Even with all the horns honking and firecrackers (firecrackers? Sounded more like dynamite to me! – R) going off, we managed to sleep really well! (It’s amazing what jet lag will do for you!) Up around 7, and out by 8 to head to the train station to (hopefully) get all our train tickets for this trip. We had read that Sants, the train station, could be a real zoo, but failing to successfully get tickets from the Renfe website, this was our only other option. (I refuse categorically to pay the exorbitant prices charges on RailEurope, regardless of the convenience!)
So, metro-ed over to Sants to face a rather confusing bank of windows but not many people. We figured we were not in the “today trains” area, but then there were “long” and “middle” distance train windows. So, walked up to long trains, took a ticket number, and were helped immediately! And, we got all three sets of tickets – Barcelona to Valencia, Valencia to Tarragona, and (most importantly!) Tarragona to Montpelier, France. Had breakfast at the station while we were there. We have cold cuts and cheese, but need to find a place to get bread and juice! So, one chore completed with no hassle whatsoever! Couldn’t have been easier!
Headed back to the flat to pick up all of our guidebooks and maps and R found an excellent route to get us to the Archeology Museum in Montjuic. One bus took us right across town and dropped us off only a block or so (of course uphill!) from the museum. They have a very nice collection, and we had the place to ourselves! Wandered around until we both thought we’d collapse with fatigue, then took the bus back to the flat for a bit of a rest. Were just fading out when the cell phone rang, and it was Bob, Katy & Hilary calling from their fancy hotel down by the harbor! Agreed to meet them in a couple of hours. I faded back to sleep (I think!); R worked on Caltech stuff…I definitely got the better of that deal!
Out about 3 p.m. and walked over past Carrer de Marina for bus #10. A perfect and fairly straight shot down to the Arts Hotel on the water. Really lovely place! We walked for a bit along the waterfront, but then decided that what people needed most was FOOD! So…back to the Arts Hotel and their “Bites” restaurant, out on the patio. Lovely, breezy weather, but looks like some clouds may be coming in. Hilary and I had Cesar salad with chicken, R and Katy had Cesar salad with asparagus, and Bob had tagliatelle with a pomodoro sauce. White wine for most of us – a really lovely Spanish Sauvignon Blanc; great meal! Enjoyed sitting, eating and catching up.
Zappalas and Hil are going to take the tourist buses tomorrow. It’s a hop-on-hop-off kind of affair. We did it last time we were in Barca, and think it is a great way to see just about all parts of the city. Agreed to meet for dinner tomorrow night – tapas for all! Back to the flat for us. R catching up on sleep now. I’m hoping that we can take a stroll a bit later on, when it gets dark, over to Sagrada Familia, which is very close to our flat. (Last time we were here we climbed to the TOP of the thing; no desire to repeat that experience, but will enjoy seeing it again at night!)
So – more later! Much love,
m
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