London Trip 2019_20 - Madrid for a week
Within a short time of arrival in London, Jeantine was off to Madrid to the Thoughtworks office there and it made cents to tag along. Our cab driver taking us to Gatwick was from Sardina in Italy and she could relate to quieter traffic conditions, that I was telling her about our Auckland - compared to London. People not used to sharing space and less tolerant of other motorists.
Jeantine had suggested she take her one big suitcase for all of us to share for our week away and I, foolishly it turned out, left my toilet kit in my carry-on bag. Compounded by my ignoring the signs at tables with plastic bags available to ensure one should put the liquids in the supplied bags - a maximum on 100ml per container. Naturally I get called over to my bag for an officer at the security check to go through all my liquids, including a number of free sample tubes of shower gels and shampoos. But I lost my birthday gift of 150 gm plastic container of Taylor of Old Bond Street, shaving cream. "Sorry that is too big for the rules".
I thought later I should've asked to scoop out a handful of the cream into one of those supplied plastic bags. Luckily we had allowed plenty of time so we were not running up against the boarding time. Whilst in Madrid I ended up using a cake Dove soap to create a lather for shaving - this cake of soap in its light cardboard container, I'd had for some years, being taken on various trips here and there. Jeantine advised that on the return journey that my toilet bag was to go in the bag for the hold. So we survived that experience and made our way to our departure lounge.
Ours was an evening flight and there was a rainbow and a golden glow on the buildings across the other side of Gatwick airfield and in the foreground the wing of our Easy Jet plane.
When we got off the plane Jeantine got a taxi with a driver who seemed a little bit grumpy, especially when he said he didn't have a mobile payment system so he stopped the cab by an ATM for Jeantine to go get cash to pay for the fare. The driver was also taking photos of the Christmas lights at various intersections when he had to stop for traffic lights, out would come his camera to grab some shots before the lights changed and on we went.
Our Airbnb required being briefed by a women who took us up the lift to the third floor (was it) and explained the procedures of the flat.
Taking a look out the window to see what we could see (time stamp 8:18pm and location marked as Barrio de Chueca)
Once we settled in and had looked out the window, it was a wander down the streets looking for somewhere to eat and we settled on a Tapas place
This shows a couple just inside the door and Barb's shoulder in the foreground - 9:30pm 8 Dec 2019.
It took us while to sort out what we wanted and where we should sit. First we stood at the bar in this space just in off the street. Finding someone comfortable talking to us in English to explain what was on offer and then trying to decide, should we go through to the main Restaurant through a set of doors but, we finally settled at this long table in street facing room after some other patrons left. Corner of Calle de Belen and Calle de San Gregorio
Next day, a slow start with Jeantine taking us for a walk early afternoon - first through this leafy lane in the Cortes District.
Thyssen Bornemisza Museum
Then outside again and some yellow pots catching my eye at 2:22pm
Then an array of book sellers near the Royal Botanic Garden 3:15pm before heading into Buen Retiro Park 3:25pm
Bark patterns in the cross light Next up some videos - if I can login to Vimeo - some problem there, repeated attempts This should be Jeantine in Buen Retiro Park and choosing one of three paths ahea
I thought later I should've asked to scoop out a handful of the cream into one of those supplied plastic bags. Luckily we had allowed plenty of time so we were not running up against the boarding time. Whilst in Madrid I ended up using a cake Dove soap to create a lather for shaving - this cake of soap in its light cardboard container, I'd had for some years, being taken on various trips here and there. Jeantine advised that on the return journey that my toilet bag was to go in the bag for the hold. So we survived that experience and made our way to our departure lounge.
Madrid bound from Gatwick from Ray Mankelow on Vimeo.
From the call to board, I paused to get my iPhone camera out to capture the contrast between the golden glow of the evening sky and dark rain cloud.
When we got off the plane Jeantine got a taxi with a driver who seemed a little bit grumpy, especially when he said he didn't have a mobile payment system so he stopped the cab by an ATM for Jeantine to go get cash to pay for the fare. The driver was also taking photos of the Christmas lights at various intersections when he had to stop for traffic lights, out would come his camera to grab some shots before the lights changed and on we went.
Our Airbnb required being briefed by a women who took us up the lift to the third floor (was it) and explained the procedures of the flat.
Taking a look out the window to see what we could see (time stamp 8:18pm and location marked as Barrio de Chueca)
Once we settled in and had looked out the window, it was a wander down the streets looking for somewhere to eat and we settled on a Tapas place
It took us while to sort out what we wanted and where we should sit. First we stood at the bar in this space just in off the street. Finding someone comfortable talking to us in English to explain what was on offer and then trying to decide, should we go through to the main Restaurant through a set of doors but, we finally settled at this long table in street facing room after some other patrons left. Corner of Calle de Belen and Calle de San Gregorio
Then outside again and some yellow pots catching my eye at 2:22pm
Bark patterns in the cross light Next up some videos - if I can login to Vimeo - some problem there, repeated attempts This should be Jeantine in Buen Retiro Park and choosing one of three paths ahea
IMG_0384 from Ray Mankelow on Vimeo.
Link to Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plaza+de+la+Villa+de+Par%C3%ADs,+28004+Madrid,+Spain/@40.4248516,-3.6958175,2020m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0xd42288fdb01cd8f:0x9b4c509482d0cde5!8m2!3d40.4250578!4d-3.693178
Comments
Post a Comment