No Prado Today

I had to find an ATM before I went anywhere. So I used the WIFI at the hostel to find one the map said was 0.3 miles away. It wasn’t there. I took a picture of my street so I could find it again.

So I figured,”Find a major street and there’ll be an ATM.” Ummm, no. I walked over a mile down Calle de Silvano (a street people kept telling me about yesterday) and never saw one. I had to turn on Calle de Canillas (another major street) before I found one. On the way I passed a man with my hiking poles who wasn’t a pilgrim. I wanted to bring mine but there wasn’t room.

However I did find a supermercado AND a McDonald’s. Actually the McDonald’s was in the food court of a shopping mall, so I found Starbucks and Taco Bell as well. I didn’t go into the mall, although on second thought they might have had a sport store. I want a thermal blanket ( one of those silver jobbies; I meant to get one before I left.)

It is spring here in Madrid, but I was out today in long underwear, jeans, a turtleneck, a hoodie, and a plastic rain jacket and I was only a little too warm some of the time. Texan through and through. There were only three of us in a room for six last night. If that is true again I’m stealing some blankets off another bed. Either that or doubling up on the long underwear. Maybe both. The supermercado had something Antonio loves that I am never making for him.

I also bought a cookie I love that you can’t get in Texas.

Thin, crisp, buttery, with a hint of cinnamon…Oh, they are so good. I ate so many on the way home I replaced almost all the calories I used walking four miles.

Aaron has asked me if I found the plain in Spain where it rains. Well, it was raining today but I think you can see a plain isn’t anywhere close.

Cars in Madrid are smaller than in the USA but not as small as I expected. And clearly the rules for parking are different.

Anyway, I was so tired after my walk I laid down and napped. Had a really weird dream too. Now it’s after 6:30 and the Prado closes at 8:00, so I will try again tomorrow.

Tonight I think I will go to the restaurant next door and have something hot. I had a ham and bacon sandwich from the supermercado for lunch. (Breakfast was the salad, which was perfectly good.) I could cook but I’m scared of the kitchen. It’s in the front lobby, so everyone can see you’re incompetent. I will also work on that script I was supposed to finish on the plane. I have got to make a decision about directing too.