Days 37, 38 and 39- Madrid

Last day with the car, thank heavens. The car has been fantastic getting us around Spain into places that we would not have ventured but at times it was very nerve racking. Having a GPS that would not pick up directions in the cities and thus we would be flying blind so to speak. The narrowest of streets or laneways to negotiate and not leave an imprint on the car and the old towns with no parking and nowhere to pull up, were all at times difficult. BUT one of the worst was about to beset upon us, driving in Madrid to drop off the car. Avis drop off point was situated at Atocha railway station with a million other cars, taxis, buses, bikes you name it every form of transport was hustling for a spot. OMG this was terrible and there were no directions, no signs. Atocha Station is in the middle of Madrid and when we finally went around the same roundabout twice with no lane markings and everyone cutting in on you, much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris we found the station and there was no Avis. Pulled up next to a taxi and knowing he was not going to understand an Australian asked anyway, we were desperate. Sign language sort of sent us in the right direction. Oh no not out into the traffic again but we found it and said goodbye to the car all intact.

   A roundabout similar but nowhere near as busy as Atocha.

Hotel( Hotel Ganivet) in great position again and we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the Latin District, which the concierge said was a good area for restaurants.

   Found one called Posada Del Dragon and the food was good but at a price.

   To find our way around and to get our bearings we decided on a hop on hop off bus. In Madrid this bus has two routes one of the older part of the city and one of the newer areas. It is easy to transfer from one route to the next so we decided to do the whole lot on the first full day of our stay here. 

   Madrid as you know is the capital of Spain and is also the cultural, political and economic centre of the country. It is the third largest city in the EU and has almost 3.2 million living in the city and another 6.5 in the metropolitan area.

They are mad for their two famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Athletico de Madrid.

  Met a lovely lady in a local taverna near the hotel and she was a real character. She would saddle up next to anyone and start talking ten to the dozen, even to us knowing we didn't understand a word she said.

   The beauty of getting a two day ticket for the HOHO bus, at a cost of 4€ more, is that you go back to places at any time up until 10pm using the bus. Next day decided to have a look at the main shopping centre, Gran Via, but before we did the young man on the bus told us to go to the top of this building and you will get fantastic views of Madrid.

   He was right and the selfie came in very handy.

   A close up of the top of the Metropolis building in the above pics.

   Beautiful buildings in this part of old town.

   And of course statues. Mez described Madrid as a place of statues and sirens.

   One last selfie before hitting the shops.

We were very lucky to be stopped by a gentleman to inform us to be very careful of our bags and to carry them in front of us as the pick pockets here are very good and he pointed out two girls that were hovering around us. 

   Madrid as you would imagine was very busy and full of very interesting characters.