We finally made it to Barcelona. The trains getting here were a nightmare, I´ll admit it, I finally cried. We had itinerary that was printed for us in Venice at that train station. So we got up at 5:30 am to catch the train at 6:56am. We got to the train station and the train was listed as being on time, track 1, everything as usual, and then 6:56 came and went, no explanation. So we waited for the ticket office to open and I did my best in french to tell the agent we needed the next train to Barcelona, he told us not until that night. The agent next to him spoke english and she gave us new itinerary. We´re pretty sure she tried to screw us, we´ve found the french don´t care. So we did what she told us and when it was time to transfer trains we figured out she told us to get off at the wrong station so we had to take a bus to another station and wait a round for 3 hours and then transfer again, and supposedly again but it turned out we didn´t really have to and the itinerary we had wasn´t even close to correct. Anyway, 6 hours later than planned, we made it.
Barcelona is really nice, but hot and our hostel is junk. The only window to our room has a bed pushd up to it so you can´t open it and there´s no AC. It´s probably close to 90 degress in there. Hopefully I´ll be able to sleep tonight ( I was beyond exhausted last night, lucky for reception).
Today we went to Sagrada Familia, it´s the coolest church we´ve ever seen! Unfortuantely, over 100 years after being started it´s still not finished so it´s covered in scaffolding, hard to get a good picture. We also went to the German Pavilion, aka Barcelona pavilion and Mies Van Der Roh (SP) Pavilion. It was really nice. We also walked around for a while on Mt. Jiuc, where all the old Olympic infrastrucrture is. Tomorrow we´ll go to Casa Mila and Parque Guell, then maybe to the beach if we have time. Tonight we´re going to go out for dinner.
The french Riviera was nice, but it was a little more like a geriatric convention and unfortunately the beaches to not require you to wear a top. I think at least 60% of the people at the beaches were eligable for a senior discount. We´re both officially ¨French Fried¨ , we spent to much time in the sun our 1st day (even with sunscreen) and the 2nd day was a little boring as a result. The water was beautiful, perfect temp for swimming, and finally, it didn´t rain on us!
I´ll give another update before we leave Barcelona.
3 comments:
Happy trails! Okay, so you cried. I'm good at that so now you know that it can help you feel better. Once in a while it's just time to let it all hang out. I really don't think you can be on a trip as expansive as yours and not have a meltdown once and a while. Some people get very angry, some obnoxiously drunk, and some of us cry. It's too bad that you felt the french woman was so deceptive. I think some French feel animosity toward all Americans and some Americans feel the same toward the French. Guess it's something we need to work on. Anyway I hope you are back into enjoying yourselves as the trip draws very near to it's conclusion. It will be very enjoyable to relive the highlights of your trip from both of your perspectives. Enjoy the rest of the vacation... reality awaits. Have a very special and
sweet anniversary!! Love, EEn
As you found out, many of the French are not our friends. They probably thought of you as spoilt little rich kid. I know how hard you two worked for this trip. Don't let them upset the rest of the trip (then they win). You are in the home stretch. All the newness starts to ware you down, especially if something does not go the way you expect. What are you looking forward to at home most? I bet it's a good shower, a perfect steak, and your own bed. No matter how exciting, interesting,unique, inspiring, or just plan fun trips are, it is great to come home. And we can't wait to see you. Love and a big hug for the both of you. MOMC
So sorry I missed your call today Sara. (I was at Nancy's picking up the co-op order.) Matt said I probably wouldn't hear from you again until you're back in the states. I hope you have something special planned for your anniversary tomorrow. Three years already! Wow! (I got some funny b-day cards in the mail today.) I think what I'm looking forward to the most when we come out this summer is hearing from both of you all about your trip. (Hope Jack and Kathy can make it too.) It's fun to finally read about places I've actually been! Oh, and just a heads up, the beaches in Spain are topless as well. That didn't bother me at all....it was mostly old ppl there too. I don't know if you'll have time, but you should try to see a little town called Sitges, it's 35Km South of Barcelona. That's where Picasso and other artists hung out. Are you noticing that ppl drink at all hours of the day there? Even at breakfast! No one but the British seemed to actually get drunk though.
I cried when I got lost in a little town in Spain because it was miserably hot and I had new sandals on that were blistering my tired feet. (no one seemed very willing to help me either.) Nothing that a few tears can't cure. :-)
Love and miss you both! MomA
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