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Published: December 1st 2017
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Greetings From Madrid!
This blog is being deposited at 10:10 PM Madrid Time. We are playing a fun game people who have traveled to Europe from another time zone play: Stay Awake Long Enough to Beat Jetlag. We’re not sure how many hours we’ve been up, but we did not sleep at all on the plane. We’re a little delirious but it’s all good. The travel was longer by an hour because an ill passenger forced our connecting flight in Jersey to return to the gate. But an extra hour in the seat, an extra hour in the air; same shit. It’s a long trip.
Before the delay, our Captain, Kevin, circulated through the business cabin and shook literally every hand and gave a brief overview of the conditions we could expect. Julie snapped a photo of him, but he looks horrific and he was actually kind of swell. She offered him some champagne, then offered to take a picture of him toasting with the Champagne, which would make both a great memory
and fine blackmail evidence. He declined jovially and moved on to the next passengers.
We landed, customs, cab, bada boom; we’re at the
Airbnb. Raja is our host and answers the doorbell by shouting, “Hi,” over the balcony two stories above us. The place is fine, in the way the Irish mean it when they use the word fine instead of “grand.” But more than serviceable. We are also smack dab in the middle of it all. We can walk to the Prada Museum in 12 minutes and to virtually every other museum, tapas bar or plaza in the same give or take.
Since Raja is still cleaning, we have to take off. That’s fine because it’s only 3:00 PM and we could both easily conk out, like, now. So, we explore. It’s chilly in the shade but lovely in the sun, so we follow it to the no duh-edly named, the Plaza Del Sol. While the buildings are the kinds of buildings you find in places like Spain, the plaza is dotted with people in knock-off Mikey Mouse and Jack Sparrow costumes hustling photo ops…ah, just like home. But more walking reveals more narrow streets and alleys and Tabernas and shops. We haven’t been in Europe in forever and we’re just soaking up the vibe. We drop into the tourist center
in the Plaza Mayor and get the rundown on the museums. More on those as we see them. Then we stop back at the apartment – which isn’t hard because it’s the middle of everything – re-group and prepare to head back out. We need food.
Travel karma #1: We find a vegan burger place! We order the Menu Del Dia (
Menu Del Dia), which is a great burger on great bread with great other stuff and coffee or tea (we order one of each). It also comes with a beer… and we had been enjoying all of the champagne Captain Kevin didn’t drink. Staying up isn’t getting any easier. We continue to stroll all over to the historic district.
The challenge continues, we must remain awake until a reasonable hour or jetlag wins. Back to the apartment, up the two high-ceilinged stories of stairs, re-group and back out again! This time, we’re going to the Mercado de San Miguel which we had discovered while walking earlier for tapas and a drink. Yeah; we need another drink. The place is a sort of like the Grand Central Market in LA. It’s filled with locals, tourists, food stalls, bars
Hotel Kafka
That isn't a "name" for a hotel, that's a bad review for a hotel! and hums like a flower bed overrun by thirsty bees. We snack, Steve gets his first Heineken draft of the trip, Julie orders a copa Cava (Spain’s version of Champagne), and we wander around looking for the second stop. But we seem to be more into walking through the chilly night than stopping again. We know we’re one long rest away from unconsciousness.
Okay, this is it; it’s 11:50! We can go to bed and start fresh and early tomorrow having cheated jetlag! Nighty night.
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Carol
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Ahh Madrid!
How I love thee Madrid. Huge, dirty, frenetic and lovable all at once. Sounds like you landed in a great location! Hopefully you've awakened refreshed, downed a cafe con leche o dos and are ready to see some sights. Don't miss El Retiro! Besos y abrazos para vos.