I finally am sitting down. I am on the Ave, the high speed train to Cordoba. It’s just past noon and I am sad to leave friends but excited to begin exploring Andulacia.

The train takes no time, less than flying I am sure 1:45 minutes from Madrid Atocha to Cordoba.

Madrid was a whirl. We ate polpo, shopped for food and wine in the markets and shops around our friends’ apartment. I stayed in a hotel nearby (all of two blocks from their home). It was like my annex. A nice place to rest and use the wifi, but people I love, delicious food, and general vibe made the apartment the place to hang out.

My friend’s in-laws arrived, midway through their month in Spain. I am completely charmed by Alden, a lovely man with many things to talk about and the willingness to compare notes with me on the opera, living in the upper Midwest, food, wine, chemistry, fractals, and the paradors of Spain. Fantastic.

I saw the insides of two spectacular apartments, sat in the Retiro on Sunday and enjoyed a glass of wine and a terrible rendition of Rhapsody in Blue by a street musician (and then an accordion player who played the Chicken Dance). We cooked, we ate rabbit ribs at taberna Laredo, and a late nite snack of pizza de pulpo while we waited to meet a friend who has an emerging theatre company.

It’s hot. But I’m coping pretty well as the shade is cool and there is water to be found. I have made two purchases – a SIM card for a phone that will work in Europe and a watch. I feel ready now to face southern Spain.J

Tardes….