Some observations about Madrid so far
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Granted that I'm in the city center, but the police are everywhere, be it the national police, what appears to be local municipal police, or the guardia civil, a kind of thuggish military police. Further, they're all head-shaved and jack booted. But if does make the foreign traveller feel safe. Which brings me to me next point...
Surprisingly few foreigners, either as immigrants, migrant laborers or tourists, although I do see a considerable number of tourists, mostly locals. I guess the tough economy has driven away a lot of the foreigners.
Also, rather few smokers, which surprised me. And the restaurants and bars are relatively smoke free.
The outdoor sidwalk trash cans, which are pretty common, have pretty small openings, as if designed to discourage the depositing of trash.
I now understand why, to my parents, "plain" and "vanilla" are synonymous. Almost everything you'd expect to be plain, such as a muffin, is actually vanilla flavored. Even the Frappe drinks at McDonalds (don't judge me!) have vanilla flavoring added (so it's mocha with vanilla or caramel with vanilla).
El Corte Ingles is the big department store chain around here and given what they've done to the cityscape, they'd be we'll served to let in a few Target or Walmart stores (they couldn't do worse). You find these department stores everywhere throughout the city and they sell everything from electronics and clothing to toiletries and groceries. The bulk of their buildings were probably erected in the 60s and 70s and it shows. Monolithic multi-stores windowless concrete buildings interspersed with 1920s art nouveau apartments. It's horrible.
The airport is insanely massive and escaping it is like a game. Takes at least 30 minutes to get out of the international terminal, not counting the passport and customs check or baggag claim. This includes a descent into a deep subway trench, waiting for said subway, a rather longish subway ride, and then an equally long ascent, just to get to baggage claim.
I'll tell you about some of the sites in a bit.
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