Sweaty

That's been me, most of the day.

Ridiculously early start. We got to the airport at 4am, hoping to beat the crowds. We did - and we managed to get our bag checked in and sail through security without any difficulty. It was mercifully quiet on the other side as well, so we settled into some comfy chairs in Nero. The only problem? Nero doesn't open until 5am. I got served around about 4.58am, and by 5.05am there was a queue of 20 people waiting to be served. The same at all the other concessions. Ridiculous. Far too many people for the existing facilities. Thank goodness I don't fly again in July and August.

The flight was somewhat delayed, but even so we were at the hotel before 12 noon. Luckily they accommodated us. A trip into the city on the metro for some much needed food and a couple of beers. We sat under an umbrella on the Plaza Mayor for a while - ironically, I think, at the cafe we gravitated to the first day we arrived in Madrid back in May 2013. Back then it wasn't nigh on 40 degrees.

After a snooze this afternoon, we wandered around the block to find some fast-ish food for dinner, and to pick up more water. Oh yes, always more water.

I think the extra photo gives a sense of the heat and bustle of Madrid on a day like today.