Last post from Madrid Airport

Hi Folks.  Sorry there aren't going to be any more photos till I get home.  No facilities here to read the camera card.

Well, Granada was another hot town (33 degrees) but attractive and heaps of history and the Gypsy Flamenco was quite an experience!  The gypsies live in caves on the hill opposite the Alhambra.  When the tour guide told us we were going to the gypsy caves, I instantly reacted mentally at the claustrophobic way, then started to psyche myself into it.  What an pretty place it was.  All interior and exterior walls were painted stark white, with lots of flowering planters.  The 3 caves where they hold their shows are each about 5 metres wide and 30 metres long.  Guests sit in timber and jute chairs lining the walls and you each get a drink.  I had sangria - very watered down!  There were 2 alternating groups of 3 musicians and singers and 6 females of various ages and 1 male dancers - obviously all related to each other. The 2 guys serving drinks were almost running.  There was a random Australian in our group and we both agreed that the main serving guy looked and acted exactly like Michael Flatley, but really tanned and wearing lots of eyeliner.  So full of himself!  She is a doctor at a hospital in Cambridge and was having a weekend in Spain. The dancing was wonderful and, because we were all sitting so close, we got swished with skirts and fans and almost got stamped on.  After the dancing (they got us out really quickly so the next group could get in), the next part of the evening was to be taken to a place nearby and do a guided walk through the old Arab quarter, to a lit view of the Alhambra, then back to the hotel. 

This was the worst bed yet.  Like lying on a piece of masonite suspended between something to give it a little bounce.  They had used lots of bleach based chemicals to clean the bathroom and floors and I have to ask them to wash it all down, as I was getting asthma.  What didn´t help either was a coach load of Italian high schoolers and 2 coach loads of French primary schoolers staying at the hotels.  The high schoolers blocked the entry, while they all smoked and the primary schoolers were screaming through the corridors!

Yesterday we changed our passengers, as some were going in different directions and we gained so many people that nobody could have a seat to themself.  The coach wasn´t very spacious anyway and, of course, I got the very small Costa Rican woman who thought that she would sit in front of me and put her seat all the way back, for the whole day.  It was very uncomfortable, trying not to squash the lovely Ecuadorean woman beside me - bruised knees again after 4 hours of it!

We stopped in Toledo and did a guided tour of the old town inside the walls.  There are 5 escalators from the bus parking to get inside the walls and they are all well covered, to keep out the summer sun.  Our guide Fernando was quite a card and, at 78, is doing a wonderful job of promoting his city.  1.5 hrs of walking up and down, but hardly noticeable, as it was so interesting.  They then took us to the factory where they make the jewellery with Toledo steel and gold and platinum inlay, with, naturally, several opportunites to buy!!

Got back to Madrid about 7.30 pm and collapsed in my bed for about an hour.  Such a relief to lie down ( and yes the bed was hard).  Slowly sorted myself out this morning then taxied to the airport at 120 kph!

I'll see you on Sunday, then back to work Monday. 

Adios from Spain and thanks for sharing the journey!!!