Leaving Madrid - 31 May 2001

I'm about to head off for my much-needed sleeper-car train to Blois, France. The late nights and bright sun in our hot flat (apartment) early in the morning have kept me from getting my usual eight hours. But John and I have had a great time exploring Madrid. I guess the top memories have to be the Sofia Reina museum, the Prado, the Irish pub with a great "American classic rock" guitarist but a cheesy, frat party atmosphere, and the bullfight. I'm not a big fan of the whole bullfight concept, but John convinced me that it's a cultural phenomenon one has to see in Spain. He was probably right, but I've decided that I'm going to repay the bovine world for its pain and suffering by forgoing a kilo of hamburgers and steaks this year. Whoops, my alarm just went off, so I've got to make my way through the stiflingly hot Madrid subway system to the train station. If I had more time, I would tell you about the beautiful medieval city of Toledo and about how we got a Jackson Browne's Greatest Hits cassette and I realized, on the car trip between Toledo and Madrid, that when you reach a certain age, even the songs you didn't like in your youth induce nostalgia. Well, next time. I'll post some good pictures from Toledo when I get back. I look forward to seeing you all soon! Joe

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