My week in Madrid (last week!):
Best memory: There's two - first, the look of delight on my husband's face when he finally got to see Rayo Vallecano's ground - and their was a door open so we could sneak inside and have a proper look at the inside of the stadium (this still didn't stop him walking all the way around it and then climbing on a wall to have another look from a different angle). Second, a very good night spent in the company of tonytorero and some of his pupils - sorry for being so raucous!
Most bizarre memory: Eating tripe . . . don't ask.
Most thought-making memory: El Valle de los Caidos - and the flowers on the tombs. The one thing we hadn't expected to see and something which really made us think about where we were, and what we were doing. In the end we decided it was similar to when I visited Dachau - a place that isn't joyful, but is somewhere you should visit to remind you of how things were.
Best food memory (and romantic): Returning to Los Cuevas de los Ducques, by Plaza de Espana, which was the very first Madrid restaurant we ate in. The waiter was still the same, and the food was fabulous. Two courses each, two glasses of wine, water and bread came to 58euros. Well worth it.
Hotel memory: We stayed at the Aresol, in Puerta del Sol. A great location, but very noisy. Also badly in need of a lick of paint. And a sweeping brush, as the dust on the floor is worthy of my home (
) . . . But it is only 45euros for a double room, the beds are changed every day, as is the linen, and the bathrooms cleaned. So no big complaint really.
"Go for it" memory: All the anti-war demonstrations at Sol! Great to see young people so politically active. Again, something that got us talking.
Saddest memory: The sight of Barajas getting smaller and smaller as we leave
.
Until October
Besos
Glory, glory to the hibees . . .
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
(me on my balcony)
