Hola,

      I am back in Lisbon after my weekend in Madrid.

I flew Easy Jet. Inexpensive. However, all ticket and passport verification is done by hand as you wait in the line to board. The seats do not tip back and there is very little leg room. But you can´t beat the price

Using the metro in Madrid is very very easy. All the lines are colour coded and numbered.  The directions in the stations are very easy to understand. The ticket machines are touch screen with instructions in four languages. The line from the airport is the newest and the trains are the widest. Interesting side note. Lisbon does not have a metro line to the airport. The Madrid trains are like one long tube. You can walk and see down the full length not like the tube in London. I had to change lines three times. Each time I did, the track, and, the carriage became narrower . I found the hostel without too much trouble. Didn´t realize that it was a true hostel!!!   Had to rent a towel and then buy some soap!

 

My friend was waiting. We spent the day walking, chatting ,drinking beer and sometimes eating. I learnt a great deal about the politics in Spain. Of course all from her perspective. It was very interesting to hear about  education, corruption and the state of the country. I really enjoyed listening and comparing Spain and Korea..    I don´t know where we walked and some times I do n´t think Susana knew.  Her son and her sister joined us later. By later I mean 10,00PM. That was when we were going to eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  For those of you that know me I was heading into  an uncharted time zone.   Just as well her sister was not really feeling too well. We didn´t have to go far. After that we walked quite a bit to a coffee shop that her sister knew. By tyis time it was 1.00AM.   I had been up since 5.30AM. Madrid is an hour ahead of Lisbon . I was beginning to feel a tad tired. They walked me back to the big square near my hotel. We arranged that I would call at 10.00AM, or they would call the hostel. Either way we would meet in a small plaza and go for breakfast.

 

The person at the hostel told me that there was no public phone. I asked if she could call my friend on one of the two phone at the desk I said that I would pay. Short answer. No. I went to a public call box. Out of order. I walked for a while and found two more phones. Spent four euros trying to make a call. Could n´t get through. Went to a hotel to ask them for help. No help and  no phone in the lobby!!    Long story short. I couldn't´t reach her.   Even though I went back to the hostel every thirty minutes I was told  they had not called.  I waited for two hours in the plaza.  By 12.30  it was obvious they were n´t coming. Don´t know what happened. I guess I may find out later.

I spent a very unhappy day. Don´t like Madrid very much. It is a big city without any charm.  I know that a lot of people will disagree with me but..............

Not really having a plan or any idea where I was I wandered aimlessly through streets and plazas looking at the buildings, people, avoiding the traffic and not really liking the experience.   Could n´t  help but  wish I was back in Lisbon. You know when you go somewhere and it feels good. You feel good. I did n´t.

 

Time has a way of dragging when you are not having a good time. It dragged.  At seven I went to a restaurant near a market for supper. The waiter looked as though he did n´t care if I was there or not.  And on top of that, the red wine was chilled!!!

I went to the covered market for a glass of wine.There were an awful lot of people in the market. I bought my wine and as I stood there I suddenly felt like an island in the middle of an ocean of people. Some would stand next to me for a bit then go away. There would be a space then more would arrive. Couples, three´s and groups of people ebbed and flowed around me. Must admit that I did feel quite lonely and feed up.  Even the three glasses of wine didn´t help.

My flight was at 5.00PM today.  I had time to look at the part of the city I was in again. Still don´t like it 

 

Anyway, I am back in Lisbon and I feel a lot better.  Even arriving at the airport and catching the bus to down town felt good.  Went for a cherry brandy. Stood and looked around. All is well again.

 

I realize that my experience in Madrid was coloured by what happened on Sunday and maybe I am being unkind to the city.  Be that as it may,  I am  glad to be back here.

 

Tomorrow I will take a look at some of the other places in Portugal that I would like to see.

Need to check out buses and trains.

 

I´m off for supper and a bottle of wine.

 

Until next time.

 

Terry