January 31, 2023-March 3, 2023 

Madrid 

My visit to Madrid will be brief and no doubt pleasant.  My train from Valencia arrived as scheduled.  The onboard professionalism and hospitality presented in the Business Class section of the train staff was once again wonderful.  I found it easy to navigate my way to the street level with signage for ‘UBER’ and rideshare.

Within minutes, my driver picked me up and away we went.  I was dropped off at what should have been my hotel.  However, the driver actually dropped me off at an area of the same name as my hotel.  When I asked a nearby official where the  hotel is he pointed up an incline of about 28 degrees for a half mile.  Great.

I found the hotel after a great walk.  The staff at the hotel had my reservation and were professional and helpful is getting me settled in. 

As is my norm, I went out for a walk to explore the surrounding areas.  During my walk, I found another amazing train station called Principe Pio.  An almost integral part of the train station in an amazing mall below street level.  As I have noticed in my travels, the malls I have found in Spain are among the most beautiful I have visited.  Exceptionally clean, well maintained and shops that were quite busy catering to travelers and families alike.

I had dinner nearby my hotel and called it an evening.  The weather went from ‘chilly’ in Valencia (on the coast), to ‘COLD’ in Madrid (inland).  The following day, I walked to the Presidential Palace which I could actually see from my hotel window.  I walked to the Presidential Palace and passed several government buildings and offices along the way.  I enjoyed walking through a nice park during the day.  As luck would have it, I was fortunate to have arrived at the Presidential Palace during a time of the ‘changing of the guards.  This is an exciting event drawing large crowds and occurs twice a month.   

I stayed as long as I could.  BUT, when it started to SNOW, I thought, ‘time to go’.  Haha.  I knew that I was travelling ‘off season’, but I did not fully appreciate the weather I might experience and certainly did not pack appropriate to the environment.  

I was told at my hotel that in some years it is not unusual to have snow in Madrid up to the knees in February.  Good to know!  Even better to have known before I left the States.  But, it was a joy none the less as it is all part of the experience. 

I could not experience Spain without going to a Flamenco show.  Fortunately, there was a Tablao within walking distance of my hotel.  Flamenco halls are plentiful in Spain and depending on your travels (and weather) easily available.  It was an amazing experience.  From the guitarist warming up off stage, to and throughout the performances.  It was amazing.  The precision, outfits and undeniable passion of the artists of their presentation. 

The following day, after checking out of my hotel, I used UBER to get to the airport.  The International flying experience and process requires patience as it can be quite intimidating.  There are several stages and most often a queue of some length.  The reality is that you can have a good plan, but having luck and good fortune will hopefully find their way into your travels. 

For me, the real adventure is about to unfold.  I am always early for most events.  This is especially true when travelling and in particular when travelling abroad.  There are quite a few steps in the check-in process at an airport.  So, I would always prefer to be early and wait, rather than be on time or late and stressed. 

Ladies and gentlemen, securely fasten your seatbelts firmly around your waist. 

I was to fly out of Terminal 1 in Madrid.  Madrid to Atlanta, Atlanta to Orlando.  As mentioned, there are several steps in travelling abroad.  There is an order but they are a blur to me now.   These include; passport control, customs and immigration, security, check-in, security again and to your gate. 

My flight was to depart at 11 AM with boarding to begin at 0945.  The plane was at the gate.  Things are looking good!  Boarding time arrives and nothing is happening.  1000 and still nothing.  No announcement.  1030 came and went.  Our flight crew was in the boarding area and even they did not know why there was a delay.  Sometime after 1100, an announcement came that during the plane’s inspection and mechanical issue was found.  A repair would be attempted and that the flight may leave at 1300 or 1600.  It began to appear that the flight was going to be cancelled and people started to queue up for a change of flights. 

While in the queue, people began to receive automated rebooking information on their phones while others were busily trying to rebook their own.  While waiting in the queue, I found that I had been rebooked on a Iberian Airlines flight out of Terminal 4.  I showed it to the Captain waiting with us in the boarding area and he was as surprised as the rest of us.  One couple got a rebooking leaving on an American Airlines flight in twenty five minutes.  They had no idea where American Airlines was located and yet, they were off to the races.   

