After a three hour layover in Frankfurt we finally arrived in Madrid. The runway ends at the Iberia Airline terminal, but Lufthansa shares a terminal somewhere else in Spain – we taxied for so long we thought he might be dropping us off at the hotel. Sadly, we ended up having to deplane and grab a cab.

Arrival in Madrid. I think the runway is on the other side of the hill in the distance.

We’re staying at the NH Palacio De Tepa, a short walk from Plaza Mayor and next to Plaza Santa Ana. We opted for a room with a beautiful wooden ceiling and skylight as opposed to a street view, assuming it would be quieter at four in the morning when everyone was going home. That turned out to be a good call on our part.

Madrid hotel room.

After checking in we took a short walk around Plaza Mayor and the surrounding streets before returning for a dinner of tapas, sangria and beer in Plaza Santa Ana next to the hotel.

Jamon y melon.

Sangria. In a Heineken glass.

Sarah was feeling jet lagged, so she went back to the hotel and crashed. I grabbed my camera and made a tourist loop of Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. The city was coming alive with people and warm evening light. Ham, street performers, protesters, and ice cream kept me alert until about 10pm when my brain finally went into a fog. Time to sleep.

Jamon at Museo de Jamon.

Street protesters with live music in Puerta del Sol.

Helado.

Street artists in Plaza Mayor.