Madrid, art and life on the plateau
Madrid stands at the centre of Spain on the Meseta plateau, around 650 metres above sea level. That position helps explain its often-clear skies, dry hot summers and winters colder than a generic image of Spain might suggest.
Madrid struck me as cosmopolitan, hectic, lively, nocturnal and culturally sophisticated. It moves between monumental avenues and squares and neighbourhoods where life continues late, without feeling designed only for visitors.
The city is a major art destination, with the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía grouped along Paseo del Arte, yet the journey does not end in museums. The Royal Palace and Habsburg Madrid explain the capital's history, while El Retiro offers a genuine break from its urban rhythm.
What I remember best is how easily one face becomes another: Lavapiés and La Latina, Malasaña and Chueca, Salamanca's elegant streets, the old-centre squares and gardens. The metro is extensive, but many of my best discoveries came simply from walking.
