Posts in category Expats in Madrid

Expat Interview: Maxine Raynor

Feb02
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Sheila

Money Saver SpainToday Cheap in Madrid is talking to British expat Maxine Raynor. This native of Sheffield in South Yorkshire has recently started up a blog about finding good deals in Spain.

CiM: How did you get the idea to start up www.moneysaverspain.com?
Maxine: A couple of years ago I read in a British newspaper that expats were starting to return to the UK due to the high cost of living in Spain. This got me thinking that maybe the problem was that people, due to their limited Spanish, didn’t know where to find the best deals and offers. This, coupled with redundancy from my previous job, led me to start up the website in September 2011.

CiM: Why did you move to Madrid?
Maxine: First of all I came here for 6 months in 1983, then went back to the UK and then came to Madrid permanently in 1987. Originally I came here due to a relationship with a Spanish guy and then just stayed. READ MORE »

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Expat Interview: Dave Cardillo

Jan30
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Sheila

Today Cheap in Madrid is talking to expat Dave Cardillo from Florida. He’s the manager of the coffee shop and English language bookstore J&J Books and Coffee.

CiM: When did you first move to Madrid?
Dave: On September 17, 1999. September 17 is my “Spanniversary.” That’s what my friends and I call it. I was 27, and I’d never been here before.

CiM: Why did you choose Spain?
Dave: I had been to the ’98 World Cup in France and loved it and wanted to come back to Europe. My plan was to go to Germany. This was before the euro, when they still had the peseta in Spain. With the same amount of money I could stay in Spain for 4 months or Germany for one. Also, winter was just around the corner…

READ MORE »

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Roller Blading Routes

Dec22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Sarah

Madrid has a roller blading community,Roller Madriz, similar to the ones in big cities like Paris, and it takes place in some of the more emblematic streets of Madrid. This group is geared primarily to doing skating routes in groups, having fun and learning without monitors, because although there are people willing to teach skating, this is done voluntarily and without any formal arrangements.
The group goes skating in the following routes:

  • Route X: This is a physically and technically demanding route.Participants meet at the wooden bench in front of the Casa de America, near the roundabout of Cibeles to start skating at 20:45.
  • Friday Route aka “Route V” is a little less technically and physically demanding.It is aimed at those who are familiar with the techniques of braking, turning, skating up and down curbs. This session starts around 20:45 in the Retiro Park. READ MORE »

Posted in Roller Blading, Sports/Recreation/Workshops - Tagged ,

Christmas Bazaar at Saint George’s Church

Dec16
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Sarah

Saint George’s Church Madrid will be holding one of their fantastic bazaars this Saturday 17th December. There will be gifts, Christmas goodies from England, food, tombola, handicrafts, cupcakes, decorations and much, much more. The timetable is Saturday,the 13th of December from 13:30h-20:00h, and Sunday the 14th of December from  10:00h-15:00h. (c/ Nuñez de Balboa 43, metro Velázquez). Hope to see you all there!This Anglican church has held similar bazaars in the past.

Posted in Shopping - Tagged , ,

Madrid Babel Intercambio

Dec15
2011 Leave a Comment Written by Sheila

Joining a Language Exchange group here in Madrid (locally known as Intercambios) is a great way to practice your Spanish and meet new people. The Cheap In Madrid Blog (CiM) is profiling the various different intercambio groups, so you can get an idea of all the different opportunities you have in this city to improve your Spanish.

The Madrid Babel intercambio group, founded in 2000, now has over 25,000 members, and in 2009 and 2010 won the prize for “Best Intercambio of the Year” from European Vibe Magazine. They meet Wednesdays starting at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays starting at 7:00 p.m. at at The Quiet Man pub (calle de Valverde, 44, metro: Tribunal or Gran Vía). There’s no entrance fee, and everyone is welcome.

I had a chat with of Madrid Babel’s founder and leader, Fran Rodríguez Veiga, about his group. I also had the chance to speak to the people who help him organizing events: Paula Lorenzo Geada, Desislava, Gerardo Khaski and Abel Brey Carrillo.

CiM: What is the atmosphere like at the intercambios?
Fran: Usually around 200 people show up, from students to professionals, 20 to 50 years old, from about 30 different nations.
Paula: We have regular members and also every week new people come. READ MORE »

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