Didn't even know this place existed. A friend and I were traveling in Madrid and it was Sunday…read morewhich was a perfect time to visit this area because of 'Las Ramblas'. We sort of got lost and took a different way back... I was glad we did because we ran into this gem. We just sat on a makeshift chair and looked around at people playing soccer, building, studying, planting or just lounging. Its unlike any park I have ever seen. It doesn't feel like a public part as as much of a community project. Its is out of this world and just strait cool. Spent an hour just lounging and eating breakfast while a few people jammed on acoustic guitar.

This place took me completely by surprise. A construction site that has been turned from an ignored…read morederelict site into a community space, this is a great example of how people have responded to the recession. There is a cafe, a stage for concerts, a basketball/football court and regular film screenings. All provided by people who saw a failed property development and decided to use it for something better. An excellent example of community spirit.

When I traveled to Madrid, I stayed in this neighborhood, and loved it! It is very centrally…read morelocated, close to Plaza Mayor, the Palacio de Real and much more, and has a lot of colorful local flavor. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and winding tiny streets branching out from the main roads. There always seems to be something going on, but it still feels very quiet in many areas. As a female solo traveler, I am always very concerned with the safety of the neighborhoods that I stay in. I always felt safe here. I walked around at night every evening that I was in the city, and never had any problems of felt unsafe - that being said, of course you must take precautions and always use common sense. But in general, I felt quite safe. Great area!

this is a vibrant, colourful neighborhood in the southwestern part of madrid's city centre. as…read moresoon as i stepped out of the underground station, i immediately saw many colourful murals, painted on the sides of various buildings. there are plenty of plazas here to relax, play, stroll, jog, or play ball. just be careful in the evenings, as there are some questionable streets and alleys that aren't very well lit. personally, my favourite thing to do here was to eat! the street called "calle cava baja" is well known for their restaurants, cafes, and tapas bars, and you could actually go "tapas bar" hopping by having the "house tapas" and a drink at one bar, and moving on to a second, and a third, so on and so forth until your belly is full! most of the tapas bars are very reasonably priced and open quite late. accessible via the la latina and tirso de molina underground stations.

Central square in the historic district of Segovia. A theater, hotel, Segovia Cathedral and many…read morerestaurants and shops flank the sides of the square, which has a gazebo, trees and a couple statues in the center. It's about a 7-8 min walk from the aqueducts, and another 10 minute walk to the Alcazar. Tour groups often gather in this location at the start of tours, and if you like to people watch, sit at one of the cafes/restaurants in the square to take a break from sight-seeing. The historic district of the city is pretty touristy, but there are still many authentic food options and shopping options (smaller boutique-sized shops).

Unavoidable Because…read moreit is between two of the places you'll be visiting (Alcazar and Aqueduct) and adjacent to a third place (Cathedral), it is very likely you'll be stopping here or at least passing through here. Like most plazas, it is a fairly large open space with some interesting history. Also like most plazas, you'll find a lot of tourists and a lot of businesses trying to separate those tourists from as much of their money as possible.

