The five-day countdown

Back in January I made my plans to get out of rainy Portland come spring. Actually thought it would be nicer here by now than it is. Yet even in the event of nice weather I was ready to do some more exploring overseas. Next Wednesday I leave for Madrid, traveling alone, as I usually do. This trip will last just short of three weeks. I will be in Madrid for nine days, and then fly to Istanbul for one week, returning to Madrid for a few final days. I hope that a highlight of this trip will be the chance to see some of the Holy Week processions through the streets of Madrid. Even though Madrid isn't well known for Holy Week processions, some do take place. The other highlight will be the week in Istanbul where I have never been. Museums, art, markets, lots of walking, and visiting my Spanish friends will fill my days. The day I arrive is the day scheduled for the 24-hour general strike, called to protest the country's economic austerity measures and some of the new labor laws. Don't know how that will affect my ability to take transportation (bus, metro, or taxi---I'm up for any of these) out of the airport! So the suitcase comes out of storage tomorrow and I start packing.