"Spain? Again? Didn't you just go there?" Well yes, yes, and yes (more or less). We'd been to Spain two years earlier (described at length in our 2010 trip coverage), but Philip, who had not been on that trip, indicated an interest in seeing the country. Nella and I had liked Spain very much, and had no problem coming up with an itinerary which included a mix of places we hadn't seen before (Spain is a big place, with more territory than the state of California, and full of things to see) and places we'd visited and enjoyed before. And of course all of it would be new to Philip.

But not to you, the valued and patient legions of followers of this website, who undoubtedly have better things to do than read rehashes of things already described. Out of respect for your busy schedules I shall try to keep narrative and photographic repetition to a minimum.

Our Spanish adventure actually began in Dublin, where we took a short walk with our luggage to the Connolly train station. At the station there were inexpensive buses to the Dublin Airport, where we were able to check in and board our flight on Aer Lingus (Ireland's "flag carrier" airline – the name brings off-color jokes to mind, but I will refrain; make up your own) to Madrid without incident. The two-and-a-half hour flight took us across water and across land and eventually deposited us at Madrid's Barajas International Airport.


Taxis into town are of course available at Barajas, but the airport also has a Metro station, with rates into town being extremely low (the city center is in the same Metro zone as the airport, qualifying the trip for the lowest rate). In our case we had to make two transfers, but this took us to the "Sevilla" stop, which was directly in front of our hotel, the Hotel Regina, a couple of blocks east of Puerta del Sol.

After checking in and getting settled, we headed out to look for dinner. We couldn't help but notice some of the architecture located across the street from the hotel.


We crossed Puerta del Sol, the Center of Everything, and continued into the neighborhood on the other side. We ended up at the Museo del Jamón (Museum of Ham), checking into what the fuss was about Spanish ham (jamón ibérico). We didn't get the best stuff, as it was very expensive (we settled for jamón serrano), but what we did get didn't survive long enough for us to take a picture of it (sorry about that – we were hungry). It was darker than American ham, and sliced thinner, and no doubt a product of aristocratic pigs (one imagines them discussing polo matches, wearing monocles), and pretty much a whole different thing.

Regardless, it fortified us enough to return to the hotel, so we could rest up for our exertions of the day to come, which were to begin with a return visit to the Reina Sofía Gallery.