Not enough time in Madrid

Madrid, Spain

OPPS I FORGOT TO POST THIS BEFORE I ENTERED OMAN

The next day after the conference we took a train to Madrid. The train was quiet and moved fast through the mountains into valleys. I would say 90% of the land I saw in the 1.5 hour trip was agriculture. Very impressive. Olive orchards, vineyards, all sorts of vegetables and fruit production.

In Madrid we met up with David and Shira. I guess this is where I need to explain the relationship with them because they are also the two we are now with in Muscat. David and Stewart have been working together on projects in Muscat on and off for 8 years. They live in Bar Harbor and David’s expertise is in National Parks and protected areas. They are a well traveled couple and are adventurous and a delight to be around.

We spent 3 nights in Madrid. When Stewart and I arrived we grabbed a cab and off to find the Air B&B Stewart had arranged. Because of road maintenance the cab could not take us directly to this apartment. So we started rolling our large luggage up and down cobble stone streets looking for our apartment number. We finally found it and by then I was already tired. Come to find out we were on the 4th floor with no elevator, (didn’t think of that before hand) with my 50 lb limited luggage. Up 4 flights we went. Needless to say for now on I will ask about the distance to the room. And possibly carry less. Our little apartment was so small we could only open our luggage on the bed. I went to take a shower and there was no shower curtain, I couldn’t figure out how the shower head worked and I was about to flood the bathroom when I realized what was happening and had to use the only two towels that were available to wipe up the water. Now looking back it was pretty comical.

Madrid is a great city to visit. There are plenty of museums and parks and shopping. Stewart and I went to the Botanical gardens a few blocks from our flat. We met up with David and Shira for dinner and decided that for the next day we would go to Toledo, a short train ride from Madrid. I’m so glad we went there.

Toledo is known for the tremendous medieval walled city with a maze of winding streets, with lots of shops and restaurants and has some of most important historical landmarks in the country. What I found so interesting is the variety of religions in this small area. Centuries of Christians, Jews, and Muslims prospered together. Each religion building churches, convents, palaces, synagogues, and mosques. We did go into Cathedral de Toledo. This building is enormous and the architecture is gothic and magnificent. I purchased the self tour headset and was able hear the organ playing. I sat down on a bench and listened to the organ while looking at it the pipe organ from afar. I allowed myself to feel the energy from the pipe organ and I started to understand the commitment Catholics make to their religion. Symbolism through the images of the architecture is beyond explanation. Once again I felt so touched that tears were rolling down my cheeks.
After the tour of the cathedral we all went to the Jewish synagogue. This was important to me to experience due to the fact that the other 3 people I’m traveling with are Jewish and I want to learn and understand a little more about the Jewish faith. At the synagogue there were head sets with explanations. Well, I’m not that savvy with electronics and could not figure it out and by the time I did I was frustrated but started wandering around and taking it all in. Then I started to hear a female voice yelling in a different language. This woman was standing right in front of me an arms length away. She was motioning to an exhibit and there was a younger man she seemed to be yelling at, then she began to hit him on the back. I motioned to her with my hands to quiet down. She then turned towards me. I said, I speak English but she did not stop with her yelling. By then security started walking in her direction and I slowing backed off. I was pretty upset and walked out of the building. I stood in a little street and cried….I was not sure if the lady was upset about the exhibit, the Jewish faith or at the man she was with. But the experience did affect me. Once again more tears.

After that we wandered through the streets and found our way back to the train station (which was also a splendid building). Back to Madrid and the next day was spent visiting museums and shopping for nougat candy, which I’ve been told it originated in Spain. Shira had found this wonderful Nougat, chocolate store where they passed out samples. I had no idea how many varieties there were. Stewart and I bought treats for our kids and to bed we went. We needed to be at the train station early morning to catch and early morning flight. Of course at that time of day there are few to no taxis in our area and it was dark and raining. We had to walk with our 50 lb luggage to the train station, UGH…. soaking wet when we arrived, I went in the bathroom and changed clothes. I was not going to fly back home in wet clothes. Off to Tampa we went.

After my experiences in Spain.. meeting the people from around the world working for a purposeful cause and going to all the sights, eating the foods, drinking the wine and visiting cathedrals, monasteries and synagogues, my heart has been touched by it all and my inner soul has been rejuvenated. Thank you Spain and thank you Stewart for bringing me with you!

Next entry will be in warm, wonderful Oman.