to my own advantages XD)

Oh no, trust me, ill be using this information as well so it's aaaall good. I enjoy fine dining.

[Nyeleni]

For good restaurants the best places are in the Gòtic and Raval quarters. Almost any restaurant there which is usually full to the brim is a good place. Avoid the empty ones .

As for Bilbo: I only have been once there, but any restaurant there is usually cheaper than in Donosti. Although the thursday they have a pintxo night in the latter. 1 Euro for the little mouthful apart from the drink, but then not every pintxo was worth the euro heh.

For good food there is Galicia too: Santiago, Pontevedra, Lugo, Ourense or even A Coruña and Vigo. Very cheap fish and seafood (because it's close to the fishing grounds) and very yummy. And the region is worth a visit. As long as you don't go there by train or car. The roads and railways are still one of the worst in Spain. At least going there. The coast has rather a modern infrastructure now...

I don't know Madrid well enough. But I would say anything that is a bit away from the touristic centres has a good chance of being cheap and good.

[TheKai]

Taking inspiration from chad's thread, figure I'd update this one.

MADRID IS BEAUTIFUL

We've been living here for about two months now, right in the center of Madrid itself. I fell in love with this city once I was able to walk around and view it. The architecture here is amazing and very classically built. I take a walk on the same path just about every day, I cannot get enough.

The people are friendly enough, and while I have some trouble communicating due to the language barrier, it is not impossible. A few times we even got help from a stranger who spoke both English and Spanish who acted as a translator from their own good heart Luckily though, I have two locals that work for me who I can call on to assist if it gets hard.

AND EVERYONE IS SO WELL DRESSED!! Coming from Hawaii where "well dressed" is a button down shirt, board shorts and your "formal flip flops" I am pleasantly surprised. Well groomed, well maintained and everyone just looks so picturesque, at all hours

I cannot emphasize enough how impressed I am. Alas, tonight is my last night in a hotel, we move into our home this week (with an internet connection being set up the same day) outside of the city, but just a short metro ride (wonderful metro system here) into the heart itself where I can go to recharge Hope to see everyone in game over the next few weeks!