Saturday, 17 May

Dolora and I started the morning a little slow since all we had to do was eat breakfast and be packed by ten. We met our guide, Luis, in the lobby and the group boarded a bus for the short trip to the Barcelona train station. The station was busy on a Saturday morning. We headed over to the Alta Velocidad Española (AVE), Spanish high speed train, for the trip to Madrid. The AVE trains are operated by the Spanish, Italians, and French. Our train was the Italian train called the Frecciarossa or Red Arrow. The 380 mile trip takes a little over two and a half hours. The train hit speeds over 180 miles per hour. Much more comfortable than flying and probably less time when you consider getting to and from the airports which are outside the cities while the train stations are in the middle of the cities. If only flying could be this roomy and comfortable.

Video out the window of the train.

We were picked up at the train station by a bus and given an orientation to Madrid before being dropped off at the Hotel Europa on the Puerto del Sol. After checking into our rooms, Luis led the group on a brief orientation including the Prado, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace and important things like tapas and gelato. I took a picture of Dolora in the center of Spain. All distances are measured from this marker. This was followed by a group happy hour at Prada a Tope with drinks and tapas. Plaza Mayor is famous for its bacadillo de calamares, calamari sandwiches. Dolora and I decided that would be dinner. So a stop at Casa Rua and then hot chocolate and churros at Chocolatería San Ginés founded in 1894. I thought the hot chocolate and churros were better in Barcelona. In my quest to find the best hot chocolate, there is another famous chocolateria in Madrid that I will have to try as well.

Somehow today even without all the walking wore us out so we were back to the room a bit earlier than usual.