Santiago de Compostela to Madrid

Saturday 11 June 2016 - Day 45

Santiago de Compostela to Madrid

It was an early start for me with my airport taxi booked for 5.15am. No problems with the flight, in fact it was extra quick and we landed early. Caught a bus into the city bus station and then a taxi to my accommodation at Hostal Matheu. It's in a seedy little street but is nice and central, and lovely inside.

Had organised to leave my backpack secured until check in, so was unencumbered for the day. I couldn't believe how many people were in the city. Here's Plaza Puerta del Sol at about 10am.

Got some good info from the tourist centre and bought a day ticket for the Madrid City Tour red bus. This is a get on and off as often as you like service, but once I got my seat I sat for the entire circuit, mainly due to the amount of people I could see waiting at the stops and not being able to get on the bus. I had a seat on the open-air top level, which was excellent but hot in the sun.

I did one route before lunch, that took the in Parque de el Tetiro and the Prada Museum, which had a line at least 200m long waiting to get in. We were all given earphones and we could listen to the commentary in whatever language we chose. I think this might be the Palacio Real.

Had lunch at the markets and decided to get back on the bus to do the second route. This one went right out of the main city area and included the US Embassy and the stadium for the Real Madrid team. This ride was baking hot.

Went back to check in and knew I shouldn't lie on the bed...took me a while to get going again! Walked, through the cast of thousands, down to the Cathedral de la Almudena. This is a modern construction done in the design of the medieval churches I saw on Camino, with more than one altar space and numerous small chapels.

One interesting thing I saw was the double sided pews that faced 2 altars.

Lots of old and new art, with the ceilings being particularly noteworthy. It was blessedly cool inside.

I was pretty pooped and decided that I didn't have a night out in me, so retired to my room to have a snack dinner and hop into bed. Have a look at the brand name of my crunchy bread crackers. Gave me a good laugh.

The weather forecast is for a hotter day tomorrow, and I plan on doing a walking tour... and then I come home!