Mad about Madrid

This is the next instalment of Ann’s blog, read Cordoba, The people you meet, Fabulous football in Barcelona,  Barcelona and Reims and a dud hotel for her previous updates. 

While the beauty and history of Cordoba was, for me the highlight of the trip so far the hotel was probably the low point. I chose it because of it’s proximity to the Mosque/cathedral which is the heart of the old town. It’s supposed to be four star and looked fine on the Internet. I could cope with the small size of the room – we could barely get in the door and walk around the bed, the bathroom was quite large and that’s where I kept my suitcase. I guess the lovely old building meant rooms were small so I accept that – but the bed nearly killed me. I have arthritis that causes a lot of night pain and hard beds seem to make it much worse.

So, having learned a few lessons about hotels 1) be in or close to the heart of the city; 2) five-stars are worth it if you like your comforts; and 3) you can get good last minute deals direct from the hotel, I booked the Intercontinental for our two nights in Madrid. I was glad I did. A mercifully comfortable bed, soft pillows (and a pillow menu if you want something different) fluffy robes, tea and coffee making in the room – which is quite rare in European hotels. Breakfast was great too, alongside the juice – champagne (actually the very good Spanish version) chilled on ice next to the juice for you!

We got into Madrid just too late to get to another football match, Real Madrid, complete with Christiano Ronaldo and the 100 million dollar man Gareth Bale (the latter just transferred from an English club earns about 150,000 pounds a week, Ronald earns a bit more) that was on in town but at dinner a family arrived kitted out in their supporters gear. We got talking and it turned out the man had flown in from Lebanon especially to see the soccer, for his son’s birthday. He’d been to the Champions League game in Barcelona then driven to Madrid for this game.

It may be 30 degrees in Madrid but cafes in the Placa Major keep you cool with the beverage of your choice and a fine mist of water dispensed from the big umbrellas above your head!

One of the many ways to earn a quid on the streets of Spain. This lady apparently, sits meditating on a pole supported by her colleague also theoretically in a trance like state. I dropped a few coins in the bowl and she beckoned me over and gestured to take a little scroll from a container next to the burning incense. It read: “The mature mind ignores the comparison of measurement” (in three languages) a quote from Krishnamurti. Guess I don’t need to worry about my weight, then!

 Ann’s blog #22