Day 6: Madrid

Friday, October 11, 2013

Today was "free time", so the three couples struck out on our own. Carol and I decided to visit the nearby Plaza Mayor (Main Square) to sightsee, have lunch, and relax before our tour of Spain begins.

The Plaza is a 17th century cobblestone square where coronations, bullfights, and public executions (!) took place in times past. Today it is a pedestrian plaza and gathering place.

Tonight we met up our tour guide, Jorge, and the other members of our tour, and were treated to a traditional dinner at a local restaurant. Our tour group (some of which are see here entering the restaurant) is made up mostly of retired couples from Australia (Sidney,  Melbourne, and Perth), Canada (Vancouver and Toronto), and Singapore, plus a number of locations across the U.S., making the social interaction within the group a multicultural experience within itself.

The evening meal in Portugal and Spain is somewhat different than what we are used to at home. Dinner is a drawn out social occasion that doesn't start until around 8:00 pm and ends anywhere from 10:00 pm to midnight. A multicourse meal and leisurely conversation are called for while people socialize and discuss the is issues of the day. Waiters will hurry to serve your meal, then leave you alone until you request your check. It is considered rude for the waiter to bring your check before you ask for it. If you are not aware of this custom, you may have a long wait.