An agent approached me and I showed her my phone.  I asked, ‘where is Iberian Airlines’ and ‘how do I get my luggage from where it is probably onboard the plane at this gate’?  She told me that ‘Iberian Airlines is at Terminal 4.  Go downstairs to baggage claim and ask for Angel.  He will get you luggage and tell you where to go’.  So, off I go to baggage claim, I find Angel and within about twenty minutes he returns with my bag.  Now what?  Angel explains, ‘go up two flights, take a green bus to Terminal 4’.  Okay.  I found the green bus and after about a thirty minute ride arrived at Terminal 4.  BUT, now, I have to go through the same process; passport control, security, customs and immigration, security and then ticketing.  It is now no longer early in the day and the airport and the queues were large and long.  I had no idea where to go.  There were so many lines.  I got into a queue that said ‘USA Flights’.  The ticketing process is efficient at the airport, but the number of travelers is overwhelming.  When I got to a ticket agent, I tried using my best Iberian to explain how I came to be here due to a flight cancellation.  I could tell there was a language issue but I knew it would just take some time.  It was not until she asked me for my vaccination card that I became concerned.  No one during my travels had requested to see the document.  I somewhat panicked as I had it ‘somewhere’.  I managed to find it tucked in with my Irish Passport.  She saw the Irish Passport and gave me a thumbs up and somehow her English got better,  She gave me a boarding pass, checked my bag and directed me ‘down the stairs, through security, take a train to the station for your gate’.  After security, I probably went down three levels of stairs before reaching the train station.  Once boarded, I looked for the train station but could not find it.  Then, the train stopped at a station and an automated voice came on saying ‘this is the last stop’.  I, as well as a few others were looking at each other wondering the same thing, ‘what happened to our stop?’  We exited the train and notice an arrow sign on the wall pointing upward to our station.  Up a few flights of stairs and a very long walk to the gate. 

Now, I will admit Terminal 4 is a very nice Terminal.  Very large, clean with all the amenities you would want at an airport. 

My seat on the Iberian Airline flight was in row 39 of an Airbus 350.  With a 45 minute window to make a connection in Miami (oh yes, changed from Atlanta to Miami!!) adding two hours flying time.  I could see that there is NO WAY I could make the connection in Miami to Orlando.  Deboarding, luggage, security, check-in…….No Way!!  I had no Plan B and knew that spending a night in Miami would be very costly.   

So, I was very early at the gate for my flight (at least I found the gate) which of course was at the END of the terminal.  As I was walking around, I passed an Iberian Airlines Customer Service Desk where two women were working.  I thought about it for a minute, looked at my Iberian Airlines ticket and thought ‘why not ask if an upgrade was possible?’  What could go wrong?  So, I approached and one of the women looked up.  In my best Iberian, I did my best to explain how my day has been going.  At the end of my spiel, I asked ‘is it possible for me to upgrade?’  She looked at me and said ‘200 euros’.  I asked, ‘what do I get for 200 euros?’  She answered, ‘I don’t know’.  Super.  Well, I’m thinking I’m in row 39 of a Airbus 350 with no possible way of making my connection, so I figured let’s see what 200 euros would buy and gave her my credit card.  I then received a receipt for my 200 euros.  As she is looking at her computer screen, I asked, ‘do you have a window seat?’.  ‘No window seat’.  Then, I asked, ‘do you have an aisle?’.  She said, ‘yes, you are in 14C’.  I’m thinking this is GREAT!  From row 39 someplace to 14C. 

So, now I am at the gate and the boarding area begins to fill.  I noted several infants, children and strollers.  I could see that there were designated boarding areas but could not tell where I was supposed to be.  When the boarding agent was free, I asked him where I am supposed to be.  He pointed out that I am in Business Class and Boarding Zone Two.  YES!!!! 

When it came time for boarding, there was no announcement.  Oh noooooo.  Then it came, ‘ladies and gentlemen there is a delay due to a mechanical issue, we will have updates in the future’.  My life was passing before my eyes.

After about 30-45 minutes, an announcement that the repairs were completed and boarding was to commence.

Boarding was efficient and I found myself comfortably in seat 14C.  Bonus:  My seat was fifteen feet to the plane’s boarding door.  A connecting flight was possible!  The flight was long but comfortable.  My travel mates were helpful with also getting me acclimated to the plane.  It was a great flight.  We arrived on time and I was off the plane as soon as possible.  Collected luggage, checked luggage and followed a long path to my next gate.  I got to the connecting gate of my American Airlines flight as it was boarding.  I was ticketed for the last row on the plane.  As I had no connections from Orlando, it really did not matter. 

It was a pleasant and short flight from Miami to Orlando landing at around midnight.  I had no hotel room.  So, I found a waiting area and started to call the hotels within the Orlando Airport area for a room for the night.  Every room at every hotel was solidly booked.  I went out further and found a hotel on International Drive, some distance away.  I took a taxi and it must have taken forty minutes to get to the hotel.  It was the wrong hotel, but I figured it must be close enough.  I went into hotel A and asked where my hotel is and fortunately it was but a five minute walk.  The hotel clerk had my reservation and I was off for a rest. 

The following day, after breakfast, I summoned an UBER and fortunately found a great driver who would take me from Orlando to Vero Beach which is a fair distance. 

There are lessons to be learned during these adventures.  The least of which is….

Move over Indiana Jones, there’s a new traveler on oceans and lands in town…….! 

Please check back for future posts of my travels. 

Part Eight of Eight will be a summary, references and additional random photos.

I look forward to you joining me again soon.