A pinch of this and a pinch of that

Madrid is like New York with an antiqued spin on it with a little Chicago thrown in. I guess the antiqued feel is a given since it became the capital of Spain under the Bourbon dynasty. That's not to say that it lacks any modernity in the least, but is has more of an old Hollywood feel to it. People are bustling down the streets, but not in the "time-is-money" sense, more in a normal steady rush of moving from one place to the next. Gran Via would be Madrid's equivalent to a 5th Avenue with all it's lights, billboards, and tall buildings, but there is something about it that keeps it from being as overwhelming as NYC. I can't decide if I liked Barcelona or Madrid better to be honest though. There's just so much I loved about both cities, and they are so very different. Barcelona is feels like a cross between Paris and San Francisco-tradition meets eclectic. Some California cool in the big city mix, with of course the beauty of the Mediterranean coast. Madrid is so very cosmopolitan and doubles as the country's capital as well as the commercial capital. With Palacio Real (the Royal Palace), the museum district, and Retiro Park, Madrid is highly manicured and preserved. It was definitely easier to understand people in Madrid because the majority speak Spanish. It's hit and miss in Barcelona. Many people speak Catalan and Spanish, but sometimes you will end up asking someone a question who only speaks Catalan. Barcelona has a very international feel to it come to think of it, while Madrid has a very Spanish feel to it. Both cities are wonderful to visit-extremely interesting and both offering loads to do and a good time. Well I feel like I have just written a comparison/recipe of/for Madrid and Barcelona, so throw in a pinch of salt and voila.