madrid

sing-paris flight not too bad. managed to sleep despite large american on the aisle side. no upsizing pls. nose not doing too well though and extremely dehydrated. water is self-service; movie channels don't work, food's decent. voila, air france. emerged from sol station into the heart of madrid. took a while to find bearings. first attempt for accomms - hostal valencia. calle espoz y mina was quiet. dogged by 2 con girls. difficult to find. anyway, full. second attempt was riesco. comfy lounge area with stuffed animal heads and fireplace, but no rooms. third time lucky - rifer on 4th floor of a building. clean functional room at €33 a night. shower, no toilet. lift ridiculously small for 5, would need to stand indian file. excellent location, quite happy with place.
had lunch at casa parrondo. menu del dia for €9. friggin cheap. had potatoes and meat stew, veal, bread and bottle of wine. oh yeah, dessert too. rice pudding. had to reject cafe.
saw plaza mayor before lunch. gorgeous square with all the balconies and frescoes. nutter singing away.
plaza de la villa: unexpectedly cheery flower bed, mudejar tower.
san andres.
san gines.
el corte ingles - huge department store. wy looking for towel. no luck. at other el corte. on 2 other corners, el corte for books and cds/movies.
place de isabel II.
hot chocolate at san gires. no churros, too full from lunch. thick molten chocolate at €2.