I took the noon Delta flight on Saturday, February 19, 2011, from Detroit-Metro to Atlanta, had a 4+-hour layover at the Atlanta airport, and then took the 7 pm Delta flight from Atlanta to Madrid-Barajas airport, arriving at around 8:45 am in Spain on Sunday, February 20, 2011.  I got cash from the ATM and headed out!

I took the new direct bus from Terminal 1 of Madrid-Barajas airport to the Atocha train station.  Buses come every 15 minutes and only cost 2 euros ($2.75)!  Even with passport control and customs, I made the 9:30 am bus and made it to Atocha before 10 am.  The bus is much faster than the subway!
Because I didn't know when the flight would actually land, I bought my train ticket to Seville when I got to Atocha.  This was the ticket counter.  I waited about 1 minute in line!		Unbelievably, I had completely forgotten about Atocha's beautiful gardens!
		As I was waiting for my train to come, I found this fun store: Superskunk!
I loved Atocha's huge number of turtles!		Here is a view of the gorgeous Atocha gardens from the second floor.
		I was thrilled to make the 11:00 am AVE (high-speed) train to Seville! Price was 83.90 euros ($115). The train makes the journey from Madrid to Seville in only 2.5 hours! I was in car 7, seat 2A (a window seat).
The time on the train passed quickly.  I re-read my guidebook, made lists, and looked out the window.		We made it to Seville by 2:30 pm!  Here I am outside Seville's train station.  Notice I'm not wearing my fleece; it was pleasant without it (around 19 °C).
		After getting lost and going around the long way, I finally made my way on foot to my hotel: Hotel Maestranza.  It is near Plaza Nueva .  My room was ready when I arrived (around 3 pm).  I sent an e-mail, dropped off my big bag, and went out to explore and get my bearings.
Here are photos from my room, room 102, at Hotel Maestranza in Sevilla.  It was a single room with a single (comfortable) bed, rolling side table, desk/shelf, TV, (closeable) window, nice closet, and ensuite bathroom.  It had included wifi (which only worked in the bathroom or near the door, but it was enough to send e-mail and check websites).  I loved the look of the bathroom's green sink!  (The shower is off-screen to the right.)  Price per night was 41 euros ($57), which included tax.
I was surprised to see all the orange trees everywhere!		I was instantly attracted to the Giralda Tower.  Here is a view of it from the Patio de Banderas, which I saw while on the Rick Steves self-guided walk of the Barrio Santa Cruz/
An English-speaking couple was kind enough to take my picture on the Isabel II bridge over the Guadalquivir River, looking back at the Giralda Tower and the old center. What a beautiful view!  What a beautiful, fun day!
		I was absolutely exhausted by 5 pm on my first day in Spain (having been up over 24 hours), so I didn't fight the urge: I found the closest McDonald's (on La Campana Square near El Corte Ingles) and got the Quarter Pounder meal: quarter pounder with cheese, patatas deluxe (fried potato wedges) with sauce (tastes like French onion dip), and an orange Fanta.  Since I was eating at a strange time for Spaniards, they made a fresh batch of patatas deluxe just for me! It all tasted so good!  Price was 5.45 euros ($7.50), and it was well worth it.
Cordoba photos Granada photos Alhambra photos Madrid photos