Hi Olga,<BR>I´m afraid that I am a little biased about this. It´s difficult to forget ...<BR>I hope you get lots of presents next Monday <BR><BR>Cova

We were in Madrid in September and did not have anything unpleasant happen to us; however, a Spanish woman had her purse snatched outside of a store we were in. On another occasion we were going to the Sunday flea market when a lady from California stopped us and told us not to go into the neighborhood too far south of where we were. She said to stay on the main thoroughfare and where there were other people. M.

Leslie, Thanks but my trip is on Jan 8th. I will try Hostal Adriano as you mentioned.

PLEASE! Do not worry, Spain is extremely safe, just act as a normal non terrified person (hopefully the way you act in your home town) and you will have a great time. Do not listen to the poster who suggests that you stay in a boring hostel at night time. Spain livens up in the evening at about 9 p.m, lunch is had between 2 and 5 pm which also is nice as Spaniards tend to eat slowly and enjoy their life and food with some excellent wine. HAve a good time in Spain!