They're off!


Day 1 - Getting to Madrid

Well, in spite of the World’s Favourite Airline’s unbelievably useless website and contradictory instructions regarding covid vaccinations, we managed to get checked-in etc etc, and are now in Madrid.

Hat’s off to Heathrow; where bag drop and security clearance was frankly a doddle. Boo to Barajas though! Almost totally deserted at T4, yet it was over an hour between landing and the bags coming through. Luckily we were in no rush, so even I managed to wait patiently. And that, good people, is a rarity; as I was at the back of the queue the day patience was handed out! A good start I’d say, as part of this whole Camino thing is about seriously slowing down and relaxing.


Packed terminal 4 - Madrid Barajas



Having said that, I have already identified a serious risk to achieving the above state. Americans! I know I shouldn’t broad brush an entire nation’s population, but in general they really irritate the hell out of me. So loud, talking rubbish (not garbage!!); so full of themselves and their really great country. So having 3 of them in front of me queuing to get on the plane was not helpful; especially as they were far too superior to actually wear facemasks as required! Now, I’ll openly admit that I’m in the agnostic camp. However, if there is a God, could I politely request that all Yanks are created with a mute button or at least a volume control; and for me to have the remote control for them!!

 

Madrid

Due to cancellation of our original flight we’ve had to come out to Spain a day earlier than planned, and that necessitates staying Madrid for the night. Our hotel is very close to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – home of the world’s most corporate football team; Real Madrid. Lo and behold, their match had just finished as we arrived, and they were celebrating their 35th League title. Luckily we avoided the hordes of fans leaving the stadium, but got to see the post-match celebrations on TV. What a sad and pathetic affair the celebrations were. Happy clappy and passionless – both the fans and players. I think I celebrate my second pint on a Friday night with more zest than that lot!

Enough of football! What a total joy it is to be in a foreign land after over 2 years. The excitement of travel, the challenges of language; I’m like a kid in a sweetshop – and I’m only in Madrid where I’ve been 8 times before! I speak a little (self-taught) Spanish, but still tried to enrol on a course before coming out here. Nevertheless, there were insufficient numbers for it to run. So the upshot of that is my linguistic skills are rustier than a 5 year old Morris Marina. I’d even forgotten how to ask “do you have a table for 2”. However, there’s nothing better than immersion to me sharpen up.

So we did the tourist bit and headed down to the Sol/Plaza Mayor area. It doesn’t take too long to get away from the hordes there, so we headed for Plaza Paja. Of course, part of the joy was the temperature – you know the spiel….warm enough to be in a t-shirt at 10pm, which of course only happens on about 3 nights per year back home. When in Spain you eat…….….tapas. Well perhaps not; we went for Italian of course. Very nice too – especially as we’ll be having far more limited and rustic options over the next few weeks out in the wilds of Northern Spain. 




After dinner, a quick stroll across to the Cathedral and Royal Palace, looking absolutely resplendent floodlit. There was a huge puddle in the Plaza between the buildings that made for a great reflection photo. However, as I knelt down a bloody dog tried to bite my backside! Luckily the thickness of my trousers and fat arse, meant that no damage was done. Equally fortunate was my inability to catch and dropkick the little shit over the fence into the Royal Palace!









So that’s it so far. In short, great to be out of the UK, and looking forward to the train up to Leon on Sunday; and getting properly started on Monday!


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