From Paris to Madrid

Alvorado. Yes as corny as it sounds thats the name of our metro stop by the hotel.
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Firstly can I please tell anyone remotely thinking of taking the train from Paris to Madrid. DONT DO IT.

The four of us (aka the fabulous four being me, Lauren, Stu, & Ang) where delighted at the fact that we & all our luggage actually fitted in the four berth sleeper cabin. Not sure why its called a sleeper cabin cos you cant sleep!!

With suitcases lining the floor & getting to & then out the door being more like a gymnastic manouvuer it was just great. Did I mention our cabin didnt have any aircon?? It was a pearler. Onto the train at about 7pm at night & awoke in Spain feeling groggy, hot, and really quite ferral. Badly in need of a wash basin that wasnt preloved by 150 other people we made it off & to the hotel in Madrid. Enjoyed our first Siesta. This is one thing the Spanish have got right!

Me at Real Madrid Stadium
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City tour on the bus that avo, and then group dinner. Learnt a valuable lesson here in Spain. Always ask if the soup is hot or cold. (Lisa - soup was like drinking your salsa straight from the fridge).

Next day we went across town to El Toros (bull ring) & got tickets for tonights show, then went to the Madrid Markets which we cheap & crazy, then on to Real Madrids soccer stadium which was amazing.

Our evenings entertainment was the Bull fight. Now. After spending a good ten minutes earlier in the day discussing the merits of buying tickets at the front, at the back, in the sun (sol) or in the shade (sombre) we were very happy with our seats. Even happier that there was a brass band playing music in this great venue.

Me sitting in Becks seat on the bench. He said he'd bring us a cuppa tea?!?
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It all went downhill from there really. I dont know if Im stupid or what but Karlene didnt realise they actually killed the Bull. I thought the waved the red cloth about a bit, threw giant cocktail sticks at it, & then put it away for next weeks show.

You can imagine my horror when Im busy telling Lauren (my very animal loving room mate) that the cocktail sticks just bleed alot & dont really hurt him. Kinda like a papercut when the matador pulls out a sodding huge sword & drops that beast in seconds.

El Toros. Waiting for the games to begin. Beautiful ring.
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Bazza who was sitting beside me nearly had kittens as Lauren & I yelped. Not good. Spanish people do not appreciate any emotions shown for the bull... Anyway. Shant ever go to another one of those but glad I did it.