GRUMPY SISTERS' INK

A bit of a walk brought us to a small supermarket where we a were able to buy tea and milk. We got our first glimpse of the Plaza del Sol. There were police and army around, with workman putting up grandstand seating and stapling red cloth onto a stage. There was a Tv van at the bottom of the street. This was all in preparation for the 2nd ofMay celebrations. There was the spanish flag flying and the seven star flag. The policeman looked a bit fierce! And it smiling at all. They were telling people cross the road to avoid the official vans parked. Many of the little shops in our street were closed and heavily shuttered. As we made out way back to the apartment, I heard my name being called and there was Miriam, the friend of Peter and Caroline we had arranged to meet. She hugged us all, and she joined us for tea in the apartment. When we had climbed the stairs, we saw that the brothers had arrived too! So there was a lot if noise and bustle as we greeted each other. The we all sat down and chatted. Time was of the essence as Miriam was leaving for Barcelona that evening, so soon we were following her along some if the tiny cobbled streets. She was a great guide, and had a lot of information about Madrid and its history. First we walked past Utopicus wheremO had worked, then just around the corner we were shown the attic apartment where P and C had lived. Miriam was keen to she is the Mercado an indoor market, well up market really. many stalls if deli type food and stalls selling produce....... Dried peppers on strings being very noticeable, and hunks if meat and fish. The idea if this market was that your bought your wine, then walked around with it, choosing various tapas from the stalls. It was very popular, and Miriam was able to do the ordering for us. Miriam had to go unhappily as she was due to go out to the airport...we felt we had all made a good friend even in that short time. Plans wee made for us to have dinner, but of course, the restaurants don't open until at least 8.30, so we had to find a tapas bar to spend some time. Nickie was able to direct us to a restaurant that she had visited before, not in he usual tourist route, very small, lots of dark wood, smart waiters. We stumbled out way through the Spanish menus and between Nickie's Spanish and the waiters limited understanding of English we managed to order ourselves a delicious meal. What a long day, 30 hours flying, plus socialising until late, plus a lot of walking around! Sleep was almost immediate and despite the proximity to two Plazas there was little to disturb us, only the occasional wail of a police siren.