11/10/2024

 




 

Adding Chattanooga to the Airport tree

 

We were up early putting last minute things in the luggage. It was all tic’d and tie’d by 5:55 and we were off to breakfast. It wasn’t open, so we chatted with our fellow pilgrims until time to eat.  After breakfast we turned our keys in and waited some more for the bus to take us to the airport.  By 7:45 we were on the bus with our luggage and headed toward the airport.

 

The Porto airport is modern and large.  We were shepherded by a group of 5 who specialize in VIPing VIPs.  We are VIPs just now and so we watched them load our luggage on carts and take us to the check in area.  It wasn’t open yet, and so we passed the time in an airport café outside security.  There was a fake tree there with restaurant receipts where patrons had written their place of origin and stuck it on the tree.  We did the same.

 

Before too long the check in counter opened and our VIPers broke lines and had us through in no time (except, of course, for seven who wasn’t there when she was needed). We then were escorted through security in the fast track lane bypassing long lines. Then, wonder of wonders, we were escorted to the business class lounge where we wined and snacked until time to board.

 

Again, we boarded with the business class and were able to get our seats and overhead spots before the hoi polloi. Our plane took off on time and in an hour and a half we were in Madrid.  As we taxied to the gate, Paul noticed 3 Mercedes vans parked near our plan on the Tarmac.  Shirley jokingly said, they must be for us. Then we saw the business class passengers from our group walking down the ramp to the waiting vans!

 



 


VIP service

 

The vans proceeded apace through the maze of terminal and tarmac to the VIP entrance.  We surrendered our luggage tags and boarded a mini-bus which took us forthwith to the Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid. After a 20 minute ride we were let off at the front door and greeted by a host of bellmen in fine livery. Check in was a matter of giving them our passports for them to check against their list and them giving us the keys to our rooms.

 




 

Checking in

 



 


Our room is # 509.  We overlook the Goya entrance to the Prada!

 

We took our usual video tour of the room then unwound for 30 minutes. As we left to met our group in the Palm court for planning and relaxing, our luggage arrived as if by magic.

 



 


The Palm Court

 

Karl, Shirley, Brian, Donna and Paul took a walk around the Prada just to stretch and enjoy.  We toured St Jerome church across the street from the Prada entrance and said a few prayers.  We continued our walk and took a few pictures.

 




 


A Madrid walk-about

 

Naino arranged a couple of tables in the Palm Court for 15 and we ate a nice meal at the hotel.  After that we were exhausted and opted for back in the room (where our commode room was as big as the whole bathroom on the boat – the whole bathroom being as big as our cabin on the boat.). Life is good.  7021 steps today!

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