Postcard perfect conditions at the hotel upon my arrival. 

It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for your mind and body. Fewer than 24 hours ago, I was enduring sub-freezing temperatures and ice and snow (pictured at left). But when I took a half-hour walk upon arrival in Denia, Spain, birds were chirping, the sun was shining brightly and green, leaf-loaded trees had me thinking it was April, not early December.

Temperatures in the lower 70s are too cool for swimming, but the pool sure does look inviting, doesn't it? On my to-do list is to ask for a key to the workout room (adjacent to the spa, which has its own entry and pricing), which may give me entry to the exterior hot tub (because I did bring a swimsuit).

I've never flown Iberian Airlines from the United States. So that made the eight-hour flight from Chicago to Madrid "fresh." But the newness wore off quickly when I figured out there were no individual TVs in the setbacks (like on many Delta and United trans-Atlantic flights). Fortunately, I would be sleeping on the eastbound leg.

The flight was surprisingly not full. Probably about three-fourths of capacity. This made it pretty comfortable, especially since I was able to get an empty seat next to me. Once on the ground in Madrid, I had 40 minutes to clear customs and complete a 22-minute walk to my connecting gate. While I was waiting for a train, I heard a woman having a conversation with a board behind me. I quickly snapped a picture of the "Back to the Future 2" moment (photo above) featuring live video conferencing. Crazy.

- Back to the subject of in-flight entertainment, the TV screens on board my flight showed an exterior, forward-facing view from a camera mounted on the tail. It was one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Unfortunately, it is only active on taxiing during takeoff and landing.

- The two in-flight meals were good, though the "chicken" I requested looked a lot like beef. It tasted like chicken. There was some cold seafood thing in one of the containers (along with a tomato) that I steered clear of due to my apparent allergy to fresh fish. Not yet seen on a U.S. carrier in coach - warm rolls delivered on a tray.

Not the best picture, but the Madrid airport lists "walk times"on its location signs. The "K" gate where I was going is six minutesfrom where this photo was taken. When I started walking, it said "22." 

My view from row 33. Look closely at the TV monitor for the "tail view" mentioned in a bullet point above. 

Finally, my TV started "chirping" at me with a "message notification." Turns out the hotel ran out of hot water this morning and this was the apology to guests – with a promise to have the problem fixed. Well, here's hoping since at least 40 more people are checking in today.

Here's a few more photos ... as I work to learn how to use the new Blogger interface. Ugh.

My flight out of Omaha had to be de-iced by this guy.

The last time I flew over this stream near Eppley, it was out of its banks.

Chicago didn't have any snow on the ground.

Wow, two blankets for each seat (plus a pillow).

No need for Lauren to translate what's on the left.

Check out the guy checking me out taking this photo.
Probably thought I was an "American tourist." Yep, that's me.

The in-flight magazine shows "The Office" as a TV series choice.
But not the U.S. version.

Take note of the "real" silverware.

Here's breakfast. Croissant with ham (or was it turkey?),
fruit cup, pastry and a Kit Kat bar.

Soigneur Stefano Rubino was my driver for the ride to the hotel.
I was the first of his two airport pickups today.

I'm taking photos of signs and landscape for Lauren's Spanish class.
Nothing like getting two American fast food institutions into one photo.

The obligatory room photo. Nice balcony view of the pool.
But not much afternoon sun.