N: We took public transportation to the airport. A Renfe train runs under the city to the start of the airport metro line. Cheap and fast, it took 1/2 the time the hotel said it would to get there. So we waited for the coffee shops to open. Then we navigated the vast distance between the terminal hub and the actual gate. On the other side, our plane arrived quite early. Passport entry was really slow. Agents kept disappearing, leading off people seeking entry, so we had to change lines several times. We had no idea what that was about. The ride home was quick.

We found each city in Spain to be a different and enjoyable experience. They each had very different personalities—Barcelona, had its cosmopolitan atmosphere and its architecture, Seville its medieval flavor, Granada its Moorish roots, Madrid its cleanliness and being both big and small at the same time. Everywhere we went we found everyone not just tolerating us as tourists, but actively enjoying our company. That made for an upbeat and stimulating journey.

B: Madrid was hoping to get the 2012 Olympics, but they did not. They are continuing to build, modernize, clean and improve their city in the hopes of getting the 2016 Olympics. Their efforts are evident.

Wherever we went, we were told to be careful of pickpockets. Nick is a pickpocket's dream, tapping his back pocket every few minutes to be sure his wallet is there. I did convince him to keep his wallet in the pocket of his sweater. That was a big relief for me. I actually beat pickpockets off Nick in Paris in 1983, and the memory lingers.

On the trip out, I had the aisle seat (my preference) while Nick sat in the middle, complaining that he was too big for such a small space. On the return trip, he had the window seat (his preference) and I was in the middle between Nick and a a somewhat heavy gentleman. At mealtime, their elbows were poking my ribs!

The bottom line, though, is that it was a wonderful trip. Nick makes all the arrangements and I speak the language once we get there. I wonder what language I can learn next.