Renovation

Yet again the botanical section of Atocha station was half closed off and covered in scaffolding. It looks as if they are cleaning the brickwork, so here’s a blip of the one uncovered section. It was absolutely pouring with rain, so the light wasn’t great — I did my best.

Edit: it was actually the rainiest day in Madrid since a record-setting day in 1972!

I was passing through on my way back to France for choir practice. I am delighted to report that for the first time since before the pandemic, you can get from Málaga to Narbonne in a day. No thanks to RENFE — Spanish high speed routes have recently been opened up to competition, so there are now three companies to choose from, at rock bottom prices. The Málaga to Madrid leg was on a sleek, modern Italian train and cost just 29 euros. From Madrid, RENFE are now running a through service to Marseille. The train was slightly shabby but it only cost me 49 euros. And both trains were bang on time, so I’m happy. I don’t suppose these prices will last forever, so I might as well take advantage while I can. Home by 8 pm after a quick detour via Picard since there was no food in the house.

It was a very early start today, so I added a bit to the total cost by taking the bus to Málaga yesterday afternoon and staying the night in a hotel near the station. I somehow failed to take any photos yesterday. It was quite an active day — lapsed blipper guiri’s partner F has been organizing weekly vigils outside the town hall at midday on Wednesdays to commemorate women murdered by men. So we joined her and a few others for a minute’s silence followed by F and A reading out all the names for this year. There were a lot :( The people sitting at the cafes in the square or passing by were attentive, so it felt worthwhile in its small way.

Afterwards we had a coffee with guiri and F, before heading to our friends F and M’s house for lunch. They’d invited French friend J and her son B as well, so it was a francophone gathering. It was a sunny day, and they have a large sheltered terrace in the old part of town. It was very pleasant, and lunch lasted until I had to leave to catch my bus.

No disasters when I got here, everything is working as it should, so I’m going for an early night …