We got the 9am high speed AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid, reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour. Spring has also arrived in Madrid!

We sought out a new restaurant on a new square for us: La Musa Latina restaurant on Plaza de la Paja at Costanilla de San Andrés. A very good quality menu del dia for a great price. This area's just a walk away from our usual 'hostal' (Hostal Ivor), and so we might wander here at night too. It's super central, 60 euros a night, simple but clean and run by very friendly staff.

My blip's taken on the balcony of our hostal on the mainly pedestrianized Calle Arenal and our room has two balconies of the beautiful old traditional kind which are glazed in and wrought iron and which can also open be opened up. I've hankered over one of these balconies for a while. I might just check in for 6 months!

Tomorrow we hand in our papers for Egyptian visas again.