1980 Torrejon (7/22-23/1980)

Tuesday, July 22, 1980

Awoke early and mistakenly ordered breakfast of coffee with rolls and marmalade. Checked out, then went to the American Express office where I obediently took a number as the sign requested, but then joined a "Spanish line" since I was being ignored. Finally got information as to the whereabouts of the post office and the American Embassy. We walked to the post office to mail postcards and a roll of film which didn't fit into the slot of the indoor mailbox. Took the very long hike to the Embassy, only to join another Spanish line before finding out they have "nothing" to do with the U.S. Air Force! So we Metro'ed to the Atocha train station and found out when the Lisboa train left. We went to the suburban station to catch the 12:18 train to Torrejon, where Kathy and Rod J are based.

Train ticket to Torrejon

At Torrejon, no one seemed to speak English. One fellow indicated someone in the bar might speak English, but no one did! Through Italian, the bartender let me know that yes, there was an American base and the best way to go there was by taxi, since we would have to walk too far if we took the bus. He said to just say "americano" to the taxi driver. So after some potato chips and water we went to find a taxi. We had a tough time trying to explain to the driver where we wanted to go. It seemed he finally decided to take us somewhere and we just hoped it would be the right place. We did end up at the base where an English-speaking guard told us we needed passes. So we paid the taxi driver and went into the guardhouse. I joined another Spanish line and found these guards didn't speak much English! I was told to dial the operator on the phone to get the pharmacy number, and then call my friend. It turned out that Rod had that afternoon off! One of his co-workers volunteered to drive us to the J's off-base housing when he learned where we had come from! So surprise, we finally found Kathy! Spent some time visiting while Rod went to do some laundry, including some of ours! Had a Hamburger Helper dinner, and played with cute Mikayla. When Rod finally came home from doing the laundry (with timeouts in the gym!), we took a walk through the neighboring apartment complexes and bought some sodas and bread. Had some ice cream sandwiches and walked to the "Bazaar," a series of market-type shops, but it was closed. Wandered back through a park with a fountain and duck pond, and guys playing soccer. Returned to the J's apartment for the first good shower in a long time, and went to bed.

Wednesday, July 23, 1980

Awoke early at 08:00 and while Kathy showered, we prepared for the day, consolidating our three bags into two in anticipation of checking them at the Atocha station. Had a breakfast of toast and oranges, and then set off with Kathy J and Mikayla for Madrid. First walked across the big field to the bus stop discovered the night before, and soon a bus came to take us to central Torrejon. Took the short walk to the train station where Kathy J asked for a ticket to Madrid and was given two tickets which we assumed were for a round-trip, boarded the train, and got off at the Atocha station in Madrid. Marched all around the station looking for the baggage lockers as indicated by the signs, but found none. So we went to the baggage check area to find that was closed by the police. I had in the meantime gotten our tickets for Lisboa, and we were at a loss as to where to store our bags. Decided to go to the nearby Prado where we thought Terry and Kathy could get in free with their student passes, and then check their bags for the day. But the Prado had no coatroom, and they weren't letting anyone in with their backpacks. So it was decided that Terry and Kathy would sit outside the Prado under the nice shade trees with the bags while Kathy J and I went off to explore with Mikayla in the borrowed stroller. We walked past a couple of the very interesting fountains and towards the arch of the Plaza Independenza. We went to a couple stores to buy some ham slices, bread, potato chips, and a liter of Fanta. We took everything back to Terry and Kathy to have our lunch. Their only excitement was a cute blonde guy walking by. We saw some Spanish military personnel with sub-machine guns and plastic black hats which were flattened in the back. Kathy J, Mikayla and I walked to the Puerta del Sol and up the shopping street. Did some window shopping and Kathy J bought some of the Maja soap for Rod’s cousin. We also bought a 1.5 liter of Pepsi because we figured everyone would be thirsty. On our way back, Kathy and I talked "religion." As we drank the Pepsi with Terry and Kathy, they told us that they got a better look at the cute blonde. As they played cards, they received a lot of stares and a sitting companion, and then two nuisances wanted to play poker with them. They saw two Spaniards pick up two tourist girls from a nearby bench. And Terry was bombarded by a pigeon. We then decided to head back to Torrejon. At the Atocha station there was still no baggage check. Took the train, where we discovered that Kathy J's return ticket was actually another one-way ticket from Torrejon to Madrid. But the conductor forgave our ignorance. Took the bus back towards Kathy’s apartment where we drank up a lot of Kool-Aid. Rod came home and cooked up a southern/Japanese dish of rice with beans and ham, which we thought was pretty good, but he thought was too dry.

Mikayla, Rod and Kathy J (TAT)

Mikayla, Rod and Kathy J (TAT)

Mikayla

Terry, Kathy T. and I left our bags at the J's and set off across the field to take the bus to Torrejon where we caught the train to Madrid. We tried to change some money to Portuguese escudos, but the guy only wanted to sell pesetas. So we sat and waited on a bench in the station, writing postcards and eating "Smarties" (the European M&Ms) until our 22:50 train to Lisboa. We found our assigned seats and were joined by a Portuguese girl who claimed the only unreserved seat. Her two companions went elsewhere. A Dutch fellow speaking good English (and German) took one seat and the remaining three seats were taken by German. fellows. The German guys took their wine and beer to the next compartment to party. So the rest of us had a little more room to stretch out.
Next: Lisboa/Lisbon.