On to Madrid

Last night in Santiago and we once again stayed out after dark. Not being exhausted from walking helps. The streets were so alive, and even the plaza outside the cathedral was buzzing

After 11pm, and people still arriving and sitting around.

Earlier in the evening we sat near an impromptu jam session. Spanish bag pipes and percussion box. Great sound.

 

Amazing myself sometimes. So unused to public transport systems as we are, organising and actually travelling by public transport can be stressful. However, we managed to purchase tickets to Madrid at a reduced senior price (no sure if we should be insulted that this option was offered to us), and at a more favourable time than we were originally told at Tourist Information Office. And we also got on and off the train at the right places.

Very interesting train ride - 5-6 hours, across lots of mountains. Probably should say through the mountains, and above the valleys, and at times reaching speeds up to 240km/hr. So smooth. Spectacular sights... But camera couldn't keep up.

As we neared Madrid, we could see more high, snow capped mountains. These soon disappeared from view as once again we shot off through an extremely long tunnel, totally avoiding the mountains. Amazing.

Long distance trains terminate some distance out of the city centre. Next challenge! Find a way to our accommodation. Another huge success!! Managed to get the right platform and Metro train (different station) and caught a train to a station in the city centre, and even more amazingly, it is incredibly close to our accommodation. What luck.

Short walk an we found our home for the next week. Not the Ritz, cheap and cheerful, but we only plan on sleeping, showering, and using wifi. As I look around this area there are many similar style hostals to this one, not a whole building, just a floor in a building. One I was looking at housed 6 different hostals on various floors, and all accessed initially via a buzzer.

Interesting flavour tonight. Lex has a taco - pollo con spicy chocolate salsa. Not very chocolatey, but tangy and tasty. 1€. Mexican style apparently. But no salad on it.

Big bonus tonight, I managed to get help with my 3G/Orange sim problem. I only recharged with10€, but it was a 15€ plan. So I am back online, thanks to very helpful staff at the Orange outlet on Gran Via. Woohoo.

 

Notes to self

• So pleased we were able to get an earlier train. Would not have been nice trying to find or way here at night, or find the entrance to this Pension. Haha. We are so naive, and still have much to learn. Then again Spanish cities come to life after 10pm.
• Prices vary greatly here in Madrid, but one thing is for sure, Pilgrim prices and benefits are a thing of the past.
• Pack felt heavier today. Whoa!

 

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