A Sabbatical in Madrid: A Diary of Spain

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Summary: A wonderful new book about Spain and Spaniards
Review: Excellent book: useful and very instructive and entertaining. A must read for anybody planning a visit to Spain of one day, one week, or one year. The longer the planned visit the more necessary it will become to read the book for learning about Madrid as part of Spain, and about Spain as part of Europe. This is one of the book's most remarkable strengths: it teaches us about the city and the country in a way that helps us to understand them, their peoples, and also Europe and Europeans. The book is a cornucopia of practical tips as well as insights on many things (from the Euro currency to favorite sports, and politics, and bullfights) a traveler must know when visiting a European country, Spain in this case. I think entertaining and instructive are the best words to describe this book. For example, the visit to the Museum of Queen Sofia in Madrid and the description of El Guernica (the famous painting by Picasso) and the author's reaction to it are extremely powerful and helpful for those who want to see the picture for the first or the nth time. The same can be said about his visit to El Prado and his comments about Las Meninas and Dali's paintings. In addition, the book contains innumerable passages useful for visitors who want to see the essentials in several other cities beyond Madrid. The book should be of particular interest to first-time travelers since it addresses their typical needs, affinities, and fears while providing clues on how to deal with them. The book is also a unique resource for those who have children and plan to stay for a while.

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Summary: Very enjoyable. A "must read" for those fond of Spain
Review: I found "A Sabbatical in Madrid" to be a delightful combination of anecdotal descriptions and interesting factual tidbits. Although I myself have lived in Madrid I still learned a few new bits of trivia which further added to my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Spain. Those who have already had the pleasure of visiting there will nostalgically smile upon reading of favorite places in Madrid and the side-trips to Segovia, Toledo and elsewhere. People who have not yet traveled to this wonderful country will get a sense of life in Madrid which will likely increase their interest in planning a journey there to experience it first-hand.

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Summary: Ideal for the reader preparing to work or study in Spain
Review: I have read many travel books about short visits to Spain, and I have seen books for individuals planning to move permanently to Spain, but this book is the only one I have found that addresses the needs of individuals traveling to Spain for 4 months to a year.

This interesting and easy to read book is the true story of an American family which relocates temporarily to Spain. The chapters include useful information about Spanish customs, culture and history, punctuated by charming stories of the family members' adjustment to life in Madrid.

A Sabbatical in Madrid: A Diary of Spain will help the temporary resident "hit the ground running," with enough basic information that he can establish himself quickly and make the most of his experience in Spain. I recommend it to students who will be studying in Spain (and to their parents) and to teachers and business people who will be living and working temporarily in Spain.

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Summary: A must read for potential Spain goers and others.
Review: Written in diary form, Macario's book is a great read! I have only spent limited time in Madrid but have toured large sections of the country. As a result, I found it difficult to put the book down as I found myself reading about places I had been and things that I had done. I too shopped at Corte Inglés and brought home Mephisto shoes. I too became curious about bull-fighting and its lore. Nevertheless, the potential reader should not look at this as an insider's book. On the contrary, once one gets over the intimacy of experiencing this family's daily life and experiences, with which everyone can identify, there is a cornucopia of information written in a very easy-to-read format. There are so many varied glimpses of the author's reactions to things that they experienced and places they went, as well as a compelling description of daily life as albeit temporary transplants in Madrid. The details are what make it fascinating. It is a travelogue as well as a fascinating story of family life. Who would not be anxious and then gratified to learn that the small children's initial antagonism to a strange place and strange school, with people saying things they did not understand, would gradually give way to relative fluency and enjoyment of the madrileño way of life? I highly recommend this to anyone about to spend time abroad with their family, and to anyone thinking of visiting Spain for more than a day or two. ¡Vale la pena!