I left Seattle via the Light Rail to the Seattle Airport in the afternoon and checked my trekking poles in to Turkish Air because I was worried that TSA or some other airport security official would confiscate my poles. I then headed to the south end of the airport pre-check line, but it was closed so I had to go to the number four area for check-in and for the first time it took me over an hour to check in using this expedited system. The entire airport was filled with many more people than I had ever seen before.
Plaza Mayor
Unfortunately, I had a 14 hour layover at the Istanbul airport. I enjoyed their Turkish coffee, OJ, and baklava before relaxing at their quiet lounges with comfortable chairs until I decided to again stay at the sleep pod area for four hours at €22/ hour of uninterrupted sleep before my early morning flight to Madrid.
It was a breeze going through immigration at the Madrid airport. I just followed the signs to the airport Metro, which would take me to the downtown where I would transfer to the Alonzo Martinez stop nearest the Safestay Hostel where I stayed for two nights.
I use this time to do a little bit of touring and to get my discount card called a Tarjeta Dorada for all train rides which would give me a 40% discount. After an hour wait, I got the card along with my train from Madrid to San Sebastián which is part of the trip to get to the Santiago Camino—French Route—hike of about 780 km—483 miles. That ticket on a fast train was just €30 for a five hour ride and 353 km.
Once that business was done was a revisit to the Plaza Mayor which I had last visited back in 1963 while hitchhiking around Europe. I had dinner in the plaza and even ordered a calamari sandwich—something I first had on my 1963 trip—along with a seafood paella.
The old Mercado de San Miguel was extensively remodeled, and is no longer a local market, but rather upscale tapas bar offerings throughout the building and was packed with weekend celebrants.
On Saturday, I went to the Prado and it took me over an hour and 3/4 to get in. Apparently Saturday is a big day for Spanish families to visit the museum quite a few hours and walked about 4 miles through all of the exhibits. Lots of Goya, Rubens, Velazquez, El Greco, Bosch, Raphael, etc. A couple of my favorites included Goya’s “The Executions” and Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights”—a triptych. I had seen many of these paintings during my art history class in college. Many were more vibrant and bigger than I had imagined. No photos allowed.
I visited the nearby Centro de Arte, Reina Sofia, specifically to see Picasso’s “Guernica” which filled a whole wall. Fortunately, photos were allowed at this museum. I was pleased to see other artists including Miro’ and Dali had many of their works on display.
I ended this short time in Madrid by attending a flamenco show near Plaza Mayor.
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