Interesting Facts

11th March 2004 - Ten bombs were planted on rush-hour trains in Madrid, by terrorists. Killing 191 people and injuring 1,800.

According to the World Health Organisation, Spain is the noisiest country in Europe, and Madrid is one of the noisiest capitals. (In fact Spain is the second noisiest country in the world, behind Japan. Most of the noise comes from traffic, such as cars, heavy lorries and noisy motorbikes and mopeds. This is closely followed by building works, discotheques and leisure activities in general; especially in summer. Having been to Valencia during Las Fallas, I'm sure fireworks, which are more like army ordnance, don't help.)

Spain is Europe’s largest consumer of cocaine and hashish. (A new study has found the air in Madrid and Barcelona is laced with large amounts of drugs - most prominently cocaine. In both cities the studies were carried out close to universities and concentrations were higher at the weekend.)