Hola!

It took just over 40 hours from the time we hitched packs and closed our front door in Canberra to walk to the bus stop until the time we emerged from the Metro stop Plaza d’Espana and checked in to a little room on Calle Leganitos. Needless to say, we had a quick shower and crashed off to sleep. We awoke early to the sight of an inviting Cervecería directly across the little cobbled lane. Guess where we went for breakfast! These places serve more than beer I might add!

Our trip was pretty good. There were some delays with each leg of the flight but we didn’t miss any connections. We were grateful to have chosen to catch the bus from Canberra to Sydney when we heard that a gunman had been arrested for firing 5 shots in Canberra airport at exactly the time we were leaving!! No casualties, thankfully. 

After breakfast we wandered down to the Plaza Mayor, the huge central square where many things of historical note have occurred, including Inquisitions. Mind you, ‘Nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition’.

These frescoes were beautiful - a closer view.

And then it was time for the ritual pre-camino haircut in a foreign language. Accomplished with much gesticulating and smiling in a lovely traditional Barber shop just beneath the plaza.

There is colour everywhere in central Madrid.

The rest of the day was spent sorting a few final arrangements and then meeting up for a delightful afternoon and evening with our friend James Alison and his endearing French Bulldog, Nicholas, who live, it turns out, 450 metres from where we are lodging.

James drove us out of town to nearby hills to show us views of Madrid and Escorial - built by king Philip II as a summer getaway with attached monastery.

Just a modest shack in the countryside!

From there it was back to Madrid with dinner outside and a delightful evening walk, which may have included gelato.

Tomorrow we catch the bus to Oviedo, the start of the Camino Primitivo. We are grateful to be here and have so enjoyed our leisurely first full day in Spain. 

Neil and Sarah