Attractions in Madrid mean store front signs made of hand painted ceramic tiles. Look closely for the brush strokes.
By Nancy Todd
When Regina and I travel, signs tell us alot. And I don’t mean your basic ‘bar’ sign. Signs can describe the culture with food, religion, attention to the arts, and what is important to people in a city. For example, in Barcelona, there used to be signs with a person peeing and an “x” through the image. What does that mean in Barcelona? Not enough bathrooms and apparently City Hall doesn’t want to spend money on bathrooms but would rather pay street cleaners if you are lucky to live on a street that is hosed down often. Here are attractions in Madrid I found in the signs.
Run out of things to do in Madrid? Tune in to Radio Maria.
Tio Pepe, producer of sherry, has been a sign for decades on the bland Puerta del Sol. I don't know why, but tourists love to photograph this sign.
A fast food speciality of Madrid, calamari sandwiches. Yuk.
Old ceramic street signs beat those green jobs in the U.S.
Whatzzzzzzzzzzup with the bear? Bank with the bear.
Spanish people hate Starbucks and think it is overpriced. Spanish men go there to pick up tourists.
Related posts on The Spain Scoop: Get The Scoop on the Madrid bear. Need a hostel in Madrid? They are better than they used to be. More on Madrid from NPR.
One Comment
The bear in the Caja Madrid logo is a reference to “el oso y el madroño,” the bear and the cherry tree in the Madrid Community’s official seal. A bear is therefore a common emblem of the city and regional community. I say a little about it here:
http://nothemingwaysspain.blogspot.com/2011/09/not-hemingways-madrid-part-1.html