OCTOBER 2017 : SPAIN : Madrid

We are so excited about returning to Spain for a holiday with friends and a two week tour of Morocco.We arrived in Madrid on a balmy Spring day of temperatures still in the high 20s, after excellent Cathay Pacific flights.

Our hotel is an old favourite now, 3 star (80€) and convenient to transport and major attractions.

Across from the hotel is the main Atocha Railway and bus station. We caught the local airport transit bus to the city - 5€.We immediately went to the ticket office at Atocha to organise internal train tickets, as we knew it would take time.We were not disappointed - 45 mins. By the end of it I felt like a paid 'meet and greet' staff member. Travellers of all nationalities would wander in dazed by the lack of organisation, I'd indicate the counter ticket machine, explain the procedure, direct travellers to Toledo to go to another section - I'd had plenty of time to read all the signs and staff members were not aware of the mounting tension of frustrated customers.I couldn't help but give a little yelp of excitement when my number came up.

It was an acclimatisation day, so we walked up to the Plaza Mayor - about 15 minutes to meet Ale, a walking friend from the Camino Del Norte in 2015.

Lunch at a cafe which only serves calamari bocadillos.

Then Ale drove us to her home on the eastern outskirts of Madrid and much was revealed about a remarkable family.The semi- detached house on about 5 floors is full of surprises - artefacts, collections and a home grown art gallery of magnificent paintings by her mother.

Here we are with Raquel, Ale's cousin, with whom we walked in 2015 as well.

Another of my favourites.

Ale has just completed a veterinary degree and her passion is reptiles.She has an amazing collection of creatures, including stick insects, geckos, tortoises (one 15 years old expected to grow to 10 kg),and a chameleon, daily fed on live crickets.

A shy gecko..

Coffee and churro at a local cafe before we said our goodbyes.

Then a light meal - antipasto and ravioli - in the small plaza behind our hotel.The plaza also houses the Museum of Modern Art, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.The large park, Retiro, is across the road and the Prado close by.

M&M