I had to work that week, so I didn't have much time to do any research about Madrid. I really didn't know anything about it! The only thing I knew was that we were going to be there on Sunday! Just 6 short sleeps away! So excited!
So Sunday morning rolls around and we park our car at the best little hotel near the airport for
the 4 days we will be gone. This cool place is only $10 a week! And the guy at the front desk only charged us $5 since we would be back on Wednesday. Airport parking can be such a pain....it is so worth it to find a nearby hotel that offers a free shuttle to/from the airport. :)We are on the 7am stand-by flight to Atlanta, to meet Leslie for our wonderful trip to Madrid. Just about 1/2 hour before our flight, Les calls and says that it doesn't look good. Looks like Alex can get on and I will not. :( She gives us a back up plan of flying to JFK and then catching a different flight to Madrid....and we could just "meet her in Madrid". Who does that? Who just meets their friend in Madrid for 48 hours? Well....we do! So, anyways...it comes down to the last few minutes before take off, and they actually call Alex and I up to the desk! We got seats!!Yeah! We were so relieved!
We meet Leslie in Atlanta. We got in first and went to meet her at her gate, holding a sign with her name on it for her arrival. She thinks we are nuts! We grab some lunch and talk about our fun plans for Madrid. We did plan to do a bike tour -- which we are all excited about. She leaves for her check-in and Alex and I head to our gate for another waiting game. While sitting there, we look back and notice the gate across the hall is boarding...going to Dublin! There was a brief moment that we both looked ate each other and thought...let's go to Dublin! :) But, Madrid was calling our names!
We actually got on this flight to Madrid without a hitch. Getting 1st class seats! This way to fly is an experience within itself! Someday, I really think I could just sit my butt down in one of those first class seats, and fly completely around the world! No need to land! Starting with the Mimosas on take off, then the warm towel to wash with before dinner and the warmed nuts to eat while waiting! Wow! So fun! And the non-stop movies!
So, 9 hours later (Monday morning in Madrid)...and my 2000 calories consumed for the day, we land in Madrid. What a beautiful city! The history! The old cobble-stone walkways!The incredible Mercados with those yummy Tapas! Amazing! We had a wonderful time in our 48 hours we were in Spain. The first day, we familiarized ourselves with the subway system, the Metro.
In no time, we were 3 beautiful Americans finding our way around a fun, new city! We ended up on the best bike tour of the city. This is truly the best way to see a new city. We saw all of the important tourist-y things in a 4 hour bike tour! So fun! I highly recommend going on a bike tour!
Wednesday morning came way too fast! Up early and to the airport to fly home. :( We actually had great luck again flying stand-by. We got one of the new planes with the completely lay-flat seats. These seats were even more amazing than the other ones! Awesome! Again...non-stop eating, drinking and movies.
We landed in Atlanta in just enough time to head to our departing gate to Phoenix. Waiting...waiting...waiting. Last minute, Alex got on the flight home, but I was stuck in Atlanta. :( The new plan...I was going to catch a later flight to Tucson with Leslie, and Alex would drive down and pick me up, after she picked up my car at the hotel. This ended up working, and I arrived in
Tucson at 11pm on Wednesday night. And to my surprise, my husband (with sleeping kids in tow) was there to pick me up at the airport! Wonderful way to end a wonderful trip!
Flying stand-by is not for the faint of heart. It is a complete guessing game. But, it is a wonderful way for us to see the world. One stand-by flight at a time! Until next time! ;0)
~Christi
No comments:
Post a Comment