Location: Los Alcázares, Murcia → Madrid, Spain
Summary: My journey from Los Alcázares to Hawaii and Alaska aboard the NCL Spirit started today.
Today marked the beginning of my journey to Hawaii and Alaska aboard the NCL Spirit. I had set my alarm for 05:00, but my body decided that 03:30 was more appropriate. After half an hour of pretending I might fall back asleep, I gave up, showered, packed my wash bag, and checked the usual essentials: tablets taken, paperwork ready, passport accounted for.
At 06:00, I wheeled my case outside. Pat was already waiting, and after picking me up, he drove me to Torre Pacheco station, dropping me off around 06:20. The station was deserted, unmanned, and cold, but the waiting room was open, so I went inside and told Pat I’d be fine.
Torre Pacheco Station
The arrivals board claimed the next train wasn’t until 09:15, even though mine was supposed to be at 06:56. As I wondered whether I’d imagined the whole thing, two Spanish couples arrived and sat down. Their calmness reassured me, if the locals weren’t panicking, neither would I.
A coach soon pulled up outside. The driver checked my ticket and explained that because of rail works, he’d be taking us all the way from Torre Pacheco to Albacete. One less change suited me perfectly. As I headed out, one of the Spanish men kindly took my suitcase and loaded it onto the coach. Moments like that remind me how considerate people in Spain can be.
Coach Journey to Albacete
I took the front seat, got my Kindle out, and immediately managed to press a hidden stop‑request button with my elbow. Thankfully, the driver ignored it. We travelled through Balsicas, Murcia, Archena, Cieza, and Hellín, picking up passengers along the way, including eight Spanish ladies in tight denim jeans and cowboy hats, clearly heading to a hen party in Madrid. They looked far more awake than I felt.
When we reached Albacete, a woman approached me by name, collected my case, and guided me through the station, security, and straight to my platform. She even waited for the train, showed me to my seat, and put my suitcase in the rack behind me. A brilliant tip from Lottie, ask for help for a disabled traveller, it saved me a lot of stress.
Arrival in Madrid
Once in Madrid, I used the disabled lift to avoid the crowds and headed outside. A Burger King caught my eye, so I went in and ordered a bacon burger, onion rings, and a lemon Fanta. It wasn’t warm, it wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t worth €12.50, especially when I could have had a Menu del Día back home, but it filled a hole in my stomach.
I walked to the Cabify pick‑up point, ordered a ride, and was collected within ten minutes. The driver took me through Madrid to Hostel Viky, handed me a carton of water, and wished me well. Cabify continues to impress, cheap, reliable, and with well-built‑in security.
Inside the hostel, the man at reception checked me in quickly and arranged a free lift to the airport at 04:00. He offered to store my case downstairs, but I took it up the two flights of stairs so I could change clothes for tomorrow’s long day of flying. The room was small but clean and far nicer than some I’ve stayed in.
I sat on the bed around 14:00 and must have fallen asleep instantly because the next thing I knew it was 17:45. I wasn’t hungry, so I stayed in, opened the Arsenal website, and followed the Wolves vs Arsenal match. A 2–0 win, a good sign for the trip ahead.
After the final whistle, I went to sleep properly, hoping I’d wake up in time for my 04:00 lift to the airport. The real adventure begins tomorrow.
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