Flamenco

Trip Start Sep 25, 2009
1
15
34
Trip End Nov 04, 2009


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed

Flag of Spain and Canary Islands  , Madrid,
Thursday, October 8, 2009

This morning was like an episode of The Amazing Race. My task was to get my suitcase & some belongings sent back to Oz via the Spanish post office (Correos) without conversing in any word of english. I set off to the nearest post office, which is about 700m or so from the hotel. It was a warm morning after a stormy night. Finally found the post office in some back alley; using diagrams and over-emphasising words i explained that i had read on their (english version) website that i could send my suitcase thru them back to Australia. They eventually understood so i took off back to the hotel to pack up 16 kg (!!!!!) of my stuff that is now surplus (jumpers, souvenirs, excess crap etc. and most of all, get rid of this huge suitcase). On returning to the post office, i now have a different woman to deal with who begins to indicate that it is not possible. With my desperate face and repeatedly saying por favor (please) she starts to understand. Paperwork sorted, i then go to pay via credit card the 122 euros...and of course...cash only
Last known sighting of my suitcase
Last known sighting of my suitcase
! I'm not carrying that much, so have to race back to hotel, leaving my suitcase at the post office, grab the cash, race back to post office. Sweating like a pig, i finally pay and get rid of that darn suitcase. I knew it would be hard, but not that difficult.

Following that episode, i headed to Parque del buen Retiro (their equivalent of Kings Park), which i had read was really good. It is huge and has several water features and rose gardens etc. Good to relax after my stressed morning.

Went shopping at the malls and bought a new, smaller, 4 wheeled suitcase to use on the rest of my trip. Dropped the case at the hotel and walked across to the Spanish Royal Palace that is literally across the road from my hotel. Massive building. I didn't go in, but read that it has 2200 rooms! Similar looking to Buckingham Palace.

In the evening, i had booked a 9pm Flamenco show at a bar in Sol called Cardomomo. The show was excellent. Very intimate with only about 50 people in the bar; hugely intense, passionate performance from the 2 flamenco dancers (male + female) and the 5 piece band. Was good to get out too and have a drink with some other people.
Slideshow

Use this image in your site

Copy and paste this html: