Highlights-Málaga to Madrid
I traveled to Madrid on the high-speed, low-budget AVLO train (my first time). I stayed at the same apartment as last year, less than a block from the Plaza de Isabel II (also known as Plaza de Ópera). At a bar with a friend, I spilled cheese sauce on my pants (yes, it left an oil mark).
Málaga Cathedral
Notable Items
The AVLO train to Madrid was budget high-speed rail (yes, it’s a thing in Spain). It was no frills and the cost was very reasonable. The car was loaded with numerous men wearing Real Madrid jerseys. They were so noisy that I thought I was at a Real Madrid game. I had to wear my noise-canceling earbuds.
After arriving at Atocha station and taking the Metro to Ópera to check in with the AirBnB apartment owner, I met a friend who lives SW of Madrid. It is possible to take the Metro there, but there are two tricks: first I had to pay a special tariff because of the distance and second, I had to exit one train and board another at a station on the way (I’ve messed up one or both several times).
I stayed nine full days in Madrid, 6-14 June. I stayed longer here because my language exchange friend suggested that we could spend more time practicing English (him) and Spanish (me) if I visited on the weekend.
My friend took me to a local community theater where his wife and older daughter were performing. There were five short plays, all with different amateur actors. I think each was less than 20 minutes, but I wasn’t paying close attention. It was a great opportunity to work on my Spanish listening skills for live or recorded events. I need lots of practice, but I’m realistic and accept that I might not get much better.