Madrid's night 20 years ago today We reached the station of Atocha, from Valladolid. We climbed Anton Martin to Plaza de Jacinto Benavente and from there to Sun has stopped raining. On the street environment is not guessed, it's Friday night. We arrived at Gran Via, something more lively and decided to start a round, so were the temples of the night 20 years ago, in which so many crazy partying and early morning we ran, when studying the race .. We
Malasaña the area. Great memories of that time, from places like the Cow Austere or the Milky Way, where I started going out with my boy. Still exist. I do not know, however, remain open if Yasta sites like the bad reputation or property of the photographer, Alberto García Alix and where Almodóvar, we copied the kind of drinks and drank tequila with Ginger Ale. Which is no longer safe, the committee, which was located in Smith Street, where we killed the early morning, until we had made, and shouted, "What happens. You have no home?.
In those days, we went more than twelve hours. We used to take the street on the six in the evening and wandered by Lavapiés, taking rods and spikes and midnight, we would Malasaña. Lavapies long ago lost its original essence was pure and completely changed by immigration (Especially Arabic)
I do not know if it's the time, some early, but this area Malasaña is killed. The bars are half empty and only a couple of pebbles, they sell cans of beer and mixed drinks espresso, not very cheap prices, near the Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Also, has disappeared, I suppose, that many years ago, an establishment that sold a stuffed croissants, really spectacular (especially vegetable and beef).
We decided to walk to the Bilbao area and also is dead. We are thirsty and stopped to take a mini (pint of beer) in a bar, which is on its way. We continued walking and reached Argüelles. The evenings, we would spend in his bass, when we were studying journalism, in the second half of lso 80's and early nineties. Nor there is animation and the environment that we see, more so pimp stripe, with the pleasant and relaxed.
However, we decided to take another mini-Ripple now, which is more cheapie. There are offers in which you serve up to three, for 10 euros. But still, they are not able to win over customers. Yes continues still, the bar across the street, where so many sandwiches we ate in the past.
But emblematic places have disappeared, as Edurne and The Drifter, where we listened to Kortatu or Los Toreros Muertos , Among others, and swallowed the drink as feature called butane (pacharán and grenadine). Also, the Calandria and Face B. Nor do we find a bar, where tortillas served with aioli, scrumptious, at very reasonable prices. We do not even intend, to find the old inns, where we drank huge mugs of beer, several liters, with a lid.
And is there Chapandaz, where we took those panther milk (milk, blackcurrant, vodka, sugar, cinnamon and ice)?. Apparently so, because I found your site: www.chapandaz.com/
Caspita!. Almost all our ancient temples the march in Madrid, has fallen with the same forcefulness, that the very Roman Empire. So that area has moved up and the youth now?. Do not take us long to find out, lined the street as Princess and above all, when we reached the plaza of Spain.
The king of the nightlife is, today, the bottle. Above all, in that place, bringing together many groups, which in a circle standing around bags of drinks bought at the grocery store or the Chinese, who have been placed on the floor. Police watched closely, but does not intervene (at least, if no problems). Those who drink, do so quietly, not exalt or cause ruckus. At least, at this time.
But anywhere on the street is good to improvise a bottle. Next to a doorway of a house, myself. It removed the clutter and to deprive! (Do not know if today will be used that verb or I've become too old-fashioned)!. As, in Rome, do as the Romans do, we also aim canary club and took a bottle of wine we bought in Avila. The girls in Madrid, much better dressed than the rest of Spain. The trend is miniskirts with tights and boots.
stock forms of these young people, though, there are enough people, now around thirty and even more are well in supermarkets, before closing at Chinese stores, the pilgrimage to the Gran Via, white plastic bags with drink is constant, or traveling through the sale of mass citizen nationality, sold cans of beer for one euro or you prepare mixed drinks at once, with ice and everything (not cheap, by the way).
bottle We are animals, but this picture gives us a little sad. And, do not stop to be in late October in Madrid, and start doing something cold to be drinking in the street. In our case, we had a youth more comfortable in the heat of the bars, the music of the Madrid nightlife, concerts, the fumes of alcohol and some cheerleading from time to time, relaxing chocolate, brought south by people you trust.
From the one in the morning is a lot of people start going qque very last thread. Some become quite aggressive and even, we passed a small group where a call girl, Laura, two friends, laughing, they're calling a bitch, with all the letters, while she, without rebuke and enduring the kind capea the storm. Ten friends for this!.
We sat a while, not very long, because the cold-pressed, in one of the theaters of Gran Via, to take a can of beer. This street has changed again. Lighting have been added and here is no longer swarm, worst of home. In the Calle Montera, however, despite having been a pedestrian, there are still pilinguis especially the eastern countries.
