Madrid 12 September 2017

One never knows what a day will bring. We awoke this morning I was pretty much packed, showered did the final touches, did not have breakfast, long day travelling today.  We walked from our hotel to the station. It did look quiet but small station. We did have to get our luggage to platform 2 via some stairs anyway all done sitting with anor lass and her two huge dogs she was obviously catching our train too.  This young man comes onto the station he is from the Czech Republic we learn.  He points to the tracks waving no train today I said to him is it a train strike ah yes he understood that, what a lovely boy. It had started the day prior he spent the night in the park because if you do not have a booking in these places the park is the only place for you.  In the meantime anor couple came onto the station we told them as well we had decided to walk back to town and catch a cab to Perpignan, of course we did not know whether it was regional strike or what so took a punt. The did not know what they would do, we said this is what we will do.  We got back to the bridge I sent Sam into a café he came out ten mins later telling me the lovely café owner had called us a cab and it would be ten mins, you know the kindness of strangers.  I went into the café thanked this man he was a delight almost hugged me we get in the cab and then just as we are taking off I see the other couple from the station walking across so got the cabbie to stop wind his window down, saying we need to take them too, meanwhile he does not speak any English, anyway he stops gets their luggage they hop in with us and off we head to Perpignan, peak hour traffic, no idea whether there will be a train or not.  We get there took about half hour it was about 26ks from Collioure we get out the cab this couple were from Seattle and she just put her arms around me said you saved us I said no the young man on the station saved us, I just wanted to make sure you caught your train to Paris if it is running, her husband hugged me as well, we thank the cabbie he almost hugs us too, funny the experiences of travel.  We go in to the station tentatively find our trains on the screen breathe a sigh of relief, I said to this man you need to google David Stratton you are his double but younger, anyway their platform  no came up we said our goodbyes they were off to Paris for five days at the end of their trip. Bit of a stressful morning but we never panic, we were only worried because we were meeting Ash at Madrid airport at 3.15 the next afternoon and had no way to even let her know, she had left by this time, all worked out in the end.  We also met some delightful people in the process.  

Our train was on time 11.17am to Madrid Atocha at 3.50pm. We then took a suburban train to Chamartin where we are staying because of its proximity to heading to the airport then leaving here Friday for Astorga.  We booked in slept for a couple of hours had something to eat and slept until 7.30 this morning (Wednesday).  We have had breakfast just planning a lovely day tomorrow, been tracking Ash’s flight and we will leave shortly to collect her.  It looks like a beautiful day out there.  Take care Sabine and Sam.  I will post my pic of Collioure Station house