I bet yall thought when I said "I'll write more tomorrow" that I meant I'd write tomorrow. And that is what I meant, but I filled up my day traveling across Spain. Exhausting! : ) Yesterday James and I woke up early and went for a jog on the beach for the last time. We haven't run in the early mornings since we got to Barcelona and let me just say, the beach and boardwalk looked like Bourbon street after Mardi Gras with the added bonus of fish smell. There were still people partying it up at 7am, not unlike James' junior year in college.
After breakfast we headed to the train station for our first train ride ever! (That sentence makes it sound like I'm writing the travel memoirs for the Beverly Hillbillies.) Let me just say that I'll take the train over the plane any day of the week. It was a high speed train that took only three hours to get from Barcelona to Madrid (normally a six hour drive). It was roomy and comfortable. So comfortable that I slept for the first two hours of the trip and woke up right in time for lunch (it's a skill), which included a Coca Cola over ice. Praise the Lord!!!
We arrived in Madrid about 2:00, took a panoramic city tour and learned fun facts about Madrid. For instance: The city has a population over 3.2 million and is Europe's third largest city behind London and Berlin. It is the capital of Spain and is called the Manhattan of Spain for it's fashion and theater. The city's football team is called Real (Royal) Madrid and is the world's best football club of the 20th century. The stadium was built in 1947 and seats 80 thousand people. Finally, Spain's royal family resides in Madrid. Much like the UK, the family has no real authority and a prime minister governs the country.
After breakfast we headed to the train station for our first train ride ever! (That sentence makes it sound like I'm writing the travel memoirs for the Beverly Hillbillies.) Let me just say that I'll take the train over the plane any day of the week. It was a high speed train that took only three hours to get from Barcelona to Madrid (normally a six hour drive). It was roomy and comfortable. So comfortable that I slept for the first two hours of the trip and woke up right in time for lunch (it's a skill), which included a Coca Cola over ice. Praise the Lord!!!
We arrived in Madrid about 2:00, took a panoramic city tour and learned fun facts about Madrid. For instance: The city has a population over 3.2 million and is Europe's third largest city behind London and Berlin. It is the capital of Spain and is called the Manhattan of Spain for it's fashion and theater. The city's football team is called Real (Royal) Madrid and is the world's best football club of the 20th century. The stadium was built in 1947 and seats 80 thousand people. Finally, Spain's royal family resides in Madrid. Much like the UK, the family has no real authority and a prime minister governs the country.
Back to our day. We checked in to our hotel, The Westin Palace, around 4 and went straight up to our room to get ready for dinner. Our hotel was built in 1920 and is not as modern as the hotel in Barcelona. It is more traditional and very beautiful. Dinner was at Taberna del Captain Alatiste, started at 8:30 and was a two hour affair. This is very typical for the Spanish. Folks...we had red meat, potatoes and onion rings to eat! Hallelujah! After the meal, dessert consisted of something resembling and tasting like a funnel cake with cream filling. It was to die for!! I know...please refer back to the Beverly Hillbilly comment. Soon after dessert the coffee came and of course James and I helped ourselves to a cup. James looked like the Jolly Green Giant drinking his coffee...the cups are really tiny.
We got back to the room about 11:00 and went to bed. At one I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. James woke up at two with chest pains. Apparently he was suffering from a red meat hangover coupled with horrible acid reflux. I asked him if he wanted some Tums and he just sat up and held his chest. Then I said, in the same voice that I'd use to ask someone to pass me the bread, "maybe you're having a heart attack." Nice job Debbie Downer. I got up and James asked where I was going. I said, "Oh, to get some Tylenol PM. I need to get back to sleep. Would you like some?" Obviously I'm not going to win any Wife of the Year award.
This morning I tried to redeem myself and told him that I read somewhere (I have no idea where) that milk after dinner helps with acid reflux. We're always on the lookout for something that helps with acid reflux so don't go broke having to pay for his Nexium habit. I was keeping an eye out for a place that sold milk or even milkshakes in Madrid, but no luck. That cure may have to wait until we get home. The sad part is...do you know which one of us can lose 10 pounds by cutting back to just three sweet teas a day? NOT ME.
Well off to bed. We have a full day tomorrow. James wants to try and find a silver suit like the one Chevy Chase wore on "European Vacation"! Here are some pictures from Madrid!
Love, The Barnett Hillbillies
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