I am here in Seville

The Atocha train station in Madrid is impressive;palm trees and oasis. I am so lucky to have Eddie. He helped me get to where I need to go.Like at the airports your baggage need to go through security check. Then you need to go through ticket check before entering the next room where there are 15 exists to get you to your right train. Without Eddie I couldn´t know when and where to go. My ears have a hard time understanding the annoucements. Finally when you get to your ¨super speed train¨knowing how to read your ticket to get to the right coach. I got on 6 instead of 8. Lugging your luggage in those narrow aisles and lifting your luggage to the shelf above I had to step on the seat...I guess I could have asked someone taller. The train began moving on the dot. If you are one minute late...adios amigo!!!
No time...of course the train must be traveling at 200 miles or so because I have noticed that both Eddie´s parents drive 120 miles an hour on the roads. It is legal. On both sides of the train first smaller farms but when we got closer to Cordoba olive groves rows and rows up and down mountains as far as one can see. The smaller farms alternate the fields with other crops like corn,hay,and sunflower.Makes a beautiful pattern to the country side.
Lucky that I live in Kekaha,the hot side of the island. I was warned that Seville is much hotter than Madrid. True it is hot probably in the 90s. I feel that my conditioning helps me to take the heat.
Today as soon as I got off the train I decided to take a taxi to the monastery. The one I was suppose to go to outside of Madrid was closed.
I am so happy I had Eddie call first. They have a sister monastery right in the center of Madrid. I am again very blessed. They have only 5 rooms and I got one. The room has a double bed and a private bath for 40 Eur. Meals are not included,but Mary who I was introduced to as soon as I got to my room speaks English. She is writing her thesis on international relations and comes from Valencia. She showed me the nearby markets,etc and also directed me where I could find the Turisto Information Center and from there learned how to get to this Internet center. The cost here is twice Santiago. There is another place so I will need to check that out. My time is almost up.

On my way I met several English speakers. I met three girls from California here to learn the Spanish language. Later met an elderly couple from Ireland. In the tourist office a mother and teenage son from Belgium. I learned that English is a second language. Parts of Belgium speak French and the other mmm what was it now?

The computer says I have 10 minutes left. The buildings are impressive..old 11-12th century and lots of Moslem influences. On Sundays some of the museums are free so I will try to schedule myself that way.
I notice Eddie and his family are very aware of taking advantage of saving..economically wise. Eddie and his friends learned of a promotion in Madrid that gave them free airline tickets to Brussels and Switzerland. He and his boy friends the same ones that went to Toledo with us. They had to wear bathing suits in the square before noon. They got there at 8am.
I have 2 minutes so Adios Amigos until next time.
Aloha,Mahalo,& Malama Pono. Joanne