I have to admit: Madrid has been a disappointment from a musical perspective. Maybe I've just been looking in all the wrong places, but all I've managed to find in three nights here were some expat Americans playing cover blues. If there's any kind of local, authentic music scene here, I haven't seen it.
On something of a whim, I took a 1/2 hour train ride south today to Toledo – which is about as far a cry from the Ohio city as you can imagine. Built on a hill surrounded by water on three sides, it has gorgeous buildings, winding narrow streets, and all the character Madrid sadly lacks.
By chance, some 100 residences opened up their patios for public viewing today. A few offered additional attractions, such as this one with singer/viola de teclas player Ana Alcaide, who played songs that sounded like they were straight from Toledo's 16th century heyday. It only lasted half-an-hour, but was as close to perfect as anything I've ever stumbled upon.
See you back in New York.