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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe people in the airport give off all kinds of vibes, like a big city. Some have a dash of firey New York Bronx mixed with Italian charm, others radiate Mexican hombre.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside we join a taxi queue, well ordered, but longer than I think I\u2019ve been in in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A couple of young Americans try to skip the queue and are successfully shouted off by locals.\u00a0 The Transatlantic harmonious spirit is waning.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you leave the airport you immediately join onto a highway, like Sydney, contributing to the big city vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We drive along freeways and through tunnels, in a city with less strict planning controls on its buildings and more pragmatism. The brownstone towers give less of a sense of consistent aesthetic beauty in the buildings compared to Lisbon, but still a sense of group identity and compassion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we leave the freeway we drive through streets of fir trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We drive past an arch in a roundabout near a university. From 1827 it celebrates the defeat of Napoleon and the return of a Spanish King to the throne – the end of Tyranny. (“TYRANNIDE GALLORUM EXCESSA”).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Lisbon, the posters hanging from balconies talked of the hope of tourism creating opportunities. In Madrid the balcony posters said \u201cTourism is killing Madrid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our apartment lobby has fridge style lifts, which we leave the suitcases and take the stairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The front door opens with a phone, a promising sign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We open into a kitchen decked out like a Gucci store, a red feature wall with silver chain drape covering it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The kids room has a city fresco on one wall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our room has two towels shaped like swans kissing sprinkled with red chocolates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hugh discovers the wifi is doing serious business. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A cupboard on the wall opens synchronously upward and down maintaining the asthetic effect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the kitchen, a fridge integrated into the overall look says interior designer and not DIY. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Madrid airport is large and modern and efficient. Hugh ponders various unfamiliar looking Mediterranean baguette sandwiches. \u00a0 The people in the airport give off all kinds of vibes, like a big city. Some have a dash of firey New York … Continue reading <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"