Travel day (1 day to go)

Planes and trains

We fly from Jacksonville via Charlotte to Madrid. We will land Saturday 7a local time (about 2a Jax time).

After a quick café con leche, we take the Madrid Metro to the Madrid Chamartín train station. From there we will ride the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) train operated by RENFE to León.  Amtrak should be ashamed -- the AVE reaches speeds of up to 180 mph.

AVE Renfe between Madrid and Leon

In León we are staying in Hostel Alda Casco Antiguo. It is 100 meters from the cathedral and is a mansion built in the 17th century using the foundation of an ancient Roman military camp that dates from 60 BC.

Hostel Alda Casco Antigu

We hope to be enjoying our evening in Barrio Húmedo (the wet district). This is the nickname given to an old part of the city that is within the largely intact Roman city walls.  There are approximately 150 bars and clubs. The district is famous throughout Spain for free (if you buy a glass of wine) tapas bars. You drink enough wine, the tapas become your dinner.

If the plane is on time, if the Metro is on time, if the AVE is on time, if we can find our Hostel -- the next post will be from Spain!