madrid

woke up with alarm. had also gotten wake-up call. couldn’t get cab on the roads and had to run back to the hotel to get reception to call for one. guessed he had asked if i wanted to call, rather than if i had called.
train ride was fine, MI2 showing. no breakfast served! stewardess came by with sweets though. huh.
happily left backpack in the automatic consigna at atocha station. breakfast of oj, coffee and croissant (glazed, which made it surprisingly palatable). at metro, bought two additional single tix, not realising there was a time limit to them.
train was very crowded. swung backpack to the front of my body. found compartments unzipped, but fortunately, nothing taken. handphone at bottom of front pouch and the camera was buried in the main compartment. first stop was kukuxumusu shop. got t-shirts for w, f, mug for j and keychains for m and r. good place for souvenirs.
no english books on gaudi but found a photobook at FNAC. (damnit! got one in spanish by mistake! other one for k.)
last stop was el corte ingles supermarket. bought nestle chocolates (gaudi inspired shapes) and nuts for dad.
back to atocha RENFE stop to pick up backpack and head for airport. on metro, guy blatantly unzipped front pouch of my haversack. just zipped it up and glared at him. felt totally victimized.
short line at AirFrance check-in counter. learnt madrid-paris flight delayed. had to be rerouted. eventually ended up on lufthansa madrid-frankfurt-sing, landing at 5pm.
had spaghetti bolognese at airport cafeteria. surprisingly palatable.
bought more chocolates (made in spain) from duty free. almost bought bull fight watch from museum shop for €16.
at frankfurt, couldn’t even move from one section of the terminal to another to shop. crap. back to kavalier and clay, which i finally finished on the plane.
lufthansa was quite crap. no individual entertainment system. ‘hearts in atlantis’ showing. no choice for food either. good thing i was tired and actually slept quite a bit.