Madrid Information

// Whether you need to find a doctor or just want to plan a route on the Metro, here you’ll find the most indispensable information for finding your feet in the Spanish capital.

• Transport
• Medical Care
• Hospitals
• Dentists
• Clubs and Societies

TRANSPORT

METRO DE MADRID
See www.metromadrid.es for all the information you could need about the Madrid Metro. You can plan your journey, print out a map, check times – even check which stations are closed.

RENFE
See www.renfe.es for an interactive planner for all of your train journeys. It’s advisable to buy online, as train stations can get very busy, especially around peak periods.

TAXIS
Need a lift? Log one of these numbers into your mobile. But be warned! The meter starts running when the taxi driver starts his journey to pick you up, NOT when you actually get into the cab!

- Radio Taxi Independiente 91 405 12 13
- Taxiflot 91 539 04 00
- Tele-Taxi 91 371 21 31

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MEDICAL CARE

SEEING A DOCTOR
If you need medical attention in Madrid, and you’re an EU citizen, you are entitled to free medical care. You should come to Spain with the relevant form (E111) or a European Health Insurance card (EHIC). Residents of Austria, the Netherlands and the UK may use the E111 until 31 December, 2005, when it will become invalid. Residents of other EU countries should check if their E111 transitional form is valid. The E111 form and the EHIC do not cover dental treatment or private medical care. Take the form or your EHIC card to your nearest health centre. Call any centro de salud (see the yellow pages for telephone numbers), provide your address and they will tell you where your nearest centre is. You will not be given a specific appointment, but a period of time within which you will be seen, so be prepared for a wait. At the reception desk you’ll be given a form to fill out, your doctor’s name and be told to go to a certain sala. Ask who the last in the queue is: “¿Quién es el último?” or listen for your name. Note that your doctor may not speak English, so be prepared to translate your symptoms.

After the consultation, you’ll be given a prescription (receta) and may need to return to the reception desk if the doctor has referred you to a specialist. Take the prescription to a chemist (anywhere you see the green cross sign).

Non-EU students must have health insurance from their country. Universities advise students to go to the Unidad Médica, c/Conde de Aranda, 1, tel: 91 435 18 23 (Metro: Retiro). This centre has English-speaking doctors and is familiar with giving the recibo that must be sent to your social security/insurance back home. Dental treatment is also available here.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
112 - Ambulance/fire/police/civil protection
061 - Medical emergencies
080 - Fire

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HOSPITALS Public

- Hospital Gregorio Marañón, c/Doctor Esquerdo, 46, tel: 91 586 80 00 (Retiro district).
- Hospital La Paz, Pº Castellana, 261, tel: 91 727 70 00 (Fuencarral/El Pardo district).
- Hospital Ramón y Cajal, ctra Colmenar Viejo, km 9,100, tel: 91 336 80 00 (Fuencarral/El Pardo district).
- Hospital Clínico Universitario San Carlos, c/Profesor Martín Lagos, s/n, tel: 91 330 30 00 (Moncloa district).
- Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Avda Córdoba, tel: 91 390 80 00 (Carabanchel/Latina/Usera district).

HOSPITALS Private

- British American Medical Unit, c/Conde de Aranda, 1, tel: 91 435 18 23 (Metro: Retiro).

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DENTISTS (ENGLISH SPEAKING)

c/Magallanes, 18, 1º, tel: 91 446 32 21 (Metro: Quevedo).
Emergency no: 661 857 170.

AAR,
c/Santa Juliana, 46, bajo-dcha, tel: 91 450 30 46 (Metro: Estrecho).

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CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

JOIN DEMOCRATS ABROAD SPAIN!
Democrats Abroad are, as you might have guessed, US citizens (expatriates, students, retirees) living in Spain who subscribe to the principles of the Democratic Party and are dedicated to the concepts of democracy, fairness and the American way.

Democrats Abroad is the official organization of the Democratic Party outside of the US; connecting Americans with US politics and the Democratic Party; registering, informing, and motivating voters; supporting candidates, holding events and raising resources.

Democrats Abroad Spain is open to any American citizen of voting age who supports the principles of the Democratic Party. No oath of loyalty, fees or dues, or past voting record is required to become a member.

They meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 8pm. Please visit their website at http://es.democratsabroad.org for announcements regarding their chapter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please contact Kristi Green, Madrid Chapter
President at democratsabroadmadrid@yahoo.com

Have a good think
Sunday nights have always been a time for reflection -- perhaps because of the looming horror of Monday morning and the return to work. If you would rather reflect on life and its intricacies in a group situation, then head to the Pub Philosophy Club. Taking place in Irish bar Molly Malone’s every Sunday evening at 7pm, the club is run by British philosophy graduate and seven-year resident of Madrid, Lawrence SURNAME. Every week, by means of a vote, a topic is decided upon for discussion. When I drop in, the subject is the ego, encouraging the attendees to discuss a few of Freud’s theories. The 30-strong group is made up mostly of Spaniards keen to enrich their English by discussing more challenging topics than “What I did at the weekend”. Francisco, a 31-year-old engineer, has been attending the group for a year to improve his fluency, while Carmen, a 42-year-old architect, comes because of the interesting topics. The key question still remains unanswered though -- is that pint of Guinness half full or half empty?
Pub Philosophy Group, every Sunday at 6pm, Molly Malone’s, c/Manuela Malasaña, 11, tel: 606 081 813 (Metro: Bilbao). Email Lawrence at philomadrid@yahoo.co.uk for more information.
SIMON HUNTER

Join the scrum
Insert your own favourite hooker joke here, because we don’t want to mess with anyone the size of the Madrid Lions Rugby Club. Especially not on a Thursday night, when the main opponents to be battered into submission are their own livers. Being a member involves plenty of male bonding in the clubhouse, aka Finnegans (where members get special prices), plus, if the mood takes them, the occasional rugby game as well, against a mix of local and visiting teams. Women are more than welcome, both as supporters and for the après-game activities. As membership also entitles you to discounts at several other Irish bars -- O’Connors, Bo’Finns, Steinlager, and Whelans in Alcalá de Henares -- there’s plenty of reason to spend time with those men who like playing with odd-shaped balls.
The rugby club meet every Thursday from 9.30pm at Finnegan’s, Plaza de las
Salesas (Metro: Alonso Martínez or Colón ). The annual fee is €20, plus a
standard match fee of €5. See www.madridlionsrfc.com or call Charlie on 636 067 716 for more information.
ANNABEL LAISTER

Get lyrical
If you’re able to find rhymes for “orange” and “purple” without pause for thought, the Madrid poets is the club for you. Founded five years ago, this mixed-nationality group is serious about the medium, dissecting and discussing their own verse instead of contemplating the extra-curricular antics of Philip Larkin. While aspiring laureates or talented novices will find an evening with the Madrid poets a rewarding experience, lovelorn stanza-dodgers looking to vent their woe on a hapless audience should consider blogging -- or the bottle -- instead. They meet in the snug interior of Café Mendoncino (Metro:Noviciado) every Tuesday evening between 8 and 9pm.
Email madridpoets@hotmail.com for more information.
ROB TRAIN

Get a kick out of boxing
Seeped in sweat and fizzing with adrenaline, this multinational, unisex kick-boxing club is run by personal trainer David. As well as tailoring individual fitness programmes to members, he has 13 years of bone-crunching know-how to impart to beginners and more experienced fighters alike. A typical evening consists of a “light” run (I saw my life flash before my eyes), warm-up, medicine-ball-based torture and, of course, the ins-and-outs of administering or avoiding a beating. Despite the element of violence naturally involved in kick-boxing, the classes are structured to accommodate everyone, and beginners are not expected to act as punch-bags for the more proficient members -- sparring is entirely optional. Newcomers are prescribed exercises corresponding to their ability, and technique-improving wisdom is offered in a serious yet friendly environment. If you’re carrying an extra pound or two after Christmas, kick-boxing provides an infinitely more entertaining way to get into shape than running around in circles in the Retiro.
Tues and Thurs 9-10.30pm, Fri 7.30-9pm, a fiver a pop or €47 for a month’s full gym membership, including kick-boxing and capoiera. Gim-do maravillas, calle oviedo 13, (Metro Alvarado). Call David on 64 554 17 86 for more information.
RT

Go for it
Go, a centuries-old Chinese strategy game, has risen in popularity in the West since it appeared in movies such as A Beautiful Mind and Pi. It’s a board game that consists of black and white “stones” played on a square grid of 19 horizontal and vertical lines. Go was supposedly invented by a Chinese emperor as a gift for his son, but when he realised what a terrific game he’d stumbled on, he gave it to his soldiers to strengthen their strategic thinking. Gee, thanks Dad. The purpose of Club de Go “Nam-Ban” is to spread the popularity of Go in Spain, and they’ve got free handbooks for beginners that’ll get you started, plus plenty of boards, so you don’t need to bring anything but your thinking cap. The players in the club come from all over the world, and have a range of abilities from beginner to competition level. When I went, there was a 17-year-old Japanese girl visiting town for a Go championship, chewing bubble gum, and dangling her pink Converses under her chair, as she played and trounced five of the club’s best players at the same time. You girl, Go.
At Círculo Catalan, Pl Espana, 6, 2°, tel: 91 541 60 90 (Metro: Plaza de España). Free. Mon, Thurs, Fri; 7.30-11pm.
BRIAN SKAR

