Hey, Churrocaliente:
You mention that your blind date took you for Churros in Barajas. Was that Toribio's on the Square in Barajas pueblo? For us it's kind of a sacred ritual signaling that we've arrived safely and that all is well: Paloma & Carlos pick us up at the airport, and it is understood that we are going to Toribio's for churros y chocolate.
Next time, try the chocolate caliente - it's so thick & rich you think you can stand a fork in it.

what a great thread!ah, flight memories. I won't bore you with all the BAD ones (24 hour delays from Iberia, a plane sick 3 year old with only one change of clothes!, etc). Here's a good one, though. Once we are on the usual Iberia flight to Spain, and my husband gets to chatting with a guy in his row, also a gallego.... turns out to be a RELATIVE he never met, living in New York City! Hankerchief world (if you don't understand this, you don't speak Spanish!)

Two years ago I returned to JFK on Delta from Madrid. While waiting to board my puddle jumper from JFK to Washington, DC. I heard a group of Spanish men behind me. Minding my own business I began looking though my backpack for something. I stood up and turned around. I immeadatly lost my breath, who was directly behind my but His Highness Don Fillipe! I did not say anything to him. He was escorted on the plane before me. On the way down the stairs to the tarmac I began hyperventilating. The flight attendant had no idea who he was. So, not knowing proper protocol for royalty, I approached where he sat reading a magazine. This was a very small plane, holding about twenty people. I said, in Spanish, "Your Majesty" (I should have called him Your Highness). He and the three bodyguards turned around. "It is a pleasure to fly with you." I didn't know what to say! He said "gracias". Upon exiting the aircraft he looked at me and said "buenas tardes". Que guapo! He was met at the gate by the Ambassador. Then my friends and I followed them as far as the baggage claim, where I had to stop to get my luggage. If I could do it over again I would have asked to buy him a drink!

I guess everyone has lots of flight time memories. They are so fun to read.

I don't think I could tell about all of the fun I had. I've met so many nice people on my trips to Spain. The best would have to be when I met a fellow student who was actually traveling to go to same school as I. We shared a taxi there.

Oh yes, and then there's also the awful time when our flight got delayed, so on the next crowded British Airways flight, my fiance got pneumonia from the lady next to us. But, we did get to see a Spanish hospital on that trip. Nice doctors, but not a fun experience.

Churrito, what I REALLY mean? Only the InterNet God knows and I guess he doesn´t want us to get engrossed in that subject.

I have some airplane stories to tell - doublebooking (not as luxorious as yours Wolf but anyway) and lost property - but I need my beauty sleep at first (seriously).

Tia,

The incident that happened to us was because Iberia had just inaugerated their Chicago to Madrid non-stop flight. We were on the third or fourth plane heading to Madrid in their new schedule. They had just assumed new share partners, and with Iberia and their share partners both selling tickets at $250 for coach round trip, the tickets were selling so fast that they overbooked some of the coach seats. In fact, on our return trip, there were six people moved up to first class because of the doubled seat bookings. Needless to say, it will never happen again...

I'm certainly glad my wife and I didn't feel like "arm wrestling" those two grumpy ladies for the seats. Someone else would have reaped the rewards. I certainly wouldn't have thought about spending money for first class... That's more than we spend on an entire trip....

Wolf (Whose interested in getting "bumped" anytime from here on in... )

Well, Ill give my personal flight hell/heaven experience

Okay here goes. i was on a university trip, last summer. I had an extremely heavy bag (they put a tag on it said "get help to lift"). But that is another story. My intended flight was to be from Memphis to Atlanta to Amsterdam then return From Rome, to Detriot, to Memphis. None of these flights went without problems. Our Memphis to atlanta flight was cancelled so we flew Delta. From Atlanta to AMS went well, except that I never slept and sat in the Window next to a huge fat guy who slept the entire time. Well, that was all well and good. I woke up in Amsterdam only to find that my luggage was lost. I didn't recieve untill three days later! But, I was lucky enough to have the airline buy me clothes. I went to this little room in the Schipol airport where they dealt with these things. It was one of those places where you never think you'll ever be in that room or see those people for the rest of your life. How wrong I was. Well, I bought some nice clothes to stick it to the airline! Anyway on the way back my flight from Rome to Detriot on Northwest had some problem. This is where I began to get extremely lucky. I got to fly KLM which is better than Northwest IMO. I was set up flying KLM from Rome to AMS and then to Memphis. Well, I missed my plane in Amsterdam, so I went back to the same room in the Airport to collect my mealticket. They put me in a five star hotel that costed about 400 euros a night. I was fed extremely well and it was a GREAT way to end a trip that had been bargain basement up to that point. Then I flew home on KLM on the next day. I sat in the bulkhead in First class with nobody next to me. So I guess they felt sorry for me!

Don't know if they still do this but when I flew Iberia in the 1980's the pilots used to switch on the intercom and announce "Despegue Inmediato" just before the plane roared down the runway. It all added to the excitement of the journey..! Do they still do this?

Bri,

They didn't do it when they left Chicago or Madrid...

Wolf (Who has enough on his mind keeping his wife calm, when they fly. She'd rather have her teeth pulled without any pain killers than climb on a plane... )

Eddie,

Yes, that's it, Toribio in the plaza of Barajas pueblo! This time around I will try chocolate caliente. It'll be cold enough to have a hot beverage other than cafe con leche in the morning.

Churrito