And on to Espana!

Hola from Barcelona!

Up around 6 this morning, showered and out the door about 7. Our flight to Barca wasn’t leaving until 11, but you know how we like to be early! Very easy getting gas and over to the Gatwick North terminal to drop the car. We had some breakfast while we waited for the EasyJet check-in desks to open – about 2 hours before each flight. Walked back in about 2 hours before, and there was absolutely NOBODY in line! How nice for us! We were numbers 1 and 2 checking in for our flight! Through security (and did NOT have to take off shoes…) and into the myriad of shops and restaurants that is Gatwick North. I looked around and found a couple of Yorkie bars and a magazine (SPECIAL edition about the wedding!) and water. We were at the gate early, and were the first ones on the plane after Speedy Boarding – which meant we had aisle seats across from each other, the first row on the plane! Our favorite spots!

Lovely flight to Barcelona; very smooth, about 1 hour 40 minutes, and voila, Espana! (Not sure that should be “voila” but don’t know the corresponding word in Catalan OR Spanish! Through immigration and there was our luggage! Wheee! Went to the Tourist Office and picked up our 5-day Barcelona cards (Free transportation on trains, buses, metro, etc. for the 5 days, as well as nice discounts at various places.) and made our way to the train. So—of course one of the Barcelona cards worked, and the other didn’t! The nice lady at the train station let us both go through anyway, indicating that we needed to get to a Tourist Office in Barca to get a new card. Got off the train at Passeig de Gracia and found a cab to take us to the Friendly Rentals office – just a few minutes away. Checked in there and got the keys to our flat, our home for the next five nights, and further directions.

Found another cab to take us to 161 Calle de Roger Flor. We were told that we were flat #4, and that it would be marked…wrong! So here we are on the second floor, staring at four different doors…and of course no #4! Oh well! R called the office and we were directed to the right side – then just tried the lock to see which one worked…and fortunately, it was the first one we tried! (NOTE: Barcelona’s soccer team just finished the game in Valencia with a tie, meaning that they are once again Spanish League champions for 2010-2011! Lots of car honking and shouting in the streets!)

Nice place; fairly small. R set up the computer (GREAT wi-fi access!) and I unpacked and got us organized. Decided to head directly to the Tourist Office at Placa Catalunya, on foot. Took about 15 minutes to walk, but lovely wide streets, lots of interesting shops; very fun! Got a new ticket at the office, no problems, but decided to be safe rather than sorry and headed for the nearest Metro Station to test them. And both cards worked! Took the metro a stop or two back towards the flat, and came out directly across the street from Casa Batllo, one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. And, better yet, open and no line of tourists, just like we like it – and we didn’t even have to get up early!

Truly an amazing place – NO straight lines anywhere until you get to the attics! Photographs really don’t do it justice – it was beautiful, and we loved it! From there, we decided to walk back to the flat, hitting the grocery store we passed on the way out. Besides the essential things (toilet paper; Kleenex) we picked up cheese, ham, salami, wine AND Magnum Classics. I’ll be interested in seeing if they are as good as the ones we’re now getting in the U.S.!

Back to the flat for the night; even missing the celebration that is sure to take place tonight in Placa Catalunya to celebrate Barca’s victory! (We've now moved on to VERY loud firecrackers...we may not get much sleep tonight!)

Zappalas and Hilary arrive tomorrow! More later!
Much love,
m
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