I really haven't got the measure of this city yet, and I'm staying clear of the metro. There's a big football game in the city on Saturday night and there are a lot of people around, and a lot of police (armed and in groups of 6, rather than just on their own or in pairs) so I'm playing safe and going everywhere by taxi.

I wandered around another plaza today Plaza Mayor, and walked to the next one, about 5 hours walking altogether today. I found the place I am going to see the flamenco show before it gets dark (goes dark very quickly here and early about sixish).

I'm getting good at communicating by sign language and have managed to purchase a few bits and pieces and bought myself a lovely red bag to store all my treasures, and found the hat shop I wanted to buy a beret at, which I had researched at home. The bag is starting to get heavy, and I'm very aware of having to lug it about when I change hotels, but it will be good on the plane. It's amazing how all the little bits and pieces start to add weight. Like in Egypt it is hard to find stuff actually made in the country - a lot of the scarves here are made in India, and other souvenirs in China.

Today I tried churros. Delicious - kind of like a skinny crispy donut. Delicious, fattening and too many shapes, colours and flavours to choose from. I opted for just plain ones dusted in sugar, and had a coffee to go with it (no dipping chocolate) and earlier in the day I had Spanish omelette made with potato. Also very delicious.

The buildings are amazing, and there are statues and fountains everywhere. Taxis and cars manouvre their way between pedestrians in the little alley ways, and then right in the middle of the plaza there is an underground parking area.

The plazas are big and crowded with people standing around in groups chatting but nowhere to sit unless you are at one of the cafes and there is only so much time you can sit over a cup of coffee and a couple of churros. I had about 2 hours to wait to go to see the Flamenco Show, so found a spot to sit on some pipes running along the outside of a building. Not particularly comfortable, but there were three or four other people sitting there, so I was not looking too out of place. Great to just sit and people watch.

Finally it was time to go to the show. It was down a narrow alley, and I got ushered in and given a glass of red wine and shown down the stairs to this little underground room. Only 20 spectators in a dark room. But my word, what a show. Such energy, such passion. Two dancers, a woman and a man, and four others - a singer, a drummer, (he sat on the box and beat out the music with his hands - absolutely fascinating to watch him) a fiddler, a guitarist and a singer. They were so good and it was great to watch the rapport between them all and how they performed together as a group.

It was only an hour long, I could have watched it for at least another couple of hours. A man and a young lad of about ten or twelve came in and sat beside me. To start with the kid ducked up and down and around people recording the female dancer on his phone, and then he sat down beside his father, lay down and went to sleep and I could hear him snoring. How on earth could someone sleep through all that foot stamping music and dancing. It was incredibly loud.

And then it was time to find a taxi and head back to the hotel. It's easy to flag down a cab, the hardest part is making yourself understood, and this time I got a Columbian driver who has lived in Madrid for 11 years, who said he could speak only a little English, but he was the best I have had so far and he pointed out all the landmarks along the way.

Its always a good feeling when suddenly I start to recognise the intersection and a couple of buildings as I get close to the hotel and know that I'm nearly there as the meter ticks up to 10 or 11 Euros. Expensive way to travel I know, but at least I feel safe and that's the most important thing for me right now. Will just have to work a few extra shifts and go without some luxuries when I get home to build up the travel fund again.

Not sure what I will do tomorrow, thought about the walking tour of the food markets, but I think I might just have a quiet day, and prepare myself for VaughanTown.