Negative+cultural++experiences

[|//**OD**//]**, Grand Bend, Ontario** **Apr 3, 2005** ||  ||
 * Traveler rating: [[image:http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img/ratings/owls/2.0.gif width="95" height="24" align="absBottom"]]**Madrid: [|Plaza Mayor]: "watch out"**
 * [[image:http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img/s.gif width="1" height="2"]][[image:http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/img/s.gif width="1" height="1"]]Watch out when you visit Plaza Mayor. My husband and I were there in March 2005. Like so many others we loved the square, and having a few minutes before dinner decided to sit out at one of the sidewalk cafes, have a drink and tapas and watch the action. There were street musicians, jugglers, dancers, couples out for a stroll, etc. Lots to see.

Well, to be short, we were taken. We were too relaxed. We aren't kids either, we are in our 60s and professional people.

There was a sign with a list of tapas and the prices didn't seem bad, 3 or 4 euros or so for a tapa. So we sat down, the waiter came.

The waiter had no menu for the tapas - he just said "queso or jamon". This didn't jibe with the sign, but we assumed it was too early for the posted menu, or something. So we said one of each. My husband ordered 1 beer, and I ordered a glass of white wine. The waiter brought two small plates, one had 4 or 5 slices of tired dried cheese, and the other had 4 or 5 slices of something like salami. They weren't very good, and they didn't even have olives on the side or any garnish. In 15 minutes we were finished, and the waiter brought the bill - 40 euros!

I guess the sign was for another cafe? The tables were all confused and intermingled. Or maybe this is just how they take unsuspecting tourists?

It sort of spoiled our visit to Madrid. I will never want to go to Plaza Mayor again! I feel we were so stupid to be taken in. ||