Whoooosh!

Got the 6.30am high speed AVE train this morning to Madrid. The problems of getting the tickets booked yesterday were made up by the ease, comfort and speed of the journey this morning: a 10 min walk to the station and 2hrs 30 mins later I stepped out into the sunny streets in the centre of Madrid. I took a taxi straight to the Egyptian Embassy to hand in our documents and fill in the now familiar form and, enshallah, the visas will be in our passports when I return tomorrow afternoon. Have had a wee wander round the streets where our hostal (simple hotel) is, a small tapas lunch on a terrace on Plaza de La Opera, which is very close by, and now my sleep deprivation is catching up with me. I had intended to do some work at my laptop, but it simply wouldn't be productive tonight. It will wait till tomorrow morning. I might have a walk round the block and a bite to eat, and then definitely an early night.
Note for busboy if he looks in tonight: kept seeing statues today and thinking of you. I think a trip to the capital will be on the cards next time you visit!