Spain Thread

[Froggy]

Madrid Airport

 

[Froggy]

When you take a taxi from Madrid airport to downtown don't be alarm when you see this when you board the taxi



Theres a flat fee of 30 euros from airport to city center

Unlike Singapore taxi drivers taxi drivers here help you with your luggages

Very lucky to have met this driver because when we arrived at hotel he told me that he'd help my luggages I to lobby. There he settled the payment told me I should not be left on pavement or street side with barang barang as its dangerous. Very nice old man.

 

[Froggy]

It's strange that the land surrounding Madrid airport and beyond is parched looks like a desert.

 

[Froggy]

Direct flight from Bangkok to Madrid had ceased a few months ago therefore one has to transit in one of the cities in Europe. I choosed the shortest stopover and that's via Munich (1.5hrs) then too a Lufthansa flight to Madrid which was another 2hrs 5mins flight away

Food on board Thai Airways not bad - started with somtam


Then curry chicked


Fruits & dessert




Didn't eat much of the above cos it was like almost 2am when served. However in the middle of the journey which was 6hrs in the journey asked for Mama Instant noodle this is how they gave you Mama


And then just before arriving its breakfast (or lunch Bangkok time)




At the Munich airport saw their latest BMW 7 series on display. This is a much nicer model compare to the last looks more handsome like the 5 series





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[video=youtube;BCo5POd49ls]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCo5POd49ls[/video]

Nice ya

 

[Froggy]

Arrived afternoon and after checkin and shower headed for late lunch

















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[/URL]

 

[Froggy]

Beautiful and delicious tapas

 

[Froggy]

Didn't have much time or energy to move around so only time for makan, rest and arrange train tickets

I wonder if Spanish knows what they are into


Ministry of Agriculture


Congress








People relaxing Central Madrid










Gypsy beggar

 

[Froggy]

High speed train is known as Renfe in Spain. I've heard its the most efficient in Europe now BUT its almost impossible to book online. First page is in English after selecting the date and destination the next page to select the train in in Spanish. I gave up so decided to come book at the station

Main station in Madrid


Looks like a very old building from WWII era it is but the inside is very modern






Simply take a queue number and wait, staff very helpful, patient and knowledgeable for instant they will help choose a good train for you. Had a really good experience buying my 5 tickets here for my 15 days trip.

 

[yinyang]

Looks like a very old building from WWII era it is but the inside is very modern

In western europe, it's a given to keep old facade for public and commercial buildings. Interior can be state of the art

Done the reknown Spanish Fly yet? :p

 

[Froggy]

In western europe, it's a given to keep old facade for public and commercial buildings. Interior can be state of the art

Done the reknown Spanish Fly yet? :p

Will go look for it and find out why this name.

 

[Froggy]

Dinner time normally starts at 8pm till "late". Honestly 8 is already 1am Bangkok time so got to get use to.

 

[Froggy]

Consomme


Spanish lettuce, tuna, olive, capsicum




Main courses - Mushrooms and steak

 

[Froggy]

Yesterday another tapas brunch





Lentils stew with pigs blood sausage




The pig's blood sausage


Wings

 

[eatshitndie]

when in madrid, you have to dine at the oldest restaurant in europe, restaurante sobrino de botin. its specialty is the roasted suckling pig. non-halal. :p

i had 2 street paintings done by an artist at the nearby plaza depicting the botin from different views from a bygone era.....while i dined in there. after dinner which started at 9:30pm i picked up my paintings at 11:30pm. and then the bar hopping began with rolled up paintings in armpit.

http://www.botin.es/?q=en

 

[Froggy]

when in madrid, you have to dine at the oldest restaurant in europe, restaurante sobrino de botin. its specialty is the roasted suckling pig. non-halal. :p

i had 2 street paintings done by an artist at the nearby plaza depicting the botin from different views from a bygone era.....while i dined in there. after dinner which started at 9:30pm i picked up my paintings at 11:30pm. and then the bar hopping began with rolled up paintings in armpit.

http://www.botin.es/?q=en

Thank you. Am in the Renfe now leaving Madrid for Zaragova but will be back in 10 days. Will check this restaurant out.

 

[rotikosong]

Dinner time normally starts at 8pm till "late". Honestly 8 is already 1am Bangkok time so got to get use to.

Whenever I go to Spain - I need to prepare myself for their strange working hours. My colleagues come into the office late, around 10am.
1pm-4pm is "lunch and a siesta" and then they stay very late in the office until 9-10pm.

Very different from my colleagues in Scandinavia - they are in at 7am and then are all gone by 3pm. When you schedule global meetings, you have to take into account all these work culture peculiarities.

Beautiful photos bro. I enjoyed the photos of TG premium class.
I head to BKK next week to continue my 100% record of being there whenever you are away

 

[Froggy]

Whenever I go to Spain - I need to prepare myself for their strange working hours. My colleagues come into the office late, around 10am.
1pm-4pm is "lunch and a siesta" and then they stay very late in the office until 9-10pm.

Very different from my colleagues in Scandinavia - they are in at 7am and then are all gone by 3pm. When you schedule global meetings, you have to take into account all these work culture peculiarities.

Beautiful photos bro. I enjoyed the photos of TG premium class.
I head to BKK next week to continue my 100% record of being there whenever you are away

Now in Zaragoza, yes many restaurants here open from 1-4pm and then 8pm-1am. Strange. In Madrid I don't really feel is cos its more cosmopolitan I guess. Geez such bad luck to miss you again in LOS. Anyway enjoy.

 

[Froggy]

Some photos of downtown Madrid

 

[Froggy]

Asked the hotel staff to recommend a tapas place for locals he told us to go t Platea at Plaza de Colon, upmarket nice music and great tapas:

 

[Froggy]

So this is what we had there