Was up very early this morning. Too early as it turned out. The car picked me up at the hotel at 5:40. 7:40 would have been plenty of time. Ahh but you never really know how the traffic will be getting to the airport, do you?

Today's flight to Madrid was with Iberia. What an experience!! Total chaos. There seems to be no real attempt to limit the size of cabin baggage so every locker is filled to overflowing and every seat has "stuff" under it. The flight was due to depart at 9:10 but the departure gate didn't open until 8:40 so we finally took off 40 minutes late. And by the way, how many times have you been on a plane that started to taxi long before the passengers had even found their seats. Certainly a first for me.

At first sight Madrid isn't a place you would rave about. Most of the buildings I've seen so far are run down, dirty, and covered with graffiti. But I will qualify that by saying I've only walked a couple of blocks in either direction from the hotel. The day is grey and drizzly, so I guess that doesn't help much. We will see what the morning brings.