The magnificent La Noche en Blanco

This coming Saturday that is 11/09 the magnificent La Noche en Blanco (The White Night) is once again taking place in Madrid.  The very name of this event is an expression that means to pass the night without sleeping which is exactly what you will do.

 This is a cultural event in which hundreds of thousands of Madrileños gather on the streets of Madrid to experience and enjoy the many concerts, art expositions and performances taking place around the city centre. The entire city which inhabit approximately 5 million shut down for a night so that we can enjoy a walk on the crowded streets such as Gran Via, a nightly visit to the Museums or a guided tour to the secret rooms in the Royal Palace. 

Gran Via

Click here to view the program of La Noche en Blanco 2010

Federico Fellini in Caixa Forum

At the moment there are a couple of excellent exhibitions taking place in Madrid. One of these is without a doubt Federico Fellini El Circo de las Ilusiones in Caixa Forum.

The exhibition portrays a filmmaker with all of his obsessions exposed in photographs, drawings and footage. It all unfolds with a young caricaturist with great talent in art, we are exposed to the history of how the Fellini Circus came to exist  and how these grotesque beings came to inhabit the world of Fillini thus allowing us to perceive the world as interpreted by him. The exhibition shows us some of his most famous work such as Amarcord (1973) and La Dolce Vita (1960) as well as new material which bring us through the development of Fillini´s work from Italian Neo Realism to Neo Baroque till Cinecittà.

La Dolce Vita

An excellent exhibition one should not miss with a free entrance in Caixa Forum. The exhibition lasts until 26/12 2010. 

A Passion for Fashion

The 52^nd Cibeles Madrid fashion show is coming up (18-22 September). The pasarela is held at IFEMA (Feria de Madrid) where you will have the possibility to view the Fall and Winter Collections of some of Spain´s greatest fashion designers such as Agatha Ruíz de la Prada, Adolfo Domínguez and Victorio and Lucchino.  This is the best site to grasp the garment industry in Spain which tends to diversify itself from other European fashions, especially when it comes to design and taste which, undisputedly, is why Madrid does not classify as one of Europe’s more famous fashion sites. However, this is the place to be if you want to take part of the Spanish world of fashion. So don’t miss out!

Ana Locking Cibles Madrid Fashion Week Spring  Summer 2010

Enjoying the Sundays

One of the best days of the week in Madrid is the Sunday believe it or not! For most people Sunday is that day after the weekend which leaves you enough time to consider what you really did during the weekend and allows you to start worrying about Monday morning. But not in Madrid!

As spring officially has arrived in Madrid one of the best options today is heading out to one of the parks around the city. Although it might seem crowded, Retiro really is big and when you find yourself a spot on the grass you will definitely enjoy some nice hours of taking the sun, relaxing, having a picnic or whatever you feel like. So gather some friends and head out! Just remember the sunscreen because the Spanish sun is stronger than you think this time of year.

If you are not totally exhausted from the previous night and feel like doing something more active and challenging, why not take the metro to Parque Juan Carlos I (metro L8, Campo de las Naciones). Here you have the possibility to borrow bicycles for free, fish in the lake or enjoy a nice run around this enormous park.

Around lunch time and throughout the day the younger crowd of Madrid heads to the neighbourhood La Latina to enjoy some 'cañas' and  tapas. La Latina is located in one of the oldest parts of Madrid with pittoresque streets filled with little tapas bars and restaurants. If you come early (before 14) you can have a look at the flee-market "el rastro", where you can find all sort of things.

Then its time to join the rest of the Spaniards for some cañas and if your patient or just lucky you will find yourself a table in one of the many terraces located all around the small streets of the barrio. Another option which is very popular is to buy some beer in the local supermarkets and enjoy it in the crowded street and plazas along everyone else hanging around.

A little guide to the big city of Madrid

Having lived in Madrid for a couple of years we are truly starting to get the hang of it all. This fantastic city has so much to offer however it can be difficult to find your way around. May it be to find that traditional tapas restaurant, the perfect cocktail bar or medical attention, it can all be a fuss whether you are a tourist or new comer to town. 

That’s why we would like to share some of our tips and experiences of how to enjoy this tremendous city to its fullest potential.