Spanish Mishap Part 3
My Spanish Mishap, Part 3 - My Unplanned Trip To Madrid
The following morning, with the help of the hostel worker at the front entrance, I set off for the consulate. I thought my adventure would end shortly, but I was mistaken. I wasn’t planning on going home for the holidays; I was at university in England. Instead, I’d planned on meeting my family for a while in the UK, traveling to Ireland with them and then had flights and hostels booked with a friend from Ottawa, in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. I was told at the consulate that if I wanted a new passport to get me into England, they could do it. However, if I wanted to be able to travel in and out of the country, I would have to get a passport that could only be issued at the Canadian embassy in Madrid. Within a few hours, after a phone call home, I was on a bus to Madrid, a city I’d not planned on visiting.
I didn’t arrive until after midnight that night, I found a map of the underground and decided that where the most lines crossed would be a good place to find a hostel for the night. My money had been significantly depleted after the bus ride. I’d had my mother wire me more, but I wouldn’t be able to get it until the banks opened the next morning. Wondering aimlessly in almost the right area, I met a German guy who asked me if he could be of service. Happy to have found someone who spoke English, I explained my situation. He said he would help, asked if I was hungry and took me to find some food. Thankful of his kindness, I took him up on the offer. He had been traveling with a friend who was at their hostel accommodation sick in bed. He offered me a place to stay in order to save my few remaining dollars. Again, I was thankful that there are people in the world who are honest and helpful.
The next morning I set out for the embassy. I was lucky to make it there on time. It was the beginning of the Christmas holidays and they were about to leave early for a staff party. In less than 24 hours, I had a replacement passport in hand. After receiving the money my mother had wired from home, I checked into a private room in a cheap hostel for a little R&R. I needed a long shower, a good night sleep and to air out my remaining processions. It had been raining. Tip #5: Keep the faith.
Author Amanda Sears
Spanish Mishap Part 4
The following morning, with the help of the hostel worker at the front entrance, I set off for the consulate. I thought my adventure would end shortly, but I was mistaken. I wasn’t planning on going home for the holidays; I was at university in England. Instead, I’d planned on meeting my family for a while in the UK, traveling to Ireland with them and then had flights and hostels booked with a friend from Ottawa, in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. I was told at the consulate that if I wanted a new passport to get me into England, they could do it. However, if I wanted to be able to travel in and out of the country, I would have to get a passport that could only be issued at the Canadian embassy in Madrid. Within a few hours, after a phone call home, I was on a bus to Madrid, a city I’d not planned on visiting.
I didn’t arrive until after midnight that night, I found a map of the underground and decided that where the most lines crossed would be a good place to find a hostel for the night. My money had been significantly depleted after the bus ride. I’d had my mother wire me more, but I wouldn’t be able to get it until the banks opened the next morning. Wondering aimlessly in almost the right area, I met a German guy who asked me if he could be of service. Happy to have found someone who spoke English, I explained my situation. He said he would help, asked if I was hungry and took me to find some food. Thankful of his kindness, I took him up on the offer. He had been traveling with a friend who was at their hostel accommodation sick in bed. He offered me a place to stay in order to save my few remaining dollars. Again, I was thankful that there are people in the world who are honest and helpful.
The next morning I set out for the embassy. I was lucky to make it there on time. It was the beginning of the Christmas holidays and they were about to leave early for a staff party. In less than 24 hours, I had a replacement passport in hand. After receiving the money my mother had wired from home, I checked into a private room in a cheap hostel for a little R&R. I needed a long shower, a good night sleep and to air out my remaining processions. It had been raining. Tip #5: Keep the faith.
Author Amanda Sears
Spanish Mishap Part 4