Madrid

Madrid is not my favourite place. This is my third time here and I’m still not impressed.

This morning, I ventured out to battle the crowded streets in search of a “proper” and healthy breakfast. I found a jewel! My taste buds were singing with each delicious morsel. Despite the crunchy crusted Spanish bread that is hard enough to break your teeth, I had perfectly cooked poached eggs with spinach and avocado. It always makes me giggle with the way breakfast is served with what we consider children’s cutlery. Aside from this being weird, it really needs to be served with a serrated knife to cut the bloody crusts!!!

After this, I thought I should get some exercise as I’d slept an amazing 9 hours. I never sleep that long but I travelled for 12 hours yesterday and I was exhausted and stressed, leaving all my friends.

I wandered the streets window shopping and I still struggle with the fact that you walk on the right side of the footpath not the left. I keep bumping into grumpy people. Took a photo of the crowded street, a constant stream of black haired people wearing black . Of course there are a few wearing colour, but mostly black. The crowds are overwhelming after being in Santiago!

Pizza seems very popular here and they have such a variety of toppings

I couldn’t cope so I scuttled back to my very overpriced, tiny, dark apartment on the top floor of a building with no lift. There is a supermarket opposite, so I’m going to get something for lunch and stay in for the rest of the day as I have a smart TV and can watch Netflix and Prime etc (in English!)

Oh, yesterday, the apartment manager (who looks about 15) showed my up to my apartment and didn’t even offer to help carry anything as she skipped on up the stairs leaving me gasping under the weight of all my luggage. I had packed what I needed for two nights in a small bag, so I asked her if she had somewhere I could store my suitcase and backpack, and left it at the bottom of the stairs until I had seen my room.

We then went to her “office” which was about a kilometre away. She walked on ahead as I pushed my suitcase and lugged my backpack over the cobbled streets and manoeuvred around the roadworks. Still not offering to help and walking at all fast pace up the hill, we finally reached her office and I was able to relieve myself of the weight. As if the cost of the apartment isn’t enough, she charged me 10 euros for this pleasure.

Tomorrow I will get a taxi to pick me up and take me to her office to get my bags and head to the airport.

In the meantime, I’m going to have a shower and lay on the bed to watch movies. Thank you Patti and Jackie for the chocolate. It will be devoured as I luxuriate in the peace and quiet. At least I have a very comfortable bed.

(There is no living room in the apartment so the TV is in the bedroom- I have no objection to this)