Madrid Metro

Wow!! This reminds me of the Moscow underground system, only it is cleaner....
The Madrid train and underground system is modern, efficient, rapid and quiet. Announcements are in Spanish and English. Countdowns to trains arriving are in minutes too.
I woke up at 7.30 and was at 'Sol' metro station by 9, having left my rucksack at Chamartin train station (5 minutes the hotel). It turns out - by luck - Chamartin was a good choice off place to stay, as it is near the airport (2 stops in the train) as well as near the town centre.
So far I have seen and been approached by lots of beggars in Madrid, and I am glad of the money belt under my shorts... There are also lots of people buying gold in the streets.
It is going to be really, really hot today in Madrid, and the light is very intense. I will have to be careful with my money and phone: after the Camino this feels like a dangerous place...