Travelling abroad to see a friend and she hasn't booked time off work

You’ve never met before 😬😬

YABU.
I personally would prefer to spend more time on my own to explore the city with a bit of catching up time with my friend.
Fantastic opp, don't be a killjoy

This isn't about what you can do in Spain it's about your expectation that your former colleague would take time off.
I just wouldn't expect her to, firstly you haven't met her in person and you invited yourself over. She is spending Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. If I was her I might actually think it's a bit much to organise 4 days with someone I have not met in person.

I couldn’t think of anything better than having time to myself to wander the sights and coffee shops of a beautiful Spanish city! Enjoy and eat plenty of tapas washed down by wine!

You need to grow up and put your big girl pants on. You are a grown woman who doesn’t need a babysitter. There is plenty to do on your own in the city. It will be good for you and your confidence. And you will have plenty to talk about when you take your friend out for drinks and dinner as a thank you for hosting you.

Ps and at least Madrid won’t be closed down for a Bank Holiday - bonus!

I’d love your weekend - your friend sounds great but just has to work. Enjoy!

Make the most of it. Hopefully the weather will be good. There's always a lot to explore and appreciate in a "new" surround. Not ideal in terms of the friend's work/day off -- but different people have different ideas of "friendship" and "hospitality". An experience to learn from for the future.

Most countries have a Labour Day. The US has presidents day, Memorial Day etc. France and the US have Independence Day. France has armistice day and 8th May which aren’t religious.

And most of ours are religious - Easter, whit Monday, Christmas. Everywhere has New Year’s Day as far as I’m aware. Only Labour Day and the August bank holiday aren’t religious in the UK.

Did you ask her would she be off while you are there before you made the plans?

But in many European countries they're religious holidays: Ascension day, Pentecost, etc. Or sometimes some kind of national '4th of july'-type day. Britain is the only place I have lived that has random 'last Monday in August' bank holidays.

OMGosh! Please plan stuff. Madrid is amazing with sooooo much to do.

Have an amazing time

Definitely not a British thing! Where do you live? The U.K. gets less bank holidays than a lot of European countries - for example, France basically gets the whole
of May off 😂

wow - I never expect people to take time off when I visit - there are always so many things to see and do. Lots of suggestions already. Insta has great tips for cities all over the world, have a look be inspired and be excited you have a friend to stay with

This sounds super fun. You get to explore by yourself and then have a few days together with a friend. Just go to centre and wander around. Maybe a museum that friend is not interested.

I'm sure most countries have bank holiday but we just don't call them that. Here the direct translation is "midweek sunday".

Here you go, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/madrid/articles/madrid-travel-guide/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_psc_ppc_google_travel_generic_broad_dsa_content_europe&rm_id=RM_News_UK_Search_Ads_Travel_DSA&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0ruyBhDuARIsANSZ3wp37edhmrnR2QpWQ5WkPGIb-y-3_yqADraVIKcgkcDaFZlkyNjDEckaAl6zEALw_wcB

I would love a couple of days abroad on my own! I'm sure you'll find plenty to do. Take a book to read while having lunch/drinks.

It can be so much fun!! Just relax and let the wind carry you for a bit. The time goes by quickly.

This a bit much! I have several phenomenal friends that I made via work. We’ve done similar. They have an open invitation to stay in my home and I do in theirs as well. Last weekend we hosted the neighbors adult kids for a few days because her house was full.

Seems like you may just be a bit more reserved. No big deal, but what the OP is doing here is pretty normal to me.

I travel by myself I always go on free walking tours GuruWalk in every city I visit. There are several so you could do two on the Friday and another two on Monday, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, in English. These walks are very interesting and there will be a group of all English people. At the end give the guide at least 10euros at least. Restaurants will certainly help you chose a menu most have them in English. Your mobile will help you get from A to B. Maybe look in the web to prepare yourself. Madrid is an international city and the tourist industry is use to speaking English. Don’t worry. I envy you.

It sounds a bit much for a "first date".

If I became good friends with someone at work - I certainly wouldn't impose myself on them for several days.

You two don't even know each other as friends.

I'd be totally freaked by someone that went straight from "It would be great to meet up" to someone who actually the same day bought plane tickets and wanted to live in my home for a few days.

You sound weird. In a scary way.

I’ve only dipped into the thread, but just wanted to say you’ll enjoy yourself.
I visited a friend in the USA who had to work most of the time. She showed me how the transport system worked the day after I arrived and off I went!

Did she actually invite you? It seems from your OP that you told her when you were free, consulted on dates and told her you were coming. Did she actually invite you to stay in her home?

I have found in my life that there are two camps of people. Those who give a casual wave of the hand and say we must meet up again if we are ever in the same place (which sometimes happens and sometimes doesn't but the intention is well placed). Then the second camp, which I think is very very British, is for someone to relay the sentiment in the first example and the other person views it as 'free' accommodation where they can save a few quid by spending time in a foreign place. There are lots of nationalities that absolutely would not appreciate having someone stay with them based on a very loose and casual invitation (but lots of British people don't seem to pick up on how nuanced this is).

In any event, I'd stay well out of your friends way on the days she is working. Madrid is wonderful and you won't be stuck for things to do and see and then, because you are getting 'free' accommodation, I would treat her to dinner on the Friday and Saturday night as a gesture of gratitude.

I suspect that as your friend lived abroad in the UK she's a fairly independent person and thinks it's not unreasonable for you to go sight seeing etc on your own and catch up with her in the evening and morning. I have lots of friends visiting, I wouldn't have any annual leave to spare if I took days off for every visit.

Book in the sun in the Retiro, by the Palace or in the Plaza Mayor - Heaven!