As Far As You Know

After a late night--getting in at 3:30--of dinner and dancing, I enjoyed a great American-style breakfast in Zaragoza with Chuck and Bill before taking off for Madrid. The drive on the autovia was smooth, with landscapes that reminded me of the southwestern U.S. (only greener). I found my hotel easily; this time I remembered to bring a map for a change!

Having been in hotels literally all over the world, I have a pretty firm sense of what makes for a good lodging experience. Generally, I am perfectly happy in two- and three-star hotels; for the most part, a clean room, a comfortable bed, and a functioning shower is all I need, as I don't usually spend a lot of time hanging out in my hotel room when I am traveling. But here is a quick checklist of what I appreciate when on the road:

• a queen- or king-size bed with multiple pillow
• a shower with dependable temperature control and suitable water pressure
• a good-sized bathtub to recline in after a long day on my feet
• a free in-room broadband Internet connection; WiFi is a bonus
• a television with cable/satellite offerings that include a couple of English language news channels
• a mini-fridge with space for what I want to put in it (not filled with overpriced mini-bar offerings I won't use)

I am happy to report that my current location--the Hesperia Getafe Hotel, outside Madrid--has all of these features

Happy Chinese New Year! Have a great 4704.

Here's a cover of U2's "In A Little While" by--of all groups--Hanson. (I also have a good take on this song by James Blunt.)

I spent much of today exploring two major art museums: the Queen Sofia and the Prado. The former specializes in modern works and is the home of "Guernica," Pablo Picasso's masterpiece, and lots of cubism and surrealism (e.g., Salvador Dali). The latter is the Spanish equivalent of the Metropolitan Museum, with a range of Spanish and international masters represented (it's heavy on Velázquez and Goya). The early Dali work above, "Mujer en una ventana," was my favorite of the day.

Off to the Madrid Airport for my 7:25 flight to Madrid and the connection to London Heathrow.