Question about male behaviour/attention while in Madrid.

The people of Madrid were extremely helpful and friendly. everyone dressed nicer than me. My dressing style changed to a bit more conservative than in States, and nothing irritated me more than being obviously an American. It was refreshing and reassuring to walk around after midnight and not hear salacious comments or catcalls from groups of males. So great! Oh and the beaches, no one stared at any of the ladies who were bare chested.

However, at my hotel (4*) there was an uncharacteristically bold interaction with me.

Security guard rode up elevator with me to my room at 1:30am. I thought nothing of it -- he must be doing security rounds. He proceeds to stand 1 foot away from and tell me I was beautiful, that my eyes are pretty and asked if I was here in Spain alone. He then touched my cheek, his hand (possibly inadvertently) brushed down against my breast. It was uncomfortable and crossed boundaries. The he asked if I was married as he followed me to my room. Since I didn't stop at my room, just kept walking to the end of the hall, he kept talking: "are you here alone?" "Is there someone in your room with you?" Of course, I said "yes, he is sleeping" Goodnight.

This was weird, but didn't ruin my trip whatsoever. This could happen in any city. Has anyone had experience with walking around any city in Spain, at night and getting unwanted attention? If so, how did it pan out? Is being really forward part of Spanish culture?
This post was edited to be more precise in what help/advice I am seeking and for brevity.

How awful.

Yes, of course. CC'ed corporate and Europe HQ, plus the actual hotel in Madrid. Yes, I know...
Melia has some less modern resorts I have stayed at in Mexico. We will see if there is a reply.
It was just weird.

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I'm not really sure where the best place is for this is, but am going to move it to TravelBuzz since it's not really a Trip Report.

Good luck with your follow-up on this.

l'etoile
Trip Reports moderator

The situation you describe is hardly acceptable from a business (responsibility of the hotel) but also a legal perspective. And it as nothing to do with flirting.

After having validated the story with the manager, you should have complained to the police immediately.

Spain is a beautiful country, but unfortunately it is also one of the countries in Europe where violence on women is the most important. Your case would have been taken very seriously by the police (and could have prevented other similar stories).

Sexual harassment in Spain

Count your blessings. Last week a 48 year old woman from Dubai was murdered at the Essex House Hotel in New York. The handyman had a key to her room. He was also married.

I am happy that I am not a pretty woman. I would have moved hotels. You should write to the CEO of the company.

sydneysandiego confirmed she had contacted their head office and CC'd their corporate and European HQ.

It's easy to say in hindsight "you should have done this, you should have done that" but more difficult when it's happening to you and you're in an unfamiliar surrounding and country. There is sometimes a very fine line between flirting and harassment.

I thought sydneysandiego acted intelligently in dealing with the creep at the time (didn't open her room door when he followed her there, pretended her "husband" was in the room, made it very clear to him she did not welcome his attentions).

Bretteee, you say you're happy you're not pretty, as if you think you will be protected from harassment by being plain/homely. Well I have news for you, harassment/abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, sex, race, looks etc so don't get comfortable thinking it'll never happen to you.

In any case, how can you tell from what sydneysandiego wrote what she looks like?

Amen. Amen. It is weird, regardless of anything people get harrassed anywhere. Damn it , nothing like this has happened before. And I dont drink/use drugs so it was a totally sober interaction.

Ha ha ! I'll send you a picture if you want. ;-) then we can all judge. There were many, many women in Madrid that were gorgeous and attractive, I was not a standout by far. Just American and alone and in a confined space with a questionable male character. Thanks to everyone , this has helped me !

Go back there and take his picture...put it online with a description of what happened. Mail a copy to his wife. And plaster copies of it all over the metro and at bus stops

I am a firm believer in public shaming. That and costing people money are about the only things that ever change behavior

I like this a lot. Yes, nothing does it like being ashamed. We did a study in grad school about picking up cash found on the ground, and many of the respondents said they would chase the person down that dropped it. Their reason? they might be on a hidden camera show and they didn't like portraying themselves as someone who isn't " a good person"
ha