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