Friday 27 May 2011

Item 83: Madrid - Girls' Weekend

Location: Madrid, Spain


Madrid, Madrid, Madrid! Uno, dos, tres. Yes, the weekend just gone was my third visit to the Spanish capital.


The fantastic 25 degree weather was perfect for soaking up the sun and culture in one weekend.


This time around it was a girls' weekend and we'd arranged a flamenco dance class at a local studio. With worn down floorboards and flowers in our hair it was an hour of alternative fun and tests of coordination. Feet tapping, hands clapping, heads turning and then the introduction of a fan was almost too much for our sun-stroked heads.


In the evening, to follow in the same spirit, we were recommended to head to Villa Rosa (Plaza de Santa Ana, 19, 28012 Madrid, Spain), by our teacher as the live flamenco show there was free unlike the other tourist traps in town. With a cover charge of 3 euros per head, we ordered some additional tapas and sangria while watching some very skilful dancing, in comparison to our fan-waving from earlier that day.


After the performance, we walked through the city centre, past stag groups in the streets to the nightclub Joy. The 18 euro cover charge, which included one drink, allowed us to get away from the riff-raff on the street. We were introduced to 'free-pour' spirits where a G&T came as a long glass of gin complemented by a side order of bottled tonic water. Inside they played popular western music from the years that I luckily was familiar. It was the first night in a long time I'd been out until closing time and what better city to do this in than Madrid!


Item: 83: Madrid? CHECK!