Highlights-Madrid Day 9 (last day)

I visited a friend and his family for lunch. Afterward, my friend drove the two of us to El Parque de Buen Retiro on the east side of El Prado. It is a very popular place on the weekends. I have run there many times when staying closer to El Prado than Ópera. The heavens opened up on my return walk to the apartment, but I was prepared with my rain shell. I can roll it smaller than a compact umbrella and I think it works better, particularly with the rain pants that I didn’t wear (missed that one!). My preparations for the Europe to USA flight included sleep deprivation (two hours or less). Why it works flying home is harder to explain than why I do it flying to Europe. It may have something to do with being able to sleep most of the second night at home (with melatonin).