Seeing Madrid by Segway
There are many ways to explore a city. You can ride the buses, wander the streets, or take a walking tour. But for an truly unique way of exploring a city,
A recent visit to Madrid let me discover exactly how much fun. We met up with Antony Bruce, the owner of the Madsegs Tour Company, at the Plaza de Espana in front of the statues of Don Quixote and his faithful servant Sancho Panza. Under their watchful eyes, we learn the basics of Segway travel. Lean forward and the Segway moves forward. Lean backwards to reverse. The control on the left handbar lets you turn left or right. A short practice around the Plaza and suddenly we are good to go. It couldn't have been easier.
Soon we were gliding through the streets of Madrid, stopping both traffic and tourists in their tracks. People pointed, smiled, waved, and even took photos of us as we zipped and weaved along the sidewalks. Laughing, we headed off for one of Madrid's lesser know attractions, the Templo de Debod an ancient Egyptian temple that which once stood in the Valley of the Nile. Given to Spain in 1968, it now overlooks Madrid's Casa de Campo recreational area.
A little history and a few photographs later, we zoomed off to more well known Madrid attractions - the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), Plaza de Oriente and the adjacent Almudena Cathedral. In the courtyard of the Almudena Cathedral, we were given advanced lessons in 'gliding' and the opportunity to re-key the segway to a faster speed.
Weaving through the small streets and plazas, we received a running commentary on the history of Madrid. We passed by churches, statues, and restuarants, including the Sobrino de Botin (the world's oldest restaurant) which was made famous by Ernest Hemminway in his book The Sun Also Rises.
Arriving in the Plaza Mayor, we stopped for a well deserved break. We are served food and drink and allowed to glide around the Plaza for one last time. Then it was time to return to where we started. No one could believe that the three hour tour was finished. No one wanted to give back their Segway. Some even considered booking another tour.
General Information
Segways tours are safe. Built on the technology that mimics a person's centre of gravity, Segways are self balancing and can operate in any pedestrian environment. Tour operators provide instructional briefing, hands on training, and protective gear (as needed). The only restriction might be your weight. Riders must weigh between 100 and 260 pounds.
Most major cities around the world now offer Segway Tours. Usually ranging from 2 to 3 hours, they cost around £25. They are a great way to get around a city, especially for those with limited time, energy, or ability. It's a walking tour without the walking. And while it might seem a little scary at first, the fear soon gives way to exhilaration as you glide through the city.
Resources
If you are interested in finding out if there is a Segway Tour in your hometown or on your travels, then check out the comprehensive list of worldwide Segway Tours at the Segway Guided Tours Directory.
Author Bio: Liz Lewis is a freelance travel, health, and lifestyle writer. Having lived various places in the world (Hawaii, Crete, California, Germany, and Saudi Arabia), Liz now resides in New Zealand. But living in such a remote location has not stopped Liz from continuing to roam the world (real and cyberspace) in search of new and exciting adventures to experience and document. When it comes to travel, 'eco tourism', 'soft adventure' and 'luxury' are key words for Liz. Don't suggest bungy jumping or mountain climbing. Instead, suggest wine tasting, food markets, and cultural activities.
Visit http://www.lizlewis.co.nz for samples of her work, learn more about New Zealand at Travel New Zealand and Christchurch Tour Guide, and follow her path to freelancing success at her blog http://writetotravel.blogspot.com.
Save and share this page.What's this?
Related Articles
Return to Discount Travel
Page contents copyright © 2006 - 2008 Seniors Discounts. All Rights Reserved.
