visita relámpago - flying visit to Madrid

....One foot ahead of the other....the steps ought to take me forward...but I see myself walking back into time.. wondrously looking around ..lost in the grandeur surrounding me. It takes nothing but imagination to strip the neon signs off the facade of the beautifully sculpted buildings and one is transported to the early 20th century Spain.

Despite the macabre tale of modernization written all over this historic city, there are signs that show a culture breathing laboriously yet resolutely amongst its hip people. It is visible in the historic looking McDonald's building that perhaps may be the only outlet of its kind without the customary golden arch. The billboards around announce expositions of art and culture, celebration of sopranos and opera as well the latest Bollywood performance!

I am fortunate to witness one of the operas being played out at the Royal Theatre right opposite the Palacio Real de Madrid. Le Nizze de Figaro ( The Marriage of Figaro) is one of Mozart's controversial plays set in late 18th century. I am more intrigued by the audience sitting patiently outside in the square watching the live relay of the play on a huge screen set off atop one of the theaters.

Gran Via (pronounced as Gran 'B'ia) literally means the Great Way is arguably the most fashionable street in Madrid. Originally designed to be a thoroughfare connecting the Royal Palace of the King of Spain to the other side of the city it originally housed theaters and government buildings and was a place for cultural amusements.

The Metropolitan building is almost considered the face of Madrid for most people. Tourist fill the street mostly looking up to capture the beautiful architecture atop most buildings that fill the narrow street on both sides. A local friend remarks in jest how the locals make out the tourist by the way they look up in admiration and awe at these majestic buildings.

My first visit to the city is another step in my appreciation of the diversity of the human race. The city's people leave you to yourself, almost appearing rude at times as they ignore your presence and your attempts to befriend. Yet their open acceptance of the right of choice of an individual to live the life they want, in the manner they chose to live it, is definitely admirable and ought to be emulated.

As I get ready to leave the city, I find myself already looking forward to and planning my next visit...perhaps one not so short as this one. I am sitting here waiting to board my plane to another city ...wondering what purpose destiny has in taking me to these different places....is this a mere exercise in my education to be more grounded or a need for an old soul to recall or remember...?