Lost In Spain…
Staring: Billy Mummy, Angela Cartwright, Me, and, Others
Sat in the train station for two hours waiting for the ride to Cordoba. Which was fine and when the platform was announced for #2143, nonstop, 30’ minutes to Cordoba, I proceeded to platform #3. Jumped on board, car #4, seat 3B. Rolling!
It seemed odd that the train left 7 minutes early, but that’s Spanish efficiency for you! Equally odd, I found, that once the train left the station the sun was in the wrong place. Hmmm…
Instead of heading north to Cordoba we were heading south to an unknown destination. I started looking for a conductor. No conductor. But, as I wandered from car to car I keep running into a odd fellow who, in Rainman fashion is saying, to no one in particular, something along the lines of, “air, can’t get air.” Although I suspect he was speaking Spanish and I was just hearing that.
I finally figure out I’m heading to Malaga. OK, fine, it’s 100 miles south, just get there, buy a ticket for next train north towards Cordoba. Worse to worse, find a hotel, spend the night and get first train in the morning.
Meanwhile, the “air” guy plops down in the seat in front of me. He, literally, puffs when he breathes. I’m thinking great, a couple of hundred of people on the train and the crazy guy has to sit by me.
Conductor shows up. Crazy guy starts talking with him in a very animated manner. OK, if crazy guy pulls a knife….
Turns out crazy guy got on the wrong train too. Mind you, I don’t understand a word that’s being said, but ticket brandishing, occasional city named, I figure this out. So, I make sure to show the conductor my ticket as well.
A short time later we pull into Malaga and conductor tells crazy guy and me to follow and we end up in some railroad office. Lots of ticket brandishing and animated discussions annotated by a family of six that join in. I just stand and smile. A few minutes later I’ve a new, free, ticket on the next train north to Cordoba.
We, crazy guy, family of six, were on the wrong train because the train wasn’t announced at the platform. The display at the platform was showing the northbound train to Madrid, stopping in Cordoba. The southbound train just appeared with no warning.
5pm and I’ve had a danish for breakfast and some shortbread cookies and peanuts for lunch. I’ve an hour before the train leaves. Start searching for food. Luckily a Taco Bell rears it’s head. A Crunchwrap Supreme to go and I’m on my way to the platform.
At speeds up to 180mph the train zips its way north and deposits me in Cordoba. I’m only an hour late than planned arrival.
The conductor was great.
Adventure. Not as exciting as Indian Railroads, but fun nonetheless.
Crazy guy in front of me waiting for the train north from Malaga:
