Day 40 – 18 August 2023- Reykjavik to Madrid

Early rise this morning, 5 am.  Suitcases were ready, only needed to pack the few things we used last night.  We were in the lobby by 5.50 am, the driver just arrived to take us to the airport.  We shared the mini bus with an American couple, they were going home.

Our flight didn’t leave for Helsinki until 9 am so we had Airport breakfast. Our luggage was booked through to Madrid. When the gate opened we were amazed at the number of people lined up to get onto the plane.  The Finnish Airbus was comfortable, Ron & I slept most of the 3 hour 10 minutes.  The flight was uneventful, only as we were getting closer to Helsinki we experienced some air turbulence.  Once again the sheer number of people waiting to get on to the plane in Helsinki to travel to Madrid is unbelievable.  Our gate to the Iberian airline luckily was next to where we got off the other plane.  This gave us the opportunity to have a light airport lunch.  Once again the flight was uneventful, we slept for most of the 4 hour flight. 

Just as we landed Ron got a message that our luggage has not been confirmed on Iberia airlines.  GREAT, sure enough they didn’t arrive.  At the luggage lost counter they told us that our luggage is in Helsinki & they should be here in 24 hours’ time, there is only one flight a day from Helsinki to Madrid.  We arrived in winter clothes, the temperature here in Madrid is still in the 30s C.  We got a taxi to our hotel, taxi drivers are only allowed to charge 30 Euros to the hotel no matter how far it is in Madrid.  Our taxi driver dropped us off at the hotel.  

The hotel clerk informed us that we are in the wrong hotel.  He said no worries it is only about a 10 minute walk away.  Off we went in our winter clothes, Ron carrying his heavy back pack, we arrived this time at the right hotel.  Checked in, the lovely desk clerk told us we can go for a swim in the pool to cool down, we decided not to because we weren’t sure nude swimming is acceptable here.  It is about 9.30 pm, we were starving, luckily they eat late here, so we had a very late, lovely dinner at the hotel.  Tomorrow I think summer clothes shopping will be in order. By the way, the shops open at 10 am here.  It is a 2 hour time difference here in Madrid from Reykjavik. We have had some adventure, but really it has been a good day.