Madrid: Most Beautiful City Ever?

It´s no secret that I don´t care too much for France or Paris, and I obviously haven´t been to Paris yet, so this opinion has to be taken with a grain of salt. I think that Madrid might just be the most beautiful city on earth. Of course I haven´t been all over the world, and I´m sure that many will dispute my claim, but having seen what I have, I feel rather confident in my conclusion.

Madrid and Barcelona are indeed two ends of a specturm. Barcelona was gorgeous in its own right, but its claims to fame are based on unique architecture, art, and culture. Yet when you switch the warm winds of the beach for the drier and cooler central Spain, the landscape changes in more ways than one. To be honest, I was so blown away by Barcelona, especially because it was my first experience in Europe, that I set my expecatations for Madrid much lower. Yet, Madrid has done anyting by dissapoint.

First off, Madrid is much more ornate. It´s an emperial capital, and that distinction speaks in every single building. Just walking a few blocks from our hostel to Plaza Mayor, Plaza del Sol, and Plaza de la Independencia, you are immediately struck by how no one building is less magnificant than the next. All the edifices are intraciately carved and grand. Unlike Barça, Madrid has a lot of tall buildings and thus it feels a lot more like New York than a city like San Diego. Also unlike Barça, which seems to be very spread out--not in the sense of sprawl, but more in a sense of the attractions being all over the city--Madrid packs most of its sights into the Districto Central. We walked up the Gran Vía and around the lavish plazas. Ironically, although one is struck by Madrid´s grandeur, it´s pace seems to be slow and methoidcal. People walk at a slower pace, especially in the Botanical Gardens and the Prado, where we spent most of our time. People seem to be enjoying life. You don´t see a lot of stressed or tired faces, only people trying to make the most out of their day.

Overall the first day here in Madrid has been one of, if not our best. It was relaxing and gorgeous. Taking walks down the streets and seeing amazing buildings. Seeing all the amazing works of art in the Prado. Walking through the Royal Botanic Gardens as well as the Bosque de Reterio and just savouring the smells and sights and simply being in Madrid. Finally going to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and buying a Real Madrid scarf, and now going to El Tigre, Madrid´s most famous, and one of it´s cheapest tapas bars. Today was anything bust rushed, and maybe that´s the way it should be done in Madrid.