Our night was short because the bus to Madrid left at 8 the next morning. It was made a little shorter when something I'd eaten earlier decided it didn't like being in my guts any more... It made for an interesting drive while i waited for the next bathroom. Em couldn't sleep much after 4 either, so we enjoyed our breakfast and cool walk to the bus. Luckily we both got an hour plus nap in right after leaving Grenada and were at least somewhat awake for our hike to Hostal Cervalo. We couldn't stay there long, though! We had only 23 hours in Madrid and so much to do!!
The first stop was Puerta del Sol, where he protests happened a few years ago. From there the streets are full of shopping- fashion, electronics, futbol, helado, bars/cafeterias... We had fun despite our tiredness. We walked home past the royal palace, and left a few minutes later to go to the Reina Sofia art museum. It's free after 7, but by the time we got in we had just over an hour. We ran up the stairs to the Spanish Civil War gallery. It's an emotional roller coaster on a good day. When you're physically and emotionally exhausted already, it's numbing. Guernica is grayer than i expected, and as i looked at it i kept seeing the peaceful city near Mundaka that we visited a few years ago.
Rather than going directly home, we hunted down some horchata and froyo near Sol and wandered the long way back. Re-packing for the last time was surreal- Emily commented that it felt like "tomorrow we're on to the next city." Two weeks is long enough to get into a routine, and we were living with our backpacks for just about that long.
Getting up, drinking espresso at a cafe, packing, and getting on a subway with our backpacks is pretty normal. Going though security, getting on a plane, and flying west is not normal. Hasta luego, España.
Bonus: Here's the trip slideshow
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