Spain-36

Almost a year ago...the taxi driver dropped me off in the street...it was early, 7:30am, the winter sky still dark and I wasn't sure where in Madrid I was but I suspected as I watched the taxi drive away that I was not in the right place.
The tour was scheduled to leave at 8:30, passengers were asked to check in 1/2 hour prior to leaving...I headed south, back towards the city area, my cumbersome suitcase in tow, my pace quickening more each time I checked my watch and yet I did not even know where I was going. Stopping to ask 3 people along the way, the language barrier not giving me any direction at all I continued walking...finally I stopped a woman who spoke english, she pointed to the other side of the street, I was closer than I realised, relieved I crossed the road running straight past the bus to the office...I waited...30 minutes later I heard my name being called. The tour guide, Anna, a mature spanish woman, introduced herself to me asking where I was from before telling me to take my luggage out to the bus and find the driver, Fernando, like the song, she mused. I took my luggage out, almost the last to do so and found the driver. You are Fernando? he smiled as he answered in his best english, 'yes, you are coming with me?' he loaded my case and then walked to the door of the bus ready to take my hand to lead me inside to take a seat...that was the start of my 7 day tour. A week of catching him looking at me in the mirror, him playing music for me and me being totally charmed by him as we travelled through Spain...