I'll be in Madrid for Christmas. Any suggetions for special things to do, places to see, etc. during the holidays in Madid?

Go to the Plaza Mayor. In the escaparates (store windows) the shop owners used to try to outdo each other with their Bethlehem scenes (Portales de Belem). They would even move the figures day by day all the way to Los Reyes (Epiphany, Jan 6).

Try this exhibition at the Fundación Telefónica .

Regards,

Antonio

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The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

(sorry Antonio. I had to fix the URL)

[This message has been edited by MadridMan (edited 12-02-2000).]

Eddie's right. Go to Plaza Mayor to shop through all the (very ugly) stands setup. Click HERE & HERE & HERE to see these stands and what's happening there now (as of this time -- the owner of this NEW live cam has sworn me to secrecy until he's ready to unveil his new website, but I'm very excited about it).

Also, visit Steven Erat's photo website about his trip to Madrid during the 1998/99 Christmas/New Year's holiday for some visual ideas.

Prepare yourself for the shopping-mad crowds around Puerta del Sol, calle Preciados, and Gran Vía!!

Saludos, MadridMan

[This message has been edited by MadridMan (edited 12-03-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Antonio (edited 12-05-2000).]

Hello David K.!!

Plese keep us updated on your experience in Madrid during Christmas. I'm sure they're are many here who will bee waiting for your reports every day from Madrid!

Merry Christmas to all on this board!!!

For those of you who can speak Spanish, check the city council website for more information about Christmas celebrations.

Regards,

Antonio

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The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

Thanks, everybody for the advice. I'll be sure to check all those places out. I'll try to send report of how my trip (my first ever) is going if I can find a place with internet access.

Does anybody know of any types of things that are widely available in the USA but not widely available in Spain and that would make a good Christmas present (or Los Reyes present) for a Spaniard? I'll be visiting my girlfriend's parents in Madrid for the first time and would like to make a good impression.

David K,
Oh oh... if you are visiting a Spaniard's dad and you are the boyfriend the las thing that you have to worry about is to bring a good gift I am kidding. If her father likes licors buy some good whisky (the american is very popular in Spain) for her mother a set of aromatic soaps and creams from "Bath and Body works" or aromatic candles.
Best regards...Nuria

Antonio, on the list of activities I saw Cabalgata de Reyes in all places EXCEPT downtown madrid. I'll be at the Plaza de las Cortes... will I see the Cabalgata? Does it go down the gran via or something?

rgf,

Here is the itinerary,

Paseo de Coches del Retiro, calle Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta del Sol, calle Ciudad Rodrigo and Plaza Mayor. Show at the Plaza Mayor before the arrival of the 3 Reyes Magos (3 wise men?).

Regards,

Antonio

------------------
The best tips from your favourite hostal in Madrid.
Hostal Chelo at http://www.chelo.com

[This message has been edited by Antonio (edited 12-09-2000).]

Re: something to bring for your girlfriend's father. My host in Madrid likes cheese, so I took him some Extra Sharp Cheddar. He was delighted! He knew the Cheddar-type cheeses from their English origins. I surprised him by asking for the mustard: He brought me the mustard with a puzzled look on his face and watched as I put mustard on my cheese. He tried it with mustard and said that they went well together. Unfortunately we didn't have any Coleman's English mustard.
P.S.
The mustard didn't go that well with the Manchego cheese that we had later.

Antonio, thanks for the itinerary. I am looking forward to seeing this even though I am not exactly a child!! I have never been in Madrid for Reyes!

I'm leaving for Madrid tonight and will get there Tues. morning. Will send a report if I come across anything that's interesting and that hasn't already been covered on this board. ¡Feliz Navidad!

¡Estoy en Madrid! I just had a brief tour of Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor (which I think looks much better without those ¨puestos¨ in the middle...it looks like they transplanted a part of the boardwalk from Seaside Heights, NJ [not that I´m knocking NJ...I´m from there] to this otherwise magnificent locale), Plaza de España, Gran Vía, etc. I also had "el aperitivo" and I am enjoying the freedom of smoking anywhere. Everybody´s getting ready for Christmas