Connecting in Madrid Part II is part of the #NoCollusion, No Albania for TPOL where I break my 100 country count mark. See the World Map for where I’ve been.

I’m back at Madrid Airport and just like before, I’m recounting the madness of making a connection. I may have been too cautious arriving from Lisbon via TAP at 9AM when my flight wasn’t until 8:25PM, but if I was cutting it close I would’ve found myself with major anxiety in trying to navigate the airport to make my connection.

Usted Está en T2 

I landed in Terminal 2 and, to my chagrin, had to take a bus to Terminal 4. Already, I’m feeling overwhelmed wondering when the bus will come and making sure that I get on the right bus.

Bus 

The bus came and was clearly marked, and it dropped me off at Terminal 4.

A Note on Airport Signs 

Upon entering Terminal 4, I tried to follow the signs to my gate and got lost (see Lost in Airports: Can’t You Read the Signs?).

T4S? 

Terminal 4 versus 4s? Come on man! The Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Chinese make more sense to me than this sign Rosetta Stone (see TPOL The Polyglot: How To Learn Multiple Languages).

Arrival

I finally found my way to the Iberia Lounge. A drink was needed.

I like writing posts detailing my stupidity as a traveler. I especially enjoy the critiques that come after revealing my shortcomings. Here’s another one for your amusement.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

I have issues with reading signs at airports. For example, in Minneapolis, I can’t find the other Delta Sky Club. I see the sign that says proceed straight and then somewhere between that sign and the club, I lose the scent. Where is the sign that says, “Arrived! Sky Club on the right”? I had a similar issue at SJU trying to find the other Priority Pass Lounge, but that was primarily due to bad directions in the app. Poorly posted placards are only partially to blame. The other issue is the meaning of the arrows. Here’s an easy one:

I’m on the ground floor and I understand that an exit means go outside. The arrow pointing down doesn’t mean go downstairs. But what do these arrows mean?
Does the Mcdonald’s sign say turn around and it’s behind me? Or does that sign say go downstairs? Or does the sign say make a u-turn and then go downstairs. Mind you, right next to me was an escalator.

Depending on the airport, sometimes my first instinct is correct. Sometimes I have to see what’s before door #3 before I get to where I need to be. This doesn’t improve my sign reading aptitude for the long-term as I still don’t know, looking at the sign now, where McDonald’s is.

Am I the lone idiot?