So Vips has changed its structure and elongated shelves, now presented as an island. Yes, still have strong presence of books. Van and a 1,500,000 copies sold, with a successful method to lose weight.
But what is most noticeable changes is that we pass in both directions, 14 empty cabs, in the interval of one minute of clock. So 20 years ago would have been impossible, on a Friday night, as it is today, where there were cakes, for disputed each vehicle, to move to another area to follow up or return home.
continue along the Calle Arenal. There are more people drinking in the street, on the premises. The blame for all, are hoteliers, who wanted to kill the goose that lays golden eggs. You can not charge for the drinks, which require us to pay. Nor, in the cafes. In Italy, for one euro, you get a coffee and cornetto and here, just coffee, going to 1.20, in several places. Although, at the door of Joy Eslava, if breathed environment. The space opera in a state of endless and annoying works, is a mess. We again
Malasaña, where a drink in a dive gas medium. It's after three o'clock and the thing has not been revitalized. Quietly, we got out walk to Atocha station. Makes little cold, but fortunately, no rain again-to pitchers, "until we arrived. We have to wait half an hour, until the open (closed from the one in the morning, until five). We are not alone. The air is permeated with the smell of damp and muffins baked in coffee shops inside the terminal and the nearby bakeries. We get hungry and we realize, that with so much drinking, we have not even eaten. Porca Miseria!.
most pleasant destinations (to visit, immediately) After the above discussion, about non pleasant places, we, with the most friendly destinations:
1 º. VIETNAM: A someone who has been, you can get laughter, reading, this is what I place, as more friendly destination. Yes It's true. The daily life in large cities, is not very harmonious: Ni, by the locals, eager to get something for all tourists, or by overwhelming issues like traffic, especially motorcycles.
But Vietnam is a marvel. Ridiculously cheap (we, in two weeks, we spent 220 euros) and equipped with infrastructure, accommodation and transport, "almost to the level of developed countries. In addition, conforms to all forms Business: organized, semi-organized with many local agencies that offer all types of trips, at an unbeatable price-or, for free, or in buses, trains or alquilándote a motorcycle.
2 º. Italy: For me, the country trasalpino is the most beautiful in the world for my boy, even and especially in summer, in line with miniskirts and shorts. In Spain, the tourist office is very helpful and destinations, even more (although, with large scheduling problems.)
But the country, plus equity in the world can have, in almost all categories (ruins, monuments, landscapes ...) shows humility. Prices very reasonable, for almost everything, including visits, and certainly more affordable than in Spain.
3 º. MEXICO: In a country with numerous and important archaeological remains and, where no doubt you could get the rooms, visitors are very economical, to contemplate, more spectacular. And people, a true delight.
4 º. SYRIA Visitors cheap, ancient towns and perhaps, along with Thailand, the kindest people in the world. They do not understand our writing, and our claims, in most cases, but one way or another, you always solve the problems.
extreme hospitality
5 º PHILIPPINES: Despite of the annoying security measures in the capital and elsewhere, the Filipinos are a delight, there are countless islands to explore and everything is very cheap. The kitchen, as in Vietnam .-, spectacular shows and beer and rum-a-ridiculous prices, highly recommended ..
6 .- USA: Behind the iron claws of terrorism surveillance, hide, breathtaking attractions at very moderate prices, outside of New York. In the West, housing is very cheap and transport across the country, too. In the sublime, Las Vegas, my favorite place in the world but outside of Italy, just a mediocre severance pay, any crappy English company, to live happily for many years (without remembering, or our boss, or Rajoy, Zapatero or)
Paradoxically and together with the United Kingdom, is the country where less trouble is, who knows little English, to be understood in that language. Because they put much of his party.
7 º. THAILAND: Who named it as "the land of eternal smile," defined it perfectly. Exoticism, at very affordable prices and with friendly and helpful treatment, with the passenger. One of the countries of the world, easier to do for free, despite not being talked about, both English, as believed.
8 º. BALI: If pidieras twenty wishes and have to concentrate, in a tiny area, the reality is that you would not be to the genius of any lamp, but on the island of Bali: landscapes, sea, spectacular temples, diving, windsurfing ... Just go away, Kuta's tourist and predators of people to feel great in this island of Indonesia.
9. CHINA: If I, out tour operator, would travel to China, only to buy in the stores where they sell, what we call "China" (without any pejorative sense). They are like the ones here, but multiplied by ten and there, who could pull weeks, without leaving them.
Furthermore, China offers a network of very cheap and efficient transport, including very low-cost flights. He eats great, the accommodation is cheap and the functioning of almost everything, flashing efficiency (especially the queue management, breaking the topic, the Chinese, always slip). The pity is, not being a little more than curiosity, for those who visit
10 º. PALESTINE: Kindness and very naturally, in contact with the passenger. Great hospitality, to almost give you, and do not have. That's right: when they grab a flyer, transformed, as in most countries of the region (and the third world).
