MADRID

And onto our LAST stop (insert crying face here!)

It is SWELTERING HOT in Madrid, like 36 degrees! (and that's at about 7pm!)

We left Busabout for the last time, swapped numbers with the Aussie girls and planned to meet up that evening. We found our 'Hostel Castro' (on Calle De Leon) really quickly, buzzed up and had a reply of a stern Spanish 'SI'?!) And so begins the epic and slightly disturbing tale of the check in...We went upstairs and I tried to explain that we had booked a room, the woman rambled back in complete Spanish and then phoned someone on her mobile, then passed it to ME?! I tried my best understand the man on the other end, passed it back to her and she told us we had to go to 'The Office' to pay the 'BOSS'. We blindly followed for 10 minutes not knowing where we were going (and still with our big backpacks and other crap!!! in the major heat) until we eventually reached a officey type place and were lead into a basement where we got a seriously dodgy old lift up the 6th floor. The woman knocked on a big wooden door and we were 'greeted' by a small Spanish guy with a BIG beard and sunglasses (which he didn't remove the whole time). He was proper Spainsh Mafia esk and he told us the 'rules' and said he'd give us his number is we needed it. Erm no thanks. We paid in cash (only) then followed the woman back (uphill - naturally) to the hostel. We were told the toliet didnt work so had to poor a bucket of water down to flush it. great. We would eventually find out though that we were in the BEST location, so that made up for things.

That evening we met up with the girls at Palacio Real and walked all across the city, which was beautiful all lit up. We followd my Rough Guides suggestions for somewhere for tapas, but one place was closed and the other was full of hundreds of hams hanging from the celling - very cool, but not so appealing for veggie Scarlett! We found a great place on Carrera De San Jeronimo though and ordered lots of lovely Tapas (calamari, chilli prawns, patatas fittas with cajan sauce, goats cheese with cranberry and nuts...) and washed down with plenty of Sangria of course to wash it down. Next stop was to find flamenco, which didnt happen, but we spent the rest of the night in two great bar/clubs (mainly based on Calle De Echegaray - the BEST road ever ever in Madrid! and 2 mins from the hostel). After a great night, we said our goodbyes to the girls (they were heading off to San Sebastian in the morning).

Day 2 and we had a proper explore and of course in true 'us' style it rained a bit. Spent some time in Parque del buen Retiro (like Hyde Park ish) and sat in the shade with 'Summer Red Wine'. Hostel dinner = packet soup, bread and cheese, little late siesta and then we went to see FLAMENCO! IT WAS AMMMMMMMAZING. We got seated front row in the centre, a metre from the stage, in a little place called Cardamomo and all of the music was live and loud and the dancers got so into it and sweated buckets and the singers done that shouty-singing and the guitarists were insanely talented! The best thing we paid for the whole trip for sure! Was the best place to see it, real, completely non-touristy, proper flamenco.

We also hit the Reina Sofia gallery, which I can safely say is probably the best in the world. Seriously, I dare anyone to go there and not be amazed. Better than the Tate, better than the Louve, massive collections of Picasso, Miro, Dali, Kandinsky, Sutherland, Rothko, Twombly, the list goes on and on...and they had a brilliant Retrospective of Juan Munoz (all the Chinese small men/women sculptures). It was art geek heaven.

After being all gallery-ed out, we went in search of Churros (donuts and hot chocolate) only to be told it was only a breakfast thing. gutting. Instead we lunched on Paella. That evening, we packed our backpacks for the LAST time, got changed and went for our final meal. We treated ourselves to a nice restaurant (La Finca de Susana on c/Ariban 4 - DEFINITE SUGGESTION FOR ANY MADRID VISITORS!) where we had gorgeous starters and Salmon and wine....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. A pikey McFlurry for desert and then Metro to the aeropuerto :( We slept on the rock hard floor (or rather not slept) and then got our easyjet flight this morning. Now were back. NOOOOOOOO.

Madrid is so cool. Really authentic Spain (more so than Barcelona). Definate top 3 I think.

Best 5 weeks EVER. Loved every second.

OVER AND OUT.