Three days in Old Madrid...

[Vics]

I'll be traveling in Europe in April and May, and during that trip I'll be going down from the Pays Basque by train to Madrid for a few days. Any photo-op suggestions for me? I'll be staying at a hotel near the Puerta del Sol in the old city. Thanks in advance for your tips.

 

[goros]

Where from the Basque Country? I may could help you in that stage.

Cheers/Agur

 

[Vics]

Where from the Basque Country? I may could help you in that stage.

Cheers/Agur

Cheers, Agur. We'll be visiting some French friends in Ondre, near Bayonne. We'll take the train from Irun.

 

[goros]

OK, so you are not stopping at the Spanish Basque Country. Anyway, the French side is also very nice.

(By the way, "agur" is a greeting in Basque languaje, mainly used as "goodbye") 😉

Agur

 

[Vics]

OK, so you are not stopping at the Spanish Basque Country. Anyway, the French side is also very nice.

(By the way, "agur" is a greeting in Basque languaje, mainly used as "goodbye") 😉

Agur

Hah! I've seen a bit of the Spanish Basque Country, Bilbao and San Sebastian, but as you can see, I haven't learned a word of Euskera!

 

[umcelinho]

Central Madrid is very nice to walk around, I had quite a great time hobbitting around while I lived there, even late at night.

The area near La Latina and Embajadores is nice, has some narrow streets filled with life, including Calle Ribera de Curtidores, where Fotocasion (biggest photography shop in Madrid) is. On Sundays it's in this area that the huge flea market, El Rastro, happens. very worth paying a visit.

I used to walk a lot between Plaza de Oriente, Argüelles (where I lived), Retiro and Atocha. it's a big area but it's full of interesting things. At night the area around Tribunal is really interesting to shoot at, tons of young people partying in the streets and plazas, also it's a nightclub/bar area. this area is called Malasaña.

 

[Vics]

Thanks for the tips, omcelinho. I'm a bit past the days when I looked for nightlife, but all do some walking around in the daylight. Also, thanks for the Fotocasion suggestion. Can't wait to get going!

 

[micromontenegro]

By all means, try to eat at Botin, in the Calle de Cuchilleros. Excelent food and ambient, and fine street photography and sight seeing in the environs.

 

[Efra1]

By all means, try to eat at Botin, in the Calle de Cuchilleros. Excelent food and ambient, and fine street photography and sight seeing in the environs.

To eat in Botin you need reservation, bookin whit some weeks before.

If you what to go to Fotocasion send me a PM and I´ll be happy to go with you.

Hope you enjoy the trip.

 

[micromontenegro]

To eat in Botin you need reservation, bookin whit some weeks before.

I go there everytime I stay in Madrid. In my experience, a call in the afternoon will get you a table for dinner. Never been refused a reserv for the next day.

 

[Vics]

Thanks a lot for the advice. Looks like 25, 26, and 27 April. Can't wait to see a bit of this great city!

 

[peter_n]

I second La Latina, stayed there for a week a few years ago and the nightlife there is awesome, the little tapas bars are jumping (see below for an old pic from La Latina). It's a short walk from where you're staying.

The Rastro market is great for photography but watch your cameras! 😉 There are many ancient buildings and museums (you must see the Museo del Prado and the Reina Sofía (Guernica) ) but what you absolutely and positively MUST NOT miss is Real playing at the magnificent Santiago Bernabeu - a religious experience.

 

[Vics]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! RFf is a one stop shop for every kind of advice, worldwide!

 

[rudolf]

Guys, I also thank you for your discussion - although I didn't plan to make a trip to Madrid, on day I had to take the plane and go there for couple of days. Your recommendations helped me a lot, the city is great - as I mentioned already in this thread.
🙂

 

[David_Manning]

I just got back from Madrid (boy is it cold right now!) and took my wife, two daughters, and my X100. I like it there, and it's great for street photography. I hope nobody is offended if I share a couple of examples from last week (all X100 and SilverEfex):

 

[River Dog]

Muy bueno! I like your X100 shots, makes me wonder even more about getting one for the street.

If I may be so bold... the people are very central and it sometimes works better to offset them e.g. move the accordionist to the right, allowing more space for the eye to explore. However, I would exclude the waiter shot from that critique, it works really well as it is.

 

[David_Manning]

Thanks for the feedback.

The accordionist was a quick grab shot (because my whole family was hustling by), and in order to focus I had to put the center focus point on target...a true "point & shoot." I guess I could zone-focus, but I don't really like to shoot that way.

Oh well. Always room for improvement.

 

[umcelinho]

beautiful shots. make me miss Madrid a bit! I've got tons of photos from Madrid in my flickr acc, most of them geotagged. I think it's the best way to see if places are worth paying a visit 😉

ps: if they're not geotagged, drop me a line and I will give directions, I might not have the exact location of every shot

 

[Vics]

Great shots with the X100 David! My gear has boiled down to M3 with Summaron and Contax IIIa with Sonnar 50/1.5 all Tri-x. I hope I can do half as well!

 

[David_Manning]

Thanks Vic. I was actually tempted to bring my dSLR and 3-prime kit, but since it was a family outing, decided I could live with one focal length. I think it worked out well...no hesitations about the X100 as a primary shooter for city stuff.