Calendar

The walking tours for members of the Wellington Society are either mornings or evenings starting at 11 am or 8 pm (time may vary depending on the season). Our walks start from Plaza Santa Ana by the bronze statue of the poet Lorca (see photo on right). Members must confirm their date and time by calling the Chairman on his cell phone 609 14 32 03. If possible, please send a confirmation email one week prior to arrival

Day trips usually depart from Madrid between 9 am and 10 am depending on the destination. We use the new public transport which is either express bus or train. We try to have our members back in Madrid before 8 pm.

Our evening wine tours are generally on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 8:30 pm and finishing at 11:30 pm

There is no particular schedule for our day trips other than the desire of our members. The Chairman is always ready to help you decide.

Chairman Stephen Drake-Jones by the statue of Lorca. 

The Tryp Reina Victoria is in the backgound.

Spain By The Month

• All Spain celebrates the 6th of January, the coming of the Three kings, with presents for the children. Each year in Madrid there is a carnival type parade in the evening which ends in the Plaza Mayor. Expect big crowds everywhere as the festive season comes to an end.

• Mid-February and the city organizes its Carnival. It’s the best thing to do to cheer us up during the chilly weather period!

• Easter is of course the big processions throughout the city. You can watch the religious processions that take place during Holy Week (April 4-11, 2004) on Easter Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sacred statues and relics are carried through the streets accompanied by chanting crowds and somber singing. Huge crowds flock to watch these church events, so the streets, bars and restaurants are all very crowded and busy. If you are planning to come to Spain during this time, it is advisable to book your hotel reservations as early as possible, many people come from the countryside to the capitol to worship during this time.

• 2nd of May is the city’s celebration of the uprising of the people against Napoleon’s forces occupying Madrid. There are speeches made, and a wreath is hung on the Community Hall in Sol, bands playing and an army parade in the Puerta del Sol at 11 am. Many other activities go on during the day. It is a holiday only in Madrid so shops and banks are closed. We arrange the morning tour, and finish with lunch in a very typical Madrileno restaurant.

• 15th of May is San Isidro Day, the Patron Saint of Madrid and the city’s fiestas begin. In the late afternoon one of the biggest bullfights of the season takes places at Ventas bullring. Tickets are therefore hard to come by and sometimes expensive but for our members certainly a day to remember!

• 18th of June is the Society’s 25th anniversary. We are planning a very busy and exciting day. Details will be posted on this web site soon.

• 14th of September is our Chairman’s birthday and also the anniversary of the death of the Duke of Wellington, 1852. There is an extended walking tour ending with dinner at La Opera restaurant for a very special meal.

• 24th of December everything starts to close up by 4 pm. Christmas Eve is a time when all Spaniards sit down to their holiday dinner with family and friends. Even the bars are closed as to are the restaurants. Christmas Day is like any other Sunday regarding opening hours.

• 31st of December is a time when Puerta del Sol gets even more packed than on a weekend. The chimes from the Community Hall bring in the New Year and traditionally everyone eats one grape for each of the twelve chimes of the New Year. After midnight, select bars and restaurants open for the New Year revelers.