We Managed to actually leave the hotel room at a reasonable time on our last day, We were up and out by 0915 and The Sleep Monster didn't even make that much of an appearance!
The hotel staff were really helpful and booked us a taxi to go to the airport, with a lovely driver who spoke barely any English but did teach us how to say first in Spanish (I think that was be badly translated "Airport, terminal one please"). He dropped us off right outside the terminal, which was useful because it was a bloody long walk even then, getting the Metro would have made it miles!
Whistle-stop tour of duty free (which seems to be cheaper online anyway?) and we were airside within about half an hour. That is, after my bag was searched and swabbed for drugs! I would have been insulted had I not realised that I brought The Old Lady some nice bath powder things... which were in my hand luggage as 3 baggies of powder. I guess they did look suspicious! Luckily they didn't find any drugs (no comments about "you got away with it then" from you lot, don't think I can't hear you!) and we were through fairly painlessly! |
| Very cool playing with light in the airport! |
Madrid airport is different to Stansted in that Stansted seems very small and cramped airside and very vast and airy past customs, whereas Madrid is the other way around. Airside in Madrid looks a bit like a huge shopping centre, but one that is a bit barren once you get to the gate we wanted, whereas past customs in Madrid was pretty packed and fast paced until you got on the Metro. Interesting how different places in the world do things!
We stopped off for one last Spanish meal, paella! Sadly, no wine this time (which is a shame, I've certainly enjoyed that part of Spanish culture!) but just a simple bottle of coke and some chocolate to see us through the long wait.
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| Excuse me, we're British! |
Our flight was delayed about 30 minutes in the end, which really didn't bother us too much. The funniest thing was listening to other people! We were due to board at 1240 and at 1245 they still hadn't called us, we heard a lady go to the gate and ask the staff "can we queue yet? I'm British, I like to queue". SO funny! As soon as they moved the "does your bag fit" thing in front of the gate about 90 people jumped up form the waiting chairs and formed an orderly queue! Safe to say I think most folks on that flight were British!
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| Leaving the sunny skies for grey! :( |
One we were on the flight (after dodging the jobsworth who wanted to put my bag in the hold) it was time to settle down for a 2 1/2 hour flight over a country I really have fallen in love with! The plane flew over fields, vineyards and mountainous areas that are just crying out to be explored! Once we were over sea there was only one thing for it: Dr. Quinn on the netbook! Gotta love portable harddrives!!
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| Why does it always rain on me? |
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| Happy doggies! |
In conclusion: I loved Spain. I know we were only there 48 hours and I know we didn't even see all of Madrid, let alone experience the rest of Spain, but I honestly did love it. I was also being truthful when I said I'd already started the job search and plan to come back in the summer to do some English teaching abroad! Lets hope I fall just as in love in March when I jump on a plane destined for Lisbon, or Copenhagen, or Cologne, or Berlin, or Bali, or Vancouver, or....
