Oh Madrid! I wasn’t with you for long, but the time I spent with you was swift-moving and fun. So without dressing it up and getting straight to the point – would you like to go on another date with me?
I know I’m being direct here, but it’s not every day you meet someone who plunges down and shakes you by the proverbial core. I’m quite old-fashioned in the sense that I would usually wait to be asked out, but I’m throwing this tradition out of the window for the sake of my own desire.
Before I met you I didn’t think you would be my type. I had, in the back of my mind, the presumption that you were like a bloated goldfish next to the elegant seahorse of Barcelona.
What is worse, I didn’t really get on with Barcelona so I figured we had little hope.
But I was wrong. So, so wrong.
None of what I thought I knew about you corresponded with the reality of meeting you for the first time.
It must be annoying being compared side by side with Barcelona and always coming out last. I’m being truthful when I say I think you’re more exciting. You’ve got that dark wickedness I adore so much in someone when I find it. I rarely find it. Barcelona might be visually more gothic, but you have it pumping through your blood.
When you took me to see Goya’s Black Paintings in the Prado, I almost cried.
It was a fantastically charged moment as I stood in front of Saturn Devouring His Son, the accumulation of a life-long wait mixed with the suffering and perplexity of the human mind. Now every time I see a painting by Goya my desire to see you again flares up.
And then from the Prado you took me to see the fabulously cool interior of CaixaForum, and next to it, the large wall garden design by French botanist Patrick Blanc. I’d love to go back.
That day I had to leave you early because I had a Flamenco class followed by dinner with my friends. I thought about how nice it would have been to burn away the night with you over a glass of red wine and seafood tapas whilst listening to languorous music. My friends must have thought I was lousy company but I couldn’t help it. I was distracted by thoughts of you.
In the morning I didn’t want to squander another minute when so many thousands of things were waiting, so I left my friends who were still fast asleep in the hotel and I went to meet you for breakfast at Mercado San Miguel food market. It was quite busy, but I managed to find some seats whilst you ordered churros with hot chocolate sauce.
After breakfast we walked to El Retiro Park, the sun resigned us to a bench in a quiet corner, shadowed nicely by a tangle of treetops and glossy leaves. We sat watching the world go by. Everything felt easy.
I want to do it all again, and more.
So Madrid, is it a yes?
28 Responses
Are you sure you are not using the city as a metaphor of a hot Spanish guy who play tour guide for you in Madrid?? 😛
But then Madrid does feel different compared to Barcelona doesn’t it? My friends who have been to Spain are equally divided between that 2 cities.
Haha that’s just not true! Alas, I didn’t even see a hot Spanish guy, I just really liked Madrid :-p If I were going to use a city as a metaphor for a hot guy then I would choose Copenhagen all the way!
I love the photo of the elderly couple in the Retiro – so evocative of Madrid 🙂
So stylish aren’t they? Retiro Park is a lovely place for soaking up atmosphere and people watching.
OMG, this is your most brilliant piece of writing to date (no pun intended), Shing!!! I LOVED it!!! From the title, then the content and ending with the question.
My city for a woman would be San Francisco – varying interests, lots of culture, incredibly alluring, not too temperamental and breathtakingly beautiful!! 🙂
This was awesome, “I thought about how nice it would have been to burn away the night with you over a glass of red wine and seafood tapas whilst listening to languorous music.” Oh most definitely! 🙂 I really liked the picture of the elderly couple as well. You rocked this, our friend! 🙂
Hi Mike, I’m glad you answered my question! I can totally see way you’d choose San Fran, she’s admired from all around the world for her laid back nature, open-mindedness, mountainous curves, colourfulness, vintage beauty, and strength in adversity – hmmmmm she sounds too good to be true 😉
Haha re: date – I love reading a good pun!
I love Madrid. I’ve been 7 or 8 times now as I have a friend who calls it home. The love affair continues as each time I find new things and new places to eat! The Reina Sofia is a must if you liked the Prado, the intense beauty of Picasso’s Guernica will move you.
