One Filly Travels

 Granada and a head cold.     Today is Wednesday.  Day 20.  When I was in Madrid, I ate a lot of fast food. Mostly because I wanted to eat earlier (most places open at 6p or 7p) and I didn’t want to sit for a long time.  I found the menus differ and small things are different, such as the condiment on the burger.  At a Taco Bell, they didn’t have burritos, but they did have cerveza, which went really well with the taco thingy I had. The reason I mention fast food, is there is always so much salt.  Especially on the fries.   I blamed all that salt on my dry mouth at night while I was trying to sleep.  I woke up on Monday with a dry and sort of sore and scratchy throat.  Not bad, no sniffles or cough.  Maybe too much salt. Maybe allergies since I went to the botanical gardens.  Took an allergy pill and all was well. Tuesday, no sniffles or coughs, so maybe rest my throat and drink...

  Madrid: Halfway point of my monthlong trip.  Didn’t do much in Madrid. Busy capital city bustling with people. It is exhausting to walk through the Puerta de Sol (plaza) where the bear statue is the precise center of all of Spain.  People gather around the statue for pictures and many others will jump to touch for bear’s behind. If they miss, there is always the foot they can grab on the way down.  You can see the shiny spots on Mr. Bear.  I chanced getting into the Prada Museum when it was free admission, but the line was so long that I went to the Botanical Gardens next door.                          The line to the Prada.  Skipped it and went to the Royal Botanical Gardens below.                                               ...

  Made. It. To. Barcelona. Yay! The backside of the Pyrenees: on the way to Barcelona: (I had three hours of driving time---what else did you expect but pictures--all drive-bys) Here we go... Today is the first day of the Rick Steves Tour.  We will meet at 5pm for orientation.  It is now around noon at the bus station. It only took the bus about three hours.  I just need to figure out if I am going to take city transportation-metro, bus, or train--to get close to the hotel NH Collection. So, I sit, eat lunch looking out the window.  The weather was supposed to hold rain but earlier in the morning.  It looks like it is sprinkling. People are walking with umbrellas.  Hmm, made my decision--TAXI.  I saw them when I came in, so I know where to go.  Settled into room.  It will do.  There is an elevator, and I am on the third floor, which translates into the first floor in hotel speak.  ...