Run to the bar
Billed as a “drinking club with a running problem”, the Madrid Hash House Harriers evidently have a different perspective on the nature of physical exercise. Founded in 1984, the Harriers are part of a global chain of clubs dedicated to making running fun for expats. The idea is simple: a large group of “runners” meet once or twice a week, and embark on one of various scenic routes within the Comunidad de Madrid. The runs usually last around an hour, but thankfully the stress is on enjoyment and not victory. In fact, competitive running often receives special punishment. As do other transgressions such as spilling your beer or saying the word “race”. Unsurprisingly, the punishments usually involve alcohol, which seems to be the focal point of the whole exercise. The Madrid Hash House Harriers currently run/booze every Sunday at 1pm. Fees: €3.50 per run. Friday runs €5-10. See www.madridhhh.com for more information.
THOMAS MILES

Dine out more
Good food. Good conversation. Why does life have to be any more complicated? The Madrid Dining Club doesn’t have a motto, but this may as well be it, as the club is essentially a convenient excuse for people from all parts of the world to meet up and sample the wide variety of restaurants in the city. What began as an eight-member, women-only club two years ago now boasts 120 members, with “mixed events” every 2-3 months. Most evenings attract around 35 guests -- so there’s plenty of dining companions. Half of the club’s members are Spanish, and the prices are reasonable too, as the club seeks out the best-value restaurants in the capital. Final bills, including wine, usually don’t exceed €20.
Email Rebecca on madridchicas@yahoo.es to receive the club’s monthly invitations.
VICTORIA NOBLE

Tread the boards
Know your Mamet from your Merchant of Venice? Would you like to? Either way, the Madrid Players are waiting for your call. It’s an English-language drama group that always welcomes new members, and is as popular now as at any time in its 35-year history. Acting experience may be helpful, although it is not a requirement -- and the stage-shy can work on make-up, scenery, costumes . . . “whatever they want to do,” says the group’s president, Nigel Bennett. An average MP cast list contains various nationalities, as well as Spanish and British. The group also runs children’s workshops. What stands out from rehearsals is the camaraderie. “Coming here has changed my life,” says Tori Brattan, a recent member. See? Even Madrid luvvies can over exaggerate with the best of them. See www.madridplayers.org or call 91 326 24 39 for more information. Membership costs €30 a year. Children’s workshops start 21 January. For information about these, call Amy on 91 356 13 78 or Anne on 91 365 31 32.
KEITH MILES

Play with kids your own age
This one’s for our younger readers. Listen up, toddlers: we’ve found a great place where you can make English-speaking friends, be entertained, and create all the mess you want without Mum moaning about how she’ll get the stains out of that IKEA futon. The Stickyfingers Playgroup is truly the place for us creative fun-lovers. Located in Calle Ibiza (Metro: Ibiza), it runs sessions for tots aged 0-3 every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am; and, if you’re a little old for that childish nonsense, they also have an arts-and-crafts club for kids up to nine years old, one Saturday a month. Sadly, parents are also encouraged to come along, but that’s ok -- one of us can distract them while the rest of us learn what happens when you pour paint into handbags. Most Saturday sessions attract around 40 families from all over Madrid, so there’s always lots of new friends to pour paint over as well.
Cost: €6 per family. For upcoming events, keep your eye on the Stickyfingers website (http://playgroupmadrid.tripod.com) or call Joy on 91 501 57 33
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Sing like an angel
If you want to put the madrigal in Madrileño, or even understand that pun, then the four-part choir at Madrid’s Universidad Complutense is for you. Although officially part of the university, the choir is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, with members from all parts of the world. The choir’s repertoire consists mainly of Baroque pieces and sacred music for religious festivals -- so, as well as meeting new people, this is also the perfect opportunity to extend your knowledge of classical music, and learn some foreign language songs, including Spanish and Italian.
Practice is at Colegio Mayor (C/Isaac Peral, 58, Metro: Islas Filipinas) on Fridays at 8.30pm. The choir starts new songs at the beginning of each University term, so January is a good month to join. Musical training not necessary; musical ear probably is. For more information contact Ángel on 646 932 315 or email corocuc0405@yahoo.es
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