madrid arrival monday

I got up and packed up. I ate the Bueno candy bar I’d bought the last night for breakfast. Then I went out to the bus stop. I saw #4 go by and had a feeling that was what I needed. I asked the next bus and I was right. Boo. It was raining and a man on a bench across the street was hawking and spitting up phlegm. It was disgusting and I wondered if I could catch his illness from across the street. I waited and contemplated getting a taxi. How long does it take the bus to get to the station? How far apart do they come? One finally came. I had almost 20 minutes to buy lunch.
I read my book the whole ride. Outside, there were hills that rose and fell like a reptile’s back. Orchards were strewn over them and the valleys in between. As we passed more and more hills, they began to get dusty and then were covered in snow!
When I arrived, I looked at the station. It had a lot of new stuff and part of the old station was still in tact. It had tropical plants growing in the middle of it!

I found the subway and a map and had a rough time, but figured out where I was and where I needed to go. I bought a multiple trip pass. I went to the Sol stop and dragged myself and my baggage out of the station. I pulled my suitcase all of the way up Montera to number 47, only to see that the next subway stop literally let out directly in front of it. Well, at least I now know that Gran Via is the stop for me. My hostel is on the 7th floor and there’s a MacDonald’s on the main floor.
I went inside and found out this place is posh! I do have to go down the hall for the bathroom, including a sink, but it’s nice!! Also, THEY HAVE WIFI!!!! Here’s the view from my room.

I went into my room and settled in with my computer. I stayed there all afternoon until I was hungry. Then I looked out the window and discovered it was snowing. Really? Just now that I’m going to go out? That’s ok, I don’t even have to leave awnings to get to MacDonald’s! I had an O.B.C. onion, bacon, chicken. It had bacon bits on top as well as strips in the sandwich. It was tasty. The MacDonald’s was very posh. It had clearly been something much fancier long ago.
I went back to the internet for a few hours then back to MacDonald’s for a cookie and a soda. Snack time! Then back online. I’m determined to get some photos uploaded!! I found out today that I can do more than one at a time. That helps immensely. I can’t believe I’ve been working so hard so unnecessarily! Uploads are slow-going today, though. It’s late enough I think I have to quit but I really don’t want to. I'm almost up to date-- I've decided pictures for Sevilla don't count-- they'll have to wait. I've got words for every day. I'm more than halfway through pictures for Cordoba. That post will probably come out tomorrow. For today, I'm hoping no one else is in the bathroom. I'm ready to brush my teeth and go to bed.