For those who like looking without truly seeing, walking without thinking and see themselves as mere useful cogs - benches are, in fact, useless objects in a big city. However, for many Spanish people, benches are the last paradise for contemplation and hope in places where there is no time for such 'waste'. Benches are an invitation to stop. They are a place to turn our backs to cars, buses and motorbikes and watch inwards. Benches take us to invisible places inside our heads. They help us watch passers-by as if we are watching a movie. A movie featuring real, everyday characters. And those sitting are actors as well. They become both audience to and player in a huge live theatre. The drama is built frame by frame, minute by minute. This is the way that life passes for those who contemplate the invisible. The bench helps us to look outwards to the city and inwards to ourselves, and to watch the great cinema that is the city. And a city like Madrid is full of amazing stories. foto by Eneida Serrano

Barajas Airport is so inspiring, a vibrating place to come and go. Love to walk in its roller stairs and watch the organic columns and the wavy ceilings changing colors from blue to yellow designed by the architects Richard Rogers and Estudio Lamela.

Conde Duque is a contemporary creation center, a nice place to go to see concerts and expositions. It always has an interesting program going on. Every year several design and dance festivals are held and in summer you can enjoy a summer cinema. Conde Duque has become an essential pillar of Madrid’s cultural activity. It is proud to be one of the city’s three large metropolitan cultural centres, alongside Matadero Madrid Contemporary Arts Centre and CentroCentro. Conde Duque can be found in the university district, or Universidad, right in the centre of Madrid. Universidad is an area that stands out for two great reasons: for its wide and rich heritage and for its concentration of cultural activity.

Secret cocktail bar set in a 17th century library. From the outside, it looks like an old charming bonsai shop. You can only access with reservation. To make the experience even more exclusive, visitors must enter a secret code in a small and discreet door.

Good place to go for a quick healthy lunch or dinner, you can choose from a variety of paleo, vegan and vegetarian dishes. They also have a great organic coffee too!