11 º. ARGENTINA: In few places will make your life easier and you entertained both with words and their musicality. Many Argentines, who openly acknowledge that this is a deliberate pose adopted to foreigners and then between them, we are. Whether or not it helps you to make your stay unforgettable.
12. TUNISIA: For those starting in the Arab world, this is the best gateway. It is, in a country very quiet and hardly burdens, by the vendors in the souks. There are countless attractions to enjoy, believe me when I say that is up to Morocco and Egypt, and the kitchen is really great. Very easy to visit, good transport public either by rental car.
Note. Understood, do not know yet all the world and many countries will be pleasant, off this list, ppor that reason.
Destinations non grata (of which you should ignore) The purpose of this post is to reflect on all those places in which teases travelers, most of the time, forcing them to assume excessive costs, which exceed widely usury. I will call as unwelcome or prohibited places, I consider that a wise traveler and the information which previously was not our case, on some occasions, it should not, drop by. And, if all places with interest, they would do the same, we could not travel, because it would give us the budget
Anyway, this list is not based only on economic grounds, as we shall see, in the cases of Russia and Israel .
I will explain briefly, which now I come to mind and according to your remembrance again, I will add in the comments. I invite you to enriquezcáis reflection, with the contributions and experiences that you consider appropriate.
Lest I be accused of only deepen the negative at a subsequent reflection, I will tell you, the sites where they try superbly, the traveler and those who always wanted to go back there. But now, on to the others.
1 º. MACHU PICCHU. This is the most blatant and bleeding, of disrespect and fraud, the traveler. To inflated ticket price, add the exorbitant amount of train-only legal way, "access to Machu Pichu. Have banned, do the Inca Trail for free, under the pretext medioambi4entales, hiding the real reason: the enrichment of the agencies' own friends and Peruvian political, through the expensive tours. Make Machu Pichu boycott and not visit it!. Incidentally, it is not the world wonder
2 º. NATIONAL PARK TOWER OF PSINE. The entrance, though not cheap, is affordable. But no, the expensive local transportation from Puerto Natales and all services within the park (especially, accommodation in hostels).
3 º. RUSSIA. Although we like to go some time, we refuse to have to pay the high price of the visa and above all, we have to Zarandillo, with lengthy and cumbersome procedures. If you want to, barriers to tourism, therefore, their loss. To us yet, we still have many other countries to visit.
4 º. ISRAEL. Almost in the same sense, Russia. There is no fee visa, although rates of output, which is the same thing, but controls access to the country may reach three hours and in many cases, they are denigrating.
5 º CAPRI. Tenímaos planned to go, less than a month. But eventually, we refused to pay four times more for the ferry, which they pay, residents. There are dozens of places in Italy, which are at least as beautiful as the famous resort island.
6 º. Mosque of Hassan II in Casablanca. In 2,005, and cost 14 euros, a dull tour, 45 minutes.
7 º. COLD LAKE CROSSING, between Argentina and Chile (up to Bariloche). The trip must be very pretty, but we refuse to pay $ 170, that the monopolistic organizer asked us, in March 2008.
8 º. HUACAS THE SUN AND THE MOON, in Trujillo (Peru). The visit is not too expensive. But it is insulting to charge for that. In Peru, for this to get money, invent the ruins.
9. In the same country, the Nazca Lines. We refuse to engage the trip, after reading, manually marking them constantly to make them look stunning.
10 º. POAS VOLCANO, Costa Rica. Income is not too expensive, but you knowingly sell the entry, that 90% of days, you see nothing of the spectacular crater, due to fog.
11 th. Main attractions ISTANBUL tourist. Fortunately, when I visited, they were much cheaper, than at present. Enter, to the most important visit, leaves for a tremendol money. The Turkish government has discovered the cushy easy, fleecing passengers and tickets have gone up almost double the amount, in cases such as Pamukkale (where we deftly snuck us.)
not included in this list, the abusive amount of many moves, from the city to the airport, because in this case, there is no other, to assume
I did not post, no site in Spain, because right now, no I remember. But sure, that in the coming days, I will to memory.
GeoPlaneta Closed Forum. But if the alternative is Viajerosolidario ..., we start to pray! Africa awaits months ago, which was not GeoPlaneta Forum-rights manager for Lonely Planet, in English and ignored the news, which has informed me this afternoon, a good friend and travel, by email : The Travel Forum, which had opened the group, has closed. Has happened, "according to my friend," apparently after a conflict, which is bundled by the presence of trolls and after widespread complaints, to the mismanagement that led the administration.
