Lost in Madrid

For the Magic Event in Madrid,I had to get up early and get to the event site in order to set up my table with my art and prints which were resting in the black suitcases. From my previous days of wandering the downtown streets, I felt pretty sure I knew how to get around, but to be sure I asked the hotel receptionist where Casa de Campo might be. In broken english, (cause my high school Spanish education is lost somewhere deep deep back in some dark corner of my brain), he said pretty much just go out turn right and walk a good ways maybe 20 minutes. This seemed right cause I also had the "lucky" tourist map you pick up at the airport that had all the cool buildings and things of importance marked on it. This map led me safely to all the places I wanted to see. Well, on this map it looked like the hotel clerk was right, I was to just walk out, turn right and go down the street aways. The map showed the river to the right of the road and the event site, according to the map, was not across this river. This I noted.

With my bags (with wheels) in tow, I left the hotel and headed right down the sidewalk in the cool gray misty morning. Keeping the river to my right I set off. The luggage (50lbs a piece) rolled behind me with click tacking wheels. The streets and sidewalks at this hour were fairly empty, so it was nice and peaceful as I made my way further down the road. About 45 minutes later I still found no road that I was to vear on to that the site was on. I began to wonder. I kept walking not sure If I should go back or keep going, maybe it was just up ahead a little more.
No... it wasn't. Now I began to worry cause its 9am. and the event starts at 10 am.

As I stood there on the damp sidewalk perplexed as to what to do.... an elderly man came walking down the sidewalk. "Pardon!!" I blurted... the elderly man in the brown rain coat and hat stopped and looked up at me. " Donde es Casa de Campo" I muttered. He looked at me for a second and fired off some Spanish while looking around perplexed as I was. We both stood there for a second, until he pointed at me and the sidewalk with his hand held up palm facing me. I took this as to wait, so I did. He then made his way across the 5 lane road to the other side where another man was walking. They began to talk and their hands and arms were moving and pointing. They were pointing back the way I came. After a few minutes the elderly man made his way back across the street to me and through osmosis I gathered that I needed to go back to where I started and go right and cross the river and head that way.

I stood there a moment probably looking like a sad silly tourist. It was then that the elderly man
reached out his arms and gave me a big hug and patted me on the back and headed off as I said "Mucho Gracias!!!"

I made my way back to the hotel with haste, it was now 9:30. I crossed the river and headed up the street. after about 15 minuted I came across a sign that said Casa de Campo, and my heart was elated! Walking faster I make it to the ..... compound. I thought this was a building, but no it was a big area with a park lots of restaurants, buildings conference halls, some kind of stadium thing and other various business buildings. How was I to find the correct building? I began my aimless wandering praying for a sign or clue. 20 minutes pass no clue. I saw a lady walking her dog and asked "Donde es Casa de Campo", she looked at me and motioned her arms all around.
"Hmmmm..." I tried to tell her I was looking for a Magic the Gathering card tournament.. she waved and walked on. At this time I began to wonder how was I to find this place. I had no cell phone or way to contact any event staff, so I continued wandering. It was then I spied a young man with a backpack (this is a good sign when looking for gamers).. I clik clak up to him and say
"Pardon!!!" he turns and looks at me and says "Mark Poole!!!!!". At this moment my heart beats with happiness for I know I have arrived to the event. He leads me up the road a bit more and there it was... my destination!
Later I learned if I would have got on the subway right outside my hotel it would have taken me there in under 5 minutes.