This morning, having been up very late last night texting and calling, I slept a bit later than I intended, and by the time I was ready to go, it made more sense to go ahead and check out of the AC Atocha and leave my bags for later. I went to pick up my sweater, but the kid there looked and couldn't find it. I say he looked, but he really glanced in one spot and said it wasn't there. He told me that his friends would be there later and might know, but they didn't come in until 5:00 pm. I wasn't willing to give up on it, since it was there last night, so I asked if there was someone he could call. I had to wait while he served customers but eventually he called, and within minutes, one of the guys who was there last night walked in. He pointed to the same corner where the other kid had looked, and what do you know? It had fallen behind something and was there all the time!
I then headed for the botanical garden, which was wonderful. The main gate is closed, and the entrance is actually at the south end of the Prado museum, so I was back on my "home turf". The gardens were really great. There was a special exhibit/sale of orchids in the main building, and I wanted to take home about 20 of them. In the other half of the building was a display of Japanese flower arranging, and a couple of booths where they were doing calligraphy.
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| This bonsai was about the size of a basketball. |
The gardens also have a permanent collection of bonsai trees, all part of a donated private collection. Their American cactus collection left a bit to be desired, and their sequoia was small, as sequoias go, but it was nice. I'm sure that each season has its own appeal, but I think it will really be something in the summer. They even have a vegetable and fruit area, with big signs saying not to pick the fruit. The gardens have been there for over 250 years, and they are not a public park, but a private research facility. In a couple of areas, the plants looked so neglected that I thought they might want to research how to take care of them. I probably spent two hours there, then walked on down to my "old neighborhood" to have lunch at VIPS. On the way, I encountered a protest about something. As usual, they were loud, but polite, staying within the bounds of one lane of the street, so as not to block traffic or cause any problems. If they did, there were many national policemen on hand to take care of things. Not sure what it was about, but lots of whistling and chanting that you could hear from down the block.
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| The protest. |
After lunch and a little shopping (I have now finished about half of my pharmacy shopping), I walked all the way back to the AC Atocha to get my bags, then grabbed a taxi to the Eurobuilding. When I got here, Karen (from last year) and I walked down to a little market to get a few things, then we all went over to the local spot for the tapas reception, where we met the rest of the group. It was a nice place with really good food. It looks like it will be a fun week. Most of the group have done this before - there are only three newbies! We have 16 Anglos and 12 Spaniards, so that means we will have free time. There is a rumor that the castle visit will be replaced with a winery visit, but with free time arranged so that those who want to go to the castle can do that at another time. That will be good for those who haven't been to Belmonte before, and it won't bore those who have, by having to go to the castle again (though I might do that anyway). There is also a rumor that the pool won't open until June 1, but it was open last year and we were there earlier in May than this year. So we will see.
I'm looking forward to Monday market day, so if you need any chandeliers or fake Nikes or pajamas, let me know!
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