Madrid

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POPULATION

Madrid: 3.1 million (urban area)

Spain: 39.3 million

TIME

GMT plus one hour, summertime (June-late September) plus two hours.

TELEPHONE

IDD Country Code 34

Madrid 34-1

Barcelona 34-3

Valencia 34-6

Seville 34-5

To call internationally from Spain, dial 07 and wait for the international dialling tone, followed by country code and number you require. To call nationally within Spain, preface all city numbers with 9. Operator and directory enquiries 003

WEATHER

Temperatures rarely drop below freezing in winter but can reach 40°C in the dog days of August. Madrid is, however, at a mean altitude of 654 metres and a cold wind funnels down from the Guadarrama mountains to the north so bring an overcoat in winter. The best time, with regards to weather, to visit Madrid is the spring and autumn.

COMMERCIAL HOURS

Banks Normally 8.30-14.00, Monday-Friday and 9.00-13.00, Saturdays. But beware: in June-September, banks close on Saturdays.

Offices Industry execs arrive at their offices around 10.00, leave around 14.00 and tend to go AWOL after lunch. Don't be surprised however to find them raring to go for an evening stint, 19.00-21.00.

Shops 9.00-10.00 to 13.30-14.00 and 16.30 to 19.00-20.00.

national holidays

1 and 6 January, 19 March, 4 and 5 April, 1 May, 15 August, 12 October, 1 November, 6 and 25 December

Best guides and MAPS

For Spain, Spain, by Tom Burns (Harrap Columbus, 1988, London), an excellent selective guide; for Madrid; Madrid, in the same collection and VIP Madrid: Guide for the Business Visitor (ed: Patronato Municipal de Turismo, IFEMA, 1992), which has a useful list of business contacts. Jan Morris' Spain (Penguin Books, 1982, Harmondsworth) is a superbly evocative portrayal of its traditions, landscape and people.

TOURIST INFORMATION

Madrid Tourist Board

Barajas Airport (International arrivals terminus). Tel (1) 3058656

ELECTRIC CURRENT

220 volts. Spain uses continental two-pin pugs so pick up an adaptor at your national airport if required.

TRADING PLACES

Number of screens in Spain (1994): 1930

TV household penetration: 91 %

VCR penetration of TV households: 56 %

Source: EGM, ICAA.

TV NETWORKS

Telemadrid

Zurbano 71, 28010 Madrid Tel (1) 5924100

Antena 3 TV

Avda. Isla Graciosa s/n, 28700 San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid

Tel (1) 6230500 Fax (1) 6548517

Canal+ España

Gran Vía, 32, 3rd floor, 28013 Madrid Tel (1) 3965500 Fax (1) 396 5845

Tele 5

Plaza Pablo Picasso 36, Torre Picasso, 28020 Madrid Tel (1) 3966100 Fax (1) 3966135

RTVE

Edificio Prado del Rey, 28223 Madrid Tel (1) 581 7000 Fax (1) 581 5412

INDUSTRY EVENTS 1995

San Sebastián Film Festival

12-21 September

Valladolid Int'l Film Festival

Late October

MIDIA (Mercado Iberoamericana de la Industria Audiovisual)

18-20 June

Film Business School

Tel (1) 3508008 Fax (1) 3508193. Runs excellent summer and winter film financing and legal business courses for producers. Contact Linda Moore.

VALUE FOR MONEY

Tryp Velázquez

Velázquez 62. Tel (1) 5752800. A classic, elegant niche in Madrid's Mayfair.

Sanvy

NH, Goya 3. Tel (1) 5760800. Convenient central location.

Tryp Fenix

Hermosilla 2. Tel (1) 4316700. Victorian grandeur. Excellent views of central Plaza Colon.

Zurbano NH

Zurbano 79. Tel (1) 4414500. More economical, middle-executive base.

Hotel Monaco

Barbieri 5. Tel (1) 5224630. Fun hotel for no-holds barred sentimental weekend; looks like former Moroccan brothel.

EMERGENCY

Ambulances (1) 5222222

Emergency doctor (1) 4095530

Police 091

Fire 080

COURIERS

DHL 7473400

THE X FILES TIPPING

Not obligatory, but: a bell-boy, pta100; taxis, restaurants, 5-10%, although in the latter, service is always included on the bill.