Madrid definitely has a soul many cities would die for.
Agreed on Copenhagen for hot male (or female) those Danes are just so good looking!
Hi Steve, it’s always great to have friends dotted around the globe to help you know a city or place better. Of course I’m jealous that you have a friend in Madrid 🙂 It pains me to say I didn’t manage to make it to the Reina Sofia to see, in particular, Picasso’s Guernica, but I guess that only means one thing: I must go back.
‘Madrid definitely has a soul many cities would die for’ – I love that.
My gosh, I’m only just recovering from my visit to Copenhagen last summer. Both men, and women are crazily attractive!
When I decided I wanted to visit Lisbon & Barcelona last year, I thought it would be nice to include Madrid as well, just to have seen the Spanish capital, and the ‘stopover’ enabled me to take two cheap and exciting night trains as well instead of simply flying across the Iberian peninsula. So in March this year, in between those two very touristy cities, I was in Madrid for one day only and quite unexpectedly I fell completely in love with it (though in my case, a hot tour guide wás part of that). It’s one of the very few places outside of the Netherlands I wouldn’t mind living. Love how you wrote this article!
Hi Wesley, I’m happy to read that a place used initially as a mere ‘stopover’ turned out to be so much more. Haha, I’m intrigued about this hot tour guide… do tell more 😉
Unfortunately my one and only visit to Madrid did not have my heart beating fast. I’m not sure why but it just wasn’t for me. I have a feeling that I should try again! Istanbul would be my ideal man….exotic, evocative and exciting!
You love Barcelona, and I love Madrid; at least we avoid squabbling over the same man!
Ohhh Istanbul… exotic, evocative and exciting – I have to meet him, and soon!
Brilliant. I’m glad you came to the same conclusion as I did re: Madrid vs. Barcelona. The good news is that this is a date we don’t have to fight over. Let’s rendezvous??
Now Madrid is the lucky one if he gets to enjoy the company of us both! 😀
I loved the way you’ve written this post! People love Barcelona, but I’ve been twice and just haven’t “felt it”. I am just DYING to visit Madrid now.
So I’m not the only one re: Barcelona and not ‘feeling it’! At least you gave him two chances, I should do the same, after all first dates aren’t always perfect!
Ooou yes, you must meet Madrid, he’s a bit of a rough diamond in places, but that gives him a bit of an edge 😉
It took me a few visits to Madrid before I really started liking it. It is a great city to just wander around. I love hanging out in Retiro Park and watching the people.
Glad to hear you persevered Jeff! As you suggest, I imagine Madrid grows on you, that’s if it doesn’t capture you right away! I’d love to be back in Retiro Park again. Doing little of nothing, but soaking up the atmosphere… Sigh.
Madrid, te quiero!
It seems Madrid has quite the female following after all! 😀
Aww, what a cute love letter to Madrid! I also fell madly in love with this city and hope to go back for another fling. Hope you don’t mind sharing! 😉
You’re lucky I’m not the jealous type Heather 😉
Great post! I love the idea of my ideal man being a city. I think mine would be Prague!
Poetic, dark and broody – that’s one hot romance!
I hope the romance continues Shing, I think you two were made for each other 🙂
As someone who has never been to Spain it is great to read your perspective. So many people rave about Barcelona yet few focus on Madrid.
As for my city love affair. Hard to say but Prague was definitely love at first sight.
Although it’s great for Barcelona, reading so many rave reviews makes the fall harder for visitors if it doesn’t reach those expectations.
It looks like you and the above Julie have something in common! As I said to her about Prague, ‘poetic, dark, broody – that’s one hot romance’ Beware 😀
Madrid amazed me too! It’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. Flying in art, boasting with elegant palaces… food is great.
But it’s a bit expensive.
I think it’s getting insufficient exposure, too little information is out there about it, although it deserves a lot more.
Hi EH (I like saying your initials!), tell me about – flying in art, boasting with elegant palaces… food is great – you said it!