pinkbirdflies

After our dinner of roast suckling pig we left early the next morning by bus and train to Madrid, the Spanish capital. Using the metro we checked into our hotel in a suburb of Madrid called Legazpi. I’am totally sick of the backpack…so may have to explore another option…hmmm, you certainly learn a lot from travelling!!! We had our “orientation” and walked the main part of the city, Sol,  and Mayoral square. We lunched at a typical tapas style bar and then explored the shopping area.    Hopefully baggage issue finally sorted!?! Rather proudly caught the metro back by myself and did washing at the local laundromat…found some fruit to eat and getting ready for Flamenco club performance tonight and dinner at Spains oldest restaurant at 11pm. I will be asleep. Madrid is not exceptionally appealing to me so far. Large city, grimy and lacking trees and green. Organised “cartels” of beggars in the central area and constant warnings of pickpockets. Jaime was certain 2 guys were going to unzip my backpack on the train and grabbed my back! We were follwed by another shady character and relentlessly harrassed by a young beggar girl when at the ATM. There is a  noticeable police presence though! Will explore more tomorrow. This is the last night of the Intrepid Paris to Madrid section of the tour and everyone is going separate ways. I stay with Jaime the leader and continue through Spain, into Portugal, then Morrocco with a new group of 11 other travellers. Should be interesting!