On to Madrid

November 2nd we left Seville on the 12:45 express train to Madrid and arrived in Madrid about 2 1/2 hours later.  The day was frustrating as we really could have left the hotel a lot earlier and had more free time in Madrid after we arrived.  Until now, this trip in terms of the service has gone pretty smoothly and there hasn't been much to criticize.  That is until we arrived in Madrid.  Most of the group going to Madrid had way too much luggage and their mobility, health and age issues didn't help!  They expected the VTA staff to load their bags onto the train.  There was also a lot of whinging when people found out their seat was facing “the wrong way” or their window wasn’t big enough.  Really?  It is only a 2 ½ hour train ride – get over it!  Then, they complained about the complimentary lunch and why wasn't there a vegetarian or gluten-free option.  Argh!  I think I have had enough of the "group thing".  I keep thinking about that phrase I've seen on posters and t-shirts:  I have one nerve left and you are getting on it!

It was interesting to see how the landscape changed as we went along.  My overall impression of Spain, at least in the part I’ve seen, is dry (arid) and fairly flat – like a large plateau.  On the way to Madrid, we did see some rolling hills and, at times, the olive trees gave way to pine forests and other trees.  I've posted a couple of photos I took from the train but the quality of them is terrible, mainly because I don't think the windows had been washed this year!  However, they give some idea of the countryside. 

Our arrival in Madrid did not go smoothly.  I think everyone, including me, expected to be met on the train platform so they could get help with their luggage.  However, despite what we were told in Seville, that didn’t happen.  There wasn’t anyone to meet us after we left the platform area either.  Apparently, the security area is beyond that so we had to go further out the exit.  Then, it was just a woman who met us and a lot of people struggled to get their bags to the bus.  I helped one couple and the VTA rep did nothing!  Not very good customer service!  We were bused to our hotel (Melia Madrid Princesa).  Like its sister hotel in Seville, the décor was very interesting.  The Spanish seem to go in for red and black a lot – guess it is that flamenco influence!  The two hotels have also been ultra-modern with some very interesting lighting.  In my room here, the top of bedside tables are glass and using a dimmer switch you can change the colour of them to any colour in the rainbow spectrum.  I chose "off"!  In the photo below of the bedroom, you can see it is set to blue.

Once again, I found myself sitting once again all alone in a hotel room with no plans to go anywhere until the tour in the morning.  There were a couple of people who might have been interesting to have dinner with but when people travel in couples they don’t seem to interact too much with other people.  Oh well, just two more days and I head home. I am really missing my cruise buddies who are now having a great time in Morocco. 

I ended up going to the bar and having a glass of Cave there then I ordered a beef tenderloin sandwich served on focaccia.  It was pretty good.  I chatted with the bartender whose name, oddly enough, was James Taylor.  He was born in England but moved to Spain when he was 3.  I asked him about having a sherry like the one I’d tasted in Jerez.  He didn’t have that one but poured me one that was pretty close and then didn’t charge me for it. Over the years when I've been traveling, I have often been given a complimentary drink or dessert and this trip is the same. 

Friday, I was down in the lobby ready for our 9:30 tour by 9:10.  There were only 6 of us who had decided to go on it.  The tour started as a bus tour and covered a lot of Madrid.  It looks like a very interesting city but I was quite disoriented.  We were all impressed by the number of parks and green spaces.  I was also surprised that there wasn’t any really old area – okay there was lots dating from the 17^thC but nothing medieval.  It is truly a city – and parts of it remind me of Paris but without quite the same charm.  I think I would like to explore the city more but doing it on my own and given that I am pretty tired, it might have to wait for another time.  

Our tour included a visit to the Royal Palace and it was very impressive.  I keep losing track of the royal Spanish families and can't keep all the Charles, Ferdinands, Isabellas, etc. straight but I do know Charles II had a long nose.  The rooms in the palace were very opulent – gold, tapestries, chandeliers, and portrait paintings everywhere.  The palace was turned over to the government in 1931 apparently.  It is still used for state dinners and will be hosting the Israeli Prime Minister next week.  A number of the rooms were way more decorative than any at Versailles.  The guide also talked about the abdication of King Juan Carlos three years ago and in one of the room we saw the document that effected that.  Unfortunately, photography was not allowed in the royal rooms and only in the open areas so without pulling photos from the Internet, it is difficult to show the impressive bits.

We did get a chance to see some of the skyline from the plaza in front of the palace. Unfortunately, because the rest of the city tour was in a van, I didn't take any more photos.  It was my intent to get out later and take some but that didn't happen.  Another time, perhaps!

When we got back, I was hungry and thirsty and ended up going to VIPS, a chain fast food place for lunch with a gal from the UK and one from NZ.  We all ordered croquetas which seem to be on every menu.  They are croquettes filled with a cheese sauce and a little rich for me.  I had ice tea with it.  Neither of the other two had ever heard of ice tea.  Egad!  Where have they been living?  They wanted to go to the Prado Museum but I wasn’t interested and was tired as I hadn’t slept much last night.  I started getting ready for my trip home.  It’s hard to believe I am going to have to get back into shoes and long pants (trousers, as the Brits would correct me).  That is not going to be fun!  Then, I heard that the Pacific Northwest had had snow!  Wonder if it is too late for me to change my return flight plans.

I had intended to go out and explore but, to be honest, I am done.  I am tired of being herded around and, while I would love to explore Madrid more, it would be nicer and more fun to have someone to wander around with.  So, I actually spent the afternoon napping.  Later, I met up with one of the gals and we went to the bar for a drink.  She ordered a snack there and we chatted for a couple of hours.  My intent was to go out for dinner but, as the evening wore on, I decided my dinner would be the two glasses of Cava and the bar snacks (candies and potato chips).  Besides, it isn't exactly like I need to have dinner!  It seems all I have been doing is eating - but at least most days involve lots of walking.  Again, the bartender gave me one of the glasses for free!  That was a lovely gesture.

Tomorrow I start my journey home.  I have an afternoon flight to Frankfurt airport where I will spend the night before flying home on Sunday.  I need to gather my thoughts and do one last blog reflecting on this entire experience.  While I am not sure cruising is for me, it was wonderful to see new places, visit some new countries and, most importantly, connect with some very interesting and fun people with whom I have forged a permanent connection.  That was the best part of it all by far!