Actually, OMG, the initial idea of the blog came to me and has been written during my daily metro trips to and from work, which means that I will need to find new ways of inspiration in the new city...
When I turned 18 I moved to the big city: Madrid. After unpacking all my stuff during a terribly hot day in July I decided to spend my first day following a self tailor- made route as if I were on a hop-on, hop-off tour of the city. I was excited to use such an accessible transport and be able to discover so many diverse parts of the capital of Spain. I had an incredible day exploring on my own every corner from the eyes of a local and a 'foreigner’ at the same time – until I got a fine because I had purchased the wrong ticket…
Since then, during my rides I have watched improv shows, concerts of all genres and make up live sessions. I have witnessed love-hate dramas, booze episodes, thefts, family rows, compliments, jokes, embarrassment. I think all of us could write a whole book with what our eyes of commuters have seen and our ears have heard.
The metro in Madrid has witnessed my graduation at university, my becoming a woman, my first steps of my career. My fears, my loves and my tears. Thirteen years full of adventure. I will miss you, my travel buddy.
Since my very first contact with the metro in Madrid, I have got to know many cities and its people by its means of transportation.
I was told that Budapest has the first electric underground line in Europe, and I indeed suffered from this old system when my foot was caught by the automatic doors.
Vienna has a clean and sophisticated underground, a reflection of the valuable architecture that this city has to offer to the traveler.
Being such a crowded and extensive city, Paris has a tangled mess system of lines where no printed metro maps are provided for free, despite the high rate for a single ride.
My expectations on the subway in New York were high, being so present in the movies and being such an important part of the American pop culture! I felt happy inside the yellow wagons as if I were J. Lo from the Bronx. Old but authentic as it is. I was disappointed not to find a vending machine outside every station. How am I supposed to legally enter the station if the machine is located inside the barrier? I also noticed that if you take the subway towards the wrong direction, it is impossible in some stations to cross to the other side without going out and paying again. Besides that, I love to have that experience on me.
Considering how small the city of Lisbon is, I was quite happy with the wide platforms. Very neat, cheap and easy to find your way around even if you don´t speak the language.
I don´t remember using the underground in Amsterdam where cycling seems to be the fastest and most eco-friendly means of transport, but I do have the Berlin metro sound stuck in my mind. The same sound effect that the techno music producer Paul Kalkbrenner used in one of his well known albums.
Regardless how many times I have been in different parts of Italy, I must admit that I lack the knowledge of its underground culture. I guess I always went for the tram, so I could admire the beautiful architecture of this country.
However, there is one and only underground in the world with a proper name: the London Tube, partially closed down during weekends and terribly crowded at rush hours. An insane maze of lines that can coincide within the same platform. My advice: mind the gap and watch the screens carefully. Drastically small, annoyingly touristy but full of history and stories. It should be the eighth wonder of the World.
Last but not least, I invite you to watch one of my fav videos from Sesame Street to finish this short story about my perception on the metro system.
I hope you enjoy it!
