Summer in Madrid

One of the things I really like about Madrid is that at night (and by night I mean until at least 12 or 1 in the morning) in the summer, every cafe and restaurant/bar has tables and chairs outside on the sidewalk. And there are always a lot of people there, eating, having a drink, etc. I like the atmosphere, and it's so madrileño to be out so late, even on weeknights, for something as simple as sitting down for a drink.

Practically all Spaniards go on vacation for the month of August. So half the little stores close down and the metro is less crowded and everything is even more relaxed than it usually is here. But when the 1st hit last Wednesday, everything immediately opened back up, the city was crowded with its residents back from vacation, and the weather not only dropped about 20 degrees Celsius, but it rained two days in a row. (It rains very infrequently here.) I've got to get used to it, too, because classes start on Monday.

Cathedral in Segovia

Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid

Last Thursday evening we NYU students toured Madrid Viejo (Old Madrid - the historical and also very touristy part of the city) with a couple of professors. Then Friday we went on a day trip to Segovia, a small old town with Roman and Moorish influence/history. It's famous for its Roman aqueducts, the cathedral, and the castle (which is rumored to have influenced Cinderella's castle in Disney World). I've seen Madrid Viejo before a couple of times, and been to Segovia once before, but it was nice to go back and see them again.

Statue of Felipe III in
Plaza Mayor, Madrid