When today is access to the web, get the following message: "For technical reasons, Lonelyplanet.es Forum will be out service temporarily. Sorry for the inconvenience "(commas in the sentence, I have given them, because they, or score, you know). The same excuse claimed, when a stroke, were loaded orange forum for serious conflict, which bordered the crime, if they were not, as there was, to issues of pedophilia, in between, "when passed 2,004 and not reopened until two years later. So, I fear, this closure is for long, then for the final.
It seems outrageous, GeoPlaneta attitude and very little respect, to the travelers, who are those who sustain them economically, with the purchase of their guides. Well. Although I long ago, que decidí hacerles boicot y, o las saco de la biblioteca o las compro en el extranjero, para que a ellos, no les llegue ni un solo céntimo.
Los dos motivos principales, en que fundamento, mi razonamiento, son los que siguen
1º.- Es una falta total y absoluta de respeto, hacia los usuarios, habérselo cargado de un plumazo, cepillándose miles y miles de mensajes y el trabajo de horas –incluso de días-, de muchos participantes. Porque, entre tantos insultos, publicidad y descalificaciones –las últimas veces, que yo entraba, como lectora, era ya casi imposible, encontrarse un hilo, donde no las hubiera-, también había, mucha información útil y valiosa.
I do not say, do not close the forum that are right. But at least, to keep it published, but is even elsewhere on the Internet. Not be treated well, thousands of users, more or less frequently, participated in the various debates on the forum. 2 .-
show cowardice insulting to blame the closure, to technical reasons. At least they could tell the truth, explaining it in detail, in a note, they could hang on the network. And if the closing, in fact, is temporary, indicate an approximate date for the reopening. You owe it to those thousands of users Some of them, organizers were or events, they have been doing a lot of publicity out there (I guess, unfortunately for them, free). However
. That said, I think the news has now been produced, it is the most logical thing that could happen. Indeed. I think that is most appropriate, for a few reasons that come to mind without much effort.
"You can keep an open forum, thousands and thousands of registered users, if you are not willing to moderate it. They had learned from the first experience and so have fared well in the second. It is silly to think that in a place without supervision, they will not get advertising, trolls, bad feelings, envy ...
-Own self-defense, GeoPlaneta. In this environment, it is very possible that someone would decide to go to court, if not already done so, and give them a displeasure. Going further. Perhaps the forum has already closed and line judge this decision, technical reasons. It would not be surprising.
"In that forum, it has hurt many people and not only, by the trolls, but high-profile users, who became moderators, no title, but with powers, shown as pressure lobby - style-to-understand me, nightly neighborhood patrols. If public safety, you have to instruct the police, the moderation of the forums be done by the administrator and in whom he appoints.
"does not deserve that users continue to lose precious time there, when they have so little respect.
He makes the Heck, all the people, who out of boredom, was dedicated to destroying the forum or who would simply to advertise. Both sides must now be recycled and divide their time on other things (I guess, just as evil).
"He does not do harm to many people, which, for various reasons," has been made in this website.
tell me that some users GeoPlaneta, are landing in the Viajerosolidario. So did many others, when they closed Lonely for the first time. And unless the moderators, most of them long ago, that did not stop there. Viajerosolidario, has had the honor, for a few years, hold a world record: Be a forum with more moderators that active users.
Are Lonely, was the lack of moderation, Viajeroslidario, was, and I guess will remain, the excess. Not to mention the superego, three of its moderators, coincidentally, the three begin with K. Bearing in mind that this forum is a user of the pump-the "warm" welcome, Florencio, and those who are registering, not shut, it is possible that in the coming months, we can have fun. Well
. Rather, they say, they can. Because I'm not going back to the forums, or even, as a reader, "not drunk. I live very happily and without headaches, since I Lonely, in September 2006. I, together with quit-in 2005-and long journeys, of 2,008, have been the three best decisions of the decade.
I also indicate, if not rancorous. Hopefully, in Viajerosolidario, a forum, half dead, but dead-whole, have learned and the new additions-type Paco González y Pepe Domingo, COPE, "is a successful and useful site, which is the important thing, for which have the disease, not to think about almost nothing else, that trip.
Two things to finish:
First, a warning to mariners. In viajerosolidario, appropriated illegally inserted messages. If the user requests low and attends the deletion, there is nothing to do except go to court. To me, cost me a lot, even picking up my stories on their site. Finally, they did
I hope that all those @ s, who in his day, set up in anger, for the legitimate deleting my messages, Lonely and collaterally, some others react proportionally to the disappearance of all your messages, these days. What I you play, what not?. Those were or were not, "simple attacks, spurious and unscrupulous, personal motivations?. Time goes by removing and giving reasons, if not useless.
