A journey from Madrid to Plasencia by train

With the horrors of Easy Jet delays and Aeropuerto Barajas Terminal 4 forgotten and a good night's sleep and good breakfast at the lovely Eric Vogel Atocha apartments under our belts, my chm and I are off.  

http://www.ericvokel.com 

There are four trains a day from Atocha to Plasencia.  We opt for the third in the middle of the afternoon. It seems a good idea to buy our tickets and get our bearings before having a look at the Atocha area, which we have both visited before.  So after breakfast we set out into the bright sunshine and chill air to investigate the terminal for the media distancia train to Plasencia.  

Satisfied we know what to do later, we visit the beautiful Invernadero de Atocha to see the turtles.  This is a tropical botanical garden situated in the new station.  Nearly as  nice as the Sheffield winter garden, it contains more than 7200 plants of 260 species.  

But, having spent so long in airports yesterday we are desperate for fresh air.  We enjoy a brisk walk in the Parque del Retiro.  Previously the grounds of an eighteenth century royal retreat and designed in the French style, the Parque has been public property for more than a hundred years. Plenty of people and school groups are about, enjoying the cafes, stalls and lake. Below is the restored Fuente de la Alcachofa, which means spring of the artichoke; you should be able to make out the latter on top. 

Below is the lake or estanque. Some people are rowing.

In the afternoon we board the train to Plasencia, which leaves from the media distancia part of Atocha.  The station is as extensive and confusing as St Pancras.  I decide I would not like to be a stranger in that London station. But we overcome and soon we are heading towards Plasencia in the spacious train with friendly middle aged ladies and some jolly nuns.  

The  newly green landscape of the central plateau with the Sierra de Gredos in the background holds my attention. How great to be in Spain!