@brendanboyle.bsky.social
All things Spain.
The wonderful Plaza Olavide in Madrid has been mentioned in the FT by @simonkuper.bsky.social and The Economist by @lanegreene.bsky.social - it's a microcosm of a city ferociously on the up and the inherent challenges popularity brings.
I wrote about my week in Madrid as a tourist - link belowโฌ๏ธ
Lovely piece, Brendan. It almost makes me feel guilty for living there, so I can only try to do things like shop at the local shops and go to those old man barsโlong may they liveโand integrate best I can, hoping Madrid changes me as much as I change Madrid.
08.10.2025 18:12 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Thanks Lane, it's a great podcast you made - I went back and listened during my stay. And absolutely, that's all you can do. It's much better for the barrio having someone invested in its well-being like you, rather than even more short-term visitors. It's a fascinating conundrum facing many cities.
08.10.2025 19:54 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Link to read here:
brendyboyle.substack.com/p/whats-next...
The wonderful Plaza Olavide in Madrid has been mentioned in the FT by @simonkuper.bsky.social and The Economist by @lanegreene.bsky.social - it's a microcosm of a city ferociously on the up and the inherent challenges popularity brings.
I wrote about my week in Madrid as a tourist - link belowโฌ๏ธ
Ticket prices for NFL game between Miami and Washington in Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Nov 16.
07.10.2025 10:44 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Only one team in the top 2 tiers of Spanish football unbeaten:
Deportivo La Coruรฑa.
If you want an idea about whoโs snapping up property in Madrid, take a look at Sergio Ramosโ house.
open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
ICYMI - latest La Comunidad piece from the middle of Spain.
My week in Madrid (as a tourist) during the first week of autumn, looking through the lens of where the city is heading.
Enjoy, share, gracias!
PS: Madrid in Autumn > Paris in springtime.
Link to read here:
brendyboyle.substack.com/p/whats-next...
Thanks Paul, hope to catch up at the Mercado for a Rayo game soon๐
06.10.2025 16:08 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Absolutely fantastic snap shot on the Spanish capital and how life in Madrid is evolving with the good and not so..
Looking forward to the book!
ICYMI - latest La Comunidad piece from the middle of Spain.
My week in Madrid (as a tourist) during the first week of autumn, looking through the lens of where the city is heading.
Enjoy, share, gracias!
PS: Madrid in Autumn > Paris in springtime.
Thanks a mil! Felt the same nostalgia myself being back there, and spending time in the different barrios. Amazing place
05.10.2025 17:24 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Everyone has benefited from the end of stranglehold over rail travel in Spain - except for Renfe.
Last 5 years prices down 33%, the number of travellers up from 34m to 49m.
Renfe recorded profits of โฌ133m in 2019...and a loss of โฌ27m in 2024.
(El Mundo)
What's your favourite place in Europe to visit at Christmas?
05.10.2025 16:13 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 0
๐ช๐ธ๐ % of 30-44 YO homeowners in Spain fell from 71% in 2004 to 53% in 2024.
(La Voz)
And for this Madrid Special weekend, a place for sale in case you've a spare โฌ9.8m.
05.10.2025 15:11 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Domingo, A Coruรฑa.
05.10.2025 11:17 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
๐ช๐ธSunday read with your churros๐๏ธ
My week in Madrid as a tourist during these gold rush times in Spain's capital.
๐Banter capitalism
๐ Sergio Ramos sells up
โก๏ธ Rayo Vallecano vs time
๐ธPlaza de Olavide
๐Tin Tin in the Congo
Enjoy, share, gracias!
Link to read here:
open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
๐ช๐ธSunday read with your churros๐๏ธ
My week in Madrid as a tourist during these gold rush times in Spain's capital.
๐Banter capitalism
๐ Sergio Ramos sells up
โก๏ธ Rayo Vallecano vs time
๐ธPlaza de Olavide
๐Tin Tin in the Congo
Enjoy, share, gracias!
I read his book on Rome while in Madrid - upon your recommendation ๐๐ป So good
04.10.2025 18:06 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Thanks amigo! It really is a conundrum and nobody seems to know what the next 5-10 will look like.
04.10.2025 16:03 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
YoY property price increases in Spain v Eurozone and EU.
(La Vanguardia)
New arena in Valencia looks cool.
04.10.2025 13:50 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Link here to read:
open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...
A great article. The exact things that make Spain great - its day-to-day life, its lively bars and cafรฉs - are threatened by the tourists who want to enjoy that greatness, but with a twist - gyozas rather than croquetas, specialty coffee rather than vermรบ and bravas. Such a hard balance to find.
04.10.2025 13:03 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
๐ช๐ธWeekend read with you cafรฉ con leche โ๏ธ
๐From Plaza de Olavide to Vallecas, my week as a tourist in Madrid, how far the city has come and where itโs heading.
Enjoy, share, gracias!
'I was the young professional developers and property speculators salivated over โ the kind of eejit who would pay huge money to live close to the city in an โauthenticโ community with โbuzzy nightlifeโ.
Thereโs no point decrying gentrification while actively being part of it.'