A pair of classics in their respective cities (2 of 2)…read more - - - - - I'm not surprised there are a lot of reviews. Then, I've had this bookmarked for an eternity based on the reviews of a Yelp friend (acquaintance) from the Yelp Talk chapter who did quite a bit of traveling. I had seen Chocolateria San Gines before but did not go in. I don't know why. This time, I did go in. They have two salons across the street from each other. I prefer the one on the east side of the street, which has the taller ceilings and more glass and mirrors. There may be a line around the side, but it will move quickly. I knew they had chocolate based on their name, but I didn't understand how they factored it into the equation. I sort of assumed that one could get chocolate churros. After all, there are now chocolate cannoli shells and, in some cases, cannoli can also have chocolate filling. The lady at the counter very quickly gave me an education. One gets the standard churros, but they come with a chocolate sauce that you dip them into. This all made for an interesting snack. This is not a place intended for a meal. The churros have a nice bland sort of crunchiness and the chocolate sauce is one heck of a counterpoint. The combination is tasty and unique. I also had a hot drink. Upon asking, they immediately provided me with a small glass of cold water - seen at many adjacent tables - probably to counter the effects of the richness of this snack. Be it at the counter or at the table, the staff was very well mannered and helpful, which was commendable for how busy they were. The interior is very clean and has a lot of history on its walls. The pricing was to my liking, so coming to Chocolateria San Gines is a "no brainer." Everything is there and the intersection of its history and visitors from the world over take this one to 5 stars. A friend of mine who once lived in Madrid laughed upon learning it was on my list. I mentioned I had already been to Mallorquina, which is a few blocks away on Plaza del Sol. The story was that Mallorquina is where Madrid's version of chatty magpies might go to do the dessert and coffee thing with their friends in the afternoon. It closes in the evening. Instead, Chocolateria San Gines is open all the time and might be the last stop of the evening or night before Madrilenos turn in from a night on the town. It is also very easy to reach, only a few blocks from either the Sol or Opera Metro stations, from which you can also take in fascinating nearby Plaza Mayor.

The churros here are a must try in Madrid, Spain…read more The chocolate sauce is divine and great for dipping the churros. There's a dining area to sit inside and outside. The service is relatively quick. The churros are crispy and not oily. If you're in Madrid go here!

Puerta del Sol is the "center" of Spain, both geographically and in its ability to attract every…read moresingle tourist with a camera and zero spatial awareness. If you've ever dreamed of standing in a crowd so dense you become part of a human gazpacho, this is your spot. Historically, it used to be a literal gate to the city hence "Puerta" and now it's just the gateway to dodging pickpockets and street performers. The clock tower at the Real Casa de Correos is iconic so go to see that. There's a statue of a bear eating from a strawberry tree (El Oso y el Madrono), which is the official symbol of Madrid. Why a bear and a berry bush? No one knows exactly, but it's been repping the city since the Middle Ages.

Being back in puerta del sol feels like home. Here's the deal- sol is like the central hub. From…read moresol, any direction you go, you'll find what you need! The metro station is sol connects to three lines making it one of the most accessible stops. The plaza area itself is always overrun with tourist and scammers, so beware and watch those pockets. But, the magic of sol is in the side streets that connect to it. Go north and you're in gran via or chueca. Take a step towards the irish pubs and grab a pint! Go north west in search of some churros at san gines. Sol is the connecting point to many notable places to visit! While I don't consider it a stop in itself, it is a great meeting point among groups to start your journey!

An unknown treasure, even by Madrid inhabitants, in the middle of the historical center of Madrid…read more This small garden, which is part of the Anglona Prince Palace, was was built around 1530 as the residence of one counselor of the Catholic Monarchs and Carlos I, although its present aspect corresponds to a reform in 1802. It is a very quiet, although it has lost a lot of charm and the abandonment of the city council has seriously deteriorated, but still a lovely place to escape the noise and bustle.

The Plaza del Coso is an urban plaza in Peñafiel. Gayle and I wandered in almost by chance as we…read morewere exploring this quaint wine village one evening. A local Tourist Office branch is also located here, which was useful in putting this interesting (but relatively obscure, at least to us) place into perspective. Neither of us have seen anything like it, from the stark sand plaza grounds, to the various and stunning wooden architectural styles surrounding it. The Square is commonly known as "Corro" or "Corro of the Bulls", and has been documented as existing since the Middle Ages. The square is surrounded by 48 buildings, is accessed by two streets, and is very spacious. The balconies of the plaza are lintelled, and were built between the 18th and 19th centuries. The balconies are made from wood, are decorated with arabesque, and have been used since their creation to watch the shows. The "Right To View" or "Derecho de Vistas" are sold separately from the ownership of the buildings themselves. During the year the Plaza serves as a bullring during the Festival of San Roque in August, and provides a place for the Descent of the Angel Festival (Bajada del Ángel), on Resurrection Sunday.

Due to political changes in Madrid the grandmother of rock now have her typical heavy fingers back…read more Everybody should come and pay their respects...