10 THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN MADRID'S METRO!

So after almost 4 years of living in Madrid, I think I can call myself a metro expert,a metro connoisseur if you may 😂. I can tell you the names of the lines, the colors, the stops, you ask it, I know it! But,to have acquired such a vast knowledge, would mean that I had to have taken the metro hundreds of times and after your 500th time taking this public transport, you start to notice a thing or two.
So here are just a few things that you'll see (or hear) on Madrid's Metro.


1. ESCALATOR ETIQUETTE

Okay so this one isn't necessary on the metro itself but it is super important! When taking the escalator in Madrid, always remember, if you're not going to walk up or down the escalators, stay to the right!

When my Spanish friend first told me about this I was like...huh?!? Is this a law? A rule? Well, technically no, but you really don't wanna be the only person on the left side not moving and holding up others because trust me, the looks you'll get are just not worth it.

2. ATENCIÓN: ESTACIÓN EN CURVA....

"Al salir, tengan cuidado para no introducir el pie entre coche y anden."

This literally means "Attention: Mind the gap, as you exit, be careful not to place your foot between the train and the platform."

This is your standard metro warning that you'll hear when you are approaching stations that have a gap between the metro wagon and the platform. It's something that you will hear hundreds of times and will stick in your head forever!


3. ¿VAS A SALIR?

Ahhh the famous "¿vas a salir?", the words I often hear when the metro is passing through a tunnel way before it reaches its' next stop.

"¿Vas a salir?" translates to are you coming out? Basically people need to know this because...well..I'm not sure haha. They want to know out of courtesy maybe? So they don't push past you or so you don't block them when they do try to leave? Yeah, let's say it's because of that.

4. PUSHING MY BUTTONS

So there are two ways to open metro doors depending on the type of metro you get on. There is one with a lever that when the metro stops, you lift it up and the doors open. The other kind has two buttons located on the doors. Around the buttons, there are lights that turn green once it is safe to push it and open said metro doors. Simple? Right?

Somehow, almost everyone pushes the buttons way before the lights come on. I don't know if they don't know what the lights represent or if they just feel better continuously pushing the buttons until the doors open.

5. JUMPERS

Also known as "turnstile", these people just jump across the entrance to the metro stops. I suppose that these exist everywhere but they do it with such grace and stealth here. They jump and then casually continue on to catch the train as if they just didn't avoid paying like the rest of us.

Sometimes, there are metro station workers who check for your metro cards but somehow these jumpers always get lucky and avoid them. Maybe they have like a whatsapp group that keeps them informed about which stations are hotspots..idk hahahha

6. THE METRO STARE OFF

Maybe it's just me but the metro stare off is one of the most intense games that you could engage in when riding this public transport.

You never know who your opponent could be...a baby in a stroller? a fellow expat? an abuela who is trying to understand what language you are speaking and why?

Just know that it's a game for only the strong willed and determined and there are many techniques which you can use. You can play the look away game, you know, the one where you look back at them every now and then to make sure that they are still staring at you (and yes they will still be staring at you) or you can engage in the highest level of the game and maintain a fixed stare but bare in mind, this is easier with toddlers but harder with abuelos.

Anyways, the stare off is a right of passage so don't avoid it but rather embrace it. Good luck and Godspeed! LOL!


7. METRO CONCERTS

One thing I love about the metro here is that there is always some type of musical mini concert going on. Okay...so I don't love it when I have a headache after a hard day but that's just like 5% of the time.

People here are so talented. They are able to sing and dance and play instruments on the metro and keep their balance. THAT'S SKILL!

And it doesn't just happen on the metro itself but at the stations as well. You can always pass people in the halls putting on amazing performances and for free!

8. MI CASA ES TU CASA

So you're on the metro and reading a book, a text, a newspaper, something and you feel like you have some eyes on you, you look around and you realize the person sitting next to you and the person standing above you are both reading what's in your hand. I like to call this the "mi casa es tu casa" syndrome.
This usually happens when someone next to you feels so comfortable and makes themselves so at home that they also decide to take in whatever material you're reading at the moment.

Are you reading the newspapers and catching up with local/world news? Don't be stingy because the guy next to you might wanna do that too.

Are you arguing with your boyfriend by text? Don't be rude, provide some entertainment for this boring metro ride.

Have you just gotten to the really good part of your book? Well open the book a little more because chances are the girl on your left might find it juicy and might wanna buy the book too.

"Mi casa es tu casa" syndrome is somewhat contagious and sometimes happens unintentionally. So if you fall victim to it don't worry, it's not deadly and the duration of said syndrome is quite short.


9. METRO ABONO JOVEN 

This is the best thing I could have ever asked for....that was until I turned 26.

If you're under 26, you are eligible for the abono joven metro card. This means that you can travel on all metro lines (and buses) for only 20 euros a month. YES YOU READ CORRECTLY...ALL!

Wanna go to the airport? - Abono Joven
Aranjuez? - Abono Joven
Toledo? - Abono Joven

I'm telling you, 20 euros and you can get your Dora the Explorer on, but trust me, when you hit 26...oh boy...the pain, the horror, the agony...the money 😢.

Once you hit 26 you aren't eligible anymore and now you'll have to pay for the metro and buses depending on the zone you frequent and prices start from 50 euros and up! If you're under 26, enjoy it my friend because it's true what they say, you never know what you have until it's gone.

10. RISK MY LIFE 

When I say risk my life, I'm not talking about in a heroic or patriotic way. I'm talking about those brave people who risk their lives trying to enter the metro before the doors close.

Every day dozens of people risk being squeezed by metro doors just so they don't have to wait another 3-7 minutes for the next one. I can't tell you how many times I've gasped at the sight of someone just barely having the door shut on them. It really is something.

Anyways, after all is said and done, there isn't much that I can complain about when it comes to Madrid's Metro. For the most part, it's efficient and reliable and even though there are days where it's slower and problematic, I wouldn't trade it for the world (but I would make it open all night during the weekend though).

So thanks Madrid for teaching me your metro etiquette, brightening my day with your many quirks and giving me stories that I can share and that will last a lifetime!