MADRID (March 25, 2012) – After 3,900-plus miles, the West Virginia women’s soccer team has made it from Morgantown to Madrid, Spain. We were welcomed at the airport by our host Daniel after a 6 hour and 43 minute flight from Philadelphia.

Most of the travel party fell asleep for some portion of the flight across the Atlantic, while others took in movies offered by U.S. Airways.

Local time is six hours ahead as they operate on Central European Time Zone (GMT+1). Daniel quickly put us on a bus and we toured Madrid’s downtown.

Our first stop was at The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, most famous for its bullring. While we couldn’t go inside, it was pretty neat to see a stadium that holds 29,000 people for bullfighting.

We took photos outside The Royal Palace of Madrid. It was once the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, now only used for state ceremonies. It was an impressive structure from the 1700s, featuring nearly 3,000 rooms.

We continued through the capital city and our guide tried to make several comparisons to New York City. There was a park he likened to Central Park and its version of Times Square is called Sol.

There is a popular flea marketing each Sunday where locals shop for bargains in downtown. It’s not uncommon for 250,000 people to pass by the tents on any given day.

The Mountaineers held their first training session today at Alameda de Osuna, an impressive campus for an elementary and grade school. The team trained for nearly an hour and a half under warm, 80 degree temperatures.

We just checked in to the hotel. It’s time for a quick shower before lunch and a professional game tonight. Adios.