Quoting directly from our Madrid Local Expert, Lynne:

"When I first arrived in Madrid over 25 years ago, I gazed up and saw all the beautiful buildings. I am drawn to details: iron work, sculptures decorating public buildings, the balance created by symmetry and the design of different floors on the facades, domes and other decorative features. It's amazing to find architectural treasures at every turn. It's one of the reasons I don't mind sitting in traffic, since it gives me a chance to examine them more carefully.

"Then I started fixing my attention on the people, and found them very open and talkative, and quick to give me their advice (even about things they had no business mentioning). The Spaniards are very spontaneous and hospitable. But they usually don't invite people to their homes, as most social life is done in the streets (bars, clubs, etc.), which gives Madrid its fantastic night life. The city DOES NOT SLEEP! However, people generally take a long lunch and a siesta and most stores are closed from about 2 p.m. till 5 p.m., give or take half an hour.

"I'm not a history buff so it took me years to comprehend all the historical periods of this extremely varied country. The Spanish tourism board honed in on it when it borrowed the phrase 'Everything under the sun' to refer to Spain. Influenced by the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and more modern Europe, each region has its own local culture, and Madrid is no exception. Knowing some of the background gave me a way to discover where the mix of attitudes and customs came from, and it is a sociological challenge that's great fun.

"Spain is a land of artists and artisans. In museums you can see the great masters of painting and sculpture. On day trips from Madrid you can find decorative arts sold in small shops or workshops: ceramics, pewter, damask ware, sword-making, etc. done in the old way. Over the years, I have been able to educate my tastes and become more discerning about the quality of detail and the overall pieces I find."