http://latimes.wehaa12.wehaaserver.com/articles.htmlThe history of the area is vast and vibrant, dating back to 1000 BC, when the area was first settled by Iberian and Celtic tribes. The town of Madrid, as it is known today, charts its origins to the Arabs who constructed edifices there around 850 AD. That Moorish influence still survives in some architecture, as well as in the music, food and culture.]]>I can clearly remember wandering through dark cobbled streets on my first trip to Spain in 2001. I was furiously studying my guidebook, searching for a landmark.]]>If your plane from Los Angeles arrives in Madrid at midnight, what luck! Ignore that pesky jet lag and simply go out on the town. Madrid is, after all, the “city that never sleeps,” a phrase that has become the defining description of this, Europe’s highest (in altitude and maybe attitude) capital city.]]>Other than flamenco, no music cries “Spain” in such vivid harmonic flourishes as Joaquin Rodrigo’s dramatic “Concierto de Aranjuez.]]>From Los Angeles to Madrid, your travel options are vast — if you don’t mind connecting flights. If you want a nonstop flight, Iberia began offering them last month. Flight duration is roughly 11 hours and 20 minutes. American citizens need a passport that is valid for at least 90 days from point of entry.]]>Madrid is slowly but surely claiming its rightful place alongside Paris, London, Florence, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg and New York as a paradise for art lovers.]]>Madrid is a city of contrasts: It’s a graceful lady with a wild party side. It wakes up early and stays out late. It’s modern and European, but also timeless and Spanish. So our list of mustsees includes not just the most famous spots (though they’re in here): It’s also the hidden treasures, the oddball curiosities and the sports icons.]]>Flamenco had its beginnings in the 8th to the 15th centuries, when Spain was under Arab dominion — a time when music was impacted by Jewish and Moorish traditions. In the 15th century, a new influence was introduced by Nomad Romani, known as Romas, or, in general parlance, Gitanos (gypsies).]]>INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS:.]]>This lively area surrounding the Plaza Dos de Mayo was the focal point of Madrid’s cultural revolution in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Spain transitioned peacefully from a dictatorship into a democracy — years that saw an explosion of artistic expression in the country.]]>It’s a city of night owls to be sure — here, the party doesn’t get started until 11 p.m. It’s a city of fervent bon vivants and has put itself high on the list of the globe’s top culinary destinations. And yes, Madrid has high culture, haute couture and peak experiences in gastronomy.]]>Not all certified pre-owned vehicle programs are created equal, but they keep getting better — and the best of the lot are bunched very tightly at the top. In fact, several CPO programs earned perfect scores for their inspection lists. And how do you improve on perfect?.]]>Like just about everything else in the world of car buying, CPO purchases are not set in stone. Buyers can negotiate better terms, longer extended warranties, free service appointments and other extras “Technically, everything’s negotiable,” Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder said.]]>Parents purchasing a first car for their teen face a dilemma. While they might not be able to afford a brand-new vehicle, they also don’t want their child driving an unreliable and perhaps unsafe used car bought blind from a lot or private seller.]]>“A $75,000 car — you could buy it for $45,000 [as a CPO] two years later, saving 40% to 45%. It’s a lot of money,” general manager Mike Cagey said.]]>In fact, prestige brands Lexus, Jaguar and Mercedes- Benz were among the pioneers of the CPO concept back in the ’90s. They were joined soon after by programs from BMW, Audi and (eventually) virtually all of the usual luxury suspects — including relatively recent converts Ferrari, Maserati and, yes, even Bentley.]]>Mark Boster Yosemite in Four Seasons Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Los Angeles Times Pavilion Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Los Angeles Times Pavilion Los Angeles Times Presents: Picture This — 10 Steps to Better Vacation Photos & Videos Saturday, noon, Travel & Adventure Theater Sunday, 12:30 p.]]>Bring your bathing suit and your sense of adventure and the Scuba Tour will provide everything else — including towels, wetsuits, masks and air tanks. A dip in the Scuba Pool — a 4-foot-deep 18,000-gallon tank — is free to all attendees over the age of 10.]]>Let The Times help you navigate the waters of vacation planning for 2011 and beyond at the annual Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show, held on March 19 and 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.]]>Amtrak............................................................................................311.]]>