Professional photographer Vaydehi Khandelwal, armed with a camera, captures the buzz of Madrid:
Madrid – The City That Never Sleeps
I was in Madrid to join a university called IED to complete my Masters in Documentary art photography. The minute I landed, I felt at home. This city made me feel comfortable and the energy of the people, the streets, artists, cafes, shops, clubs was infectious.
Tapas, Wine and Conversations. Cafés are great for people watching and watching the world go by or get a taste of Madrid’s literary tradition at an iconic 19th century literary café
I had heard that Madrid was unsafe at night, particularly if you were brandishing a camera. Yet my entire project turned out to be about nights in Madrid, and I always felt safe.
Metropolis Building
Madrid is a compact city and I started exploring it on foot. My days were mostly spent at the university but in the evening I would go to my favorite hangout called Montaditos for tapas and a drink, followed by walking around Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) and Gran Via.
Street musician playing the maracas at Gran Via
Another place I visited often was the Retiro Park or Parque de Retiro. It was frequented by street artists, health freaks, people who came there to relax. The nearby cafes are the perfect spots to savor churros on a cold wintry evening.
Parque del Buen Retiro. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until the late 19th century, when it became a public park. The park is filled with sculpture and monuments, galleries and a lovely lake.
The Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) is a glass and metal structure located in Buen Retiro Park.
Palacio de Cristal
I would also highly recommend visiting Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple which was dismantled and relocated to Madrid.
Templo de Debod
Six months weren’t enough for me, but in case you plan to visit Spain, spend a good amount of time in Madrid for a complete experience!
A typical street in Madrid
Vaydehi Khandelwal has done her Masters in Photography from Mumbai and Masters in Documentary Art Photography from Madrid. Check out her website or read about her on the Leica blog.
