English in Madrid

Image Source: Wikipedia (Felipe Gabaldón) MADRID. What does it mean to you? What's your favourite neighbourhood? Why? What advice would you give to a visitor? What changes have you seen? How would you compare it to other cities that you know? Have a look at some of these extracts from the * Wikitravel guide to Madrid .  Do you agree with them? What advice would you add? * Text in Wikitravel may be edited. Madrid  is the capital of Spain, as well as the capital of the autonomous community of the same name (Comunidad de Madrid). The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million with a metro area population of almost 6.5 million.  Madrid is best known for its great cultural and artistic heritage, a good example of which is the El Prado museum. Madrid also  boasts  some of the liveliest nightlife in the world. Image source: Wikipedia   Culture The culture of Madrid was dominated by its religious and royal history. Enormous, monoli...

The other day I went to see Darkest Hour. I have just read some of the reviews just now. I wouldn't rate it as highly as the majority do. When you see a film (even one in Spanish), you could read some of the reviews. I recommend Rotten Tomatoes . Movie Info During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms . As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, and with the Allied army cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman). While manoeuvring his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds . Directed by Joe Wright, DARKEST HOUR is the dramatic and inspiring story of four weeks in 1940 during which Churchill...

Source:  Ric Matkowski en Unsplash Garden shed becomes best rated restaurant on TripAdvisor - but it serves up Iceland ready meals  Oobah Butler created the fake "appointment only" restaurant in his garden using photographs of food and decoration made up of shaving foam and bleach A garden shed became the top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor after a writer tricked the popular review site by submitting fake reviews. Oobah Butler, who writes for Vice, created the fake restaurant in his garden by setting up a website with photographs of food, which were in fact made from shaving foam, bleach and extra texture provided by using his bare foot as a backdrop . He based his meals on moods in a bid to set it apart from other restaurants - but many of the dishes served on opening night were in fact, Iceland ready meals . He bought a mobile phone and registered the number as the restaurant's while refusing to give an address as it was "appointment-only...

Source:    Bas van der Linden en Unsplash On Thursday I went to a vegan restaurant and without a doubt , it was the tastiest vegan meal I have had in Madrid. I will certainly go back. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida de • V E G A • Restaurantes (@vegarestaurantes) Here are some of the reviews of Vega on Trip Advisor : ***** 28 September 2017 Dinner We went last Saturday evening. Food was yummy . Simple wholesome dishes filled with organic veggies and accompanied by some yum black rice. The mushroom croquetas were really tasty. As was the dessert, Panna cotta. The staff were helpful and very friendly. Would definitely go back. ****  22 June 2017 Fun, different and tasty ! We visited on a Saturday night and they were full (so definitely book in advance , thankfully we had). The atmosphere was great, it's a small place and it was bustling . The dining style is fairly casual with high tables, people eating at t...

Source:  Grafixart_photo Samir BELHAMRA   This time last week I was in the south of France. I stayed in a hotel near St Paul de Vence, in the hills surrounding Nice. On Saturday I had a lovely lunch in a famous restaurant in the village. Just out of interest , I checked out reviews on Tripadvisor. St Paul de Vence “ Charming Hill Top Village”  ***** Reviewed 4 weeks ago  The small hilltop village of St-Paul-De-Vence apparently had a quiet and largely uneventful history, until Pablo Picasso took up residence in the 1920s and helped transform it into an artists’ village. Today there are numerous galleries and studios with working artists throughout the narrow alleyways , interspersed with cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and clothing stores. There are about 300 permanent residents and what seemed like 300,000 visitors each day in summer, or that’s what it seems like in the crowded alleyways and car parks. It is a popular day trip for people staying...

Last weekend I stayed in the Parador in Fuente De - Picos de Europa. I thought it was a pleasant place and very reasonably priced . Here are some of the reviews (I didn't read any of them before booking): “A bit disappointing ” Reviewed 1 week ago The location is amazing and can't be faulted . The hotel itself was satisfactory, but the receptionist was a bit dry and unfriendly. This may also sound petty  but after ask ing where we could buy tickets for the cable car ( thus making it obvious that we were going up the mountain), I later saw a sign in the lift saying that if we bought the tickets at the parador , they 'd be at a discounted price. I'm unsure as to why we weren't told about this (we had gone up the stairs before so we hadn't seen the poster in the lift). Anyway, the room was fine and fairly clean and the car park is free. Not all rooms have a lovely view (we had a view of a tree and part of the inside car park). Bear in mind   ...

Source: Felipe Bustillo on Unsplash   Here's a typical conversation between two friends deciding which film to see. Complete the conversation with suitable words. Take a note of the different ways of making suggestions. Allan: What are you  (1) to tonight? Karen: Nothing much. Why? Allan: Do you (2) like  go ing to the cinema? Karen: Yeah, I ’d love (3) . What’s (4)? Allan: Have you seen the (5) Tarantino film? It’s had some good (6) . Karen: His films are too violent for my liking . I ’d (7) see a comedy. Allan: (8) have a look in the paper. Allan: How (9) this one? It  (10) Hugh Grant. Karen: Oh, I can’t stand him. Is there nothing else? Allan: Do you (11) see ing an action movie? This one  (12) quite good. Karen: I ’m not very keen  (13) them. Sorry for be ing so (14) . Allan:  (15) we see this one then? It’s a documentary; they give it 4 stars. Karen: We could just rent a DVD – a ...

Source:   Markus Winkler  en  Pexels A review of a book or a film is a report that gives an opinion on it. I usually read the critics before deciding what film to see.  😡  I usually read the reviews before deciding what film to see.  😍  The person who reviews the film or book is the critic . Write a brief review of a film or a book that you would (or wouldn't) recommend see ing . Write a review of a restaurant or hotel which you have been to. Check out these other review-related posts: Trickadvisor?   Darkest Hour / "We shall never surrender"   Food Reviews   Hotel Reviews   Writing a Review - St Paul de Vence   Hotel Recommendations  

Source:Wikipedia (Emilio Rodriguez Posada)   Here are a couple of reviews of hotels in Madrid to readers of an English newspaper. Do you agree with the description of hotels in Madrid? Hotel El Prado (a wine-themed retreat in Madrid's Bohemian literary quarter): Location In Madrid’s buzzy  and Bohemian literary quarter, close to the Thyssen and a short walk from Atocha station for high-speed trains to Seville. Character Not its strong point , despite the owners’ decision to give this 48-room hotel a wine theme (their second, marginally more upscale hotel, Lope de Vega, has a literary motif). Rooms Spotless and functional, with compact bathrooms. Some rooms have balconies, small plasma TVs and wifi connection. Room quality does vary. Room 407 is more attractive than most. Food Skip the hotel breakfast and go to a local bar for a café solo con churros. We like The young and perky all-female staff. The fun location, with endless tapas bars on the do...