Day 2 in Barcelona

And it has been amazing so far!  We arrived at our apartment Monday at 8:30 pm – finally – after 16 hours of fairly grueling travel (I promise not to whine about anything else!).  On the Calgary – Amsterdam leg we were entertained (??) by the English lady in front of us and the Dutch woman behind us who were enthusiastically talking to their seatmates ALL NIGHT LONG.   Then we spent 4 hours in the Amsterdam airport – blearlily wandering aimlessly around until the next leg to Charles de Gaulle in Paris (or Sharles de Gull in Paree according to the pilot).  After our final transfer in Paris we arrived in Barcelona at 7:30 pm, collected our luggage (well except one bag that KLM decided not to load with the others) and sailed through customs (ok, there WAS no customs, just two bored security guards who completely ignored us). 

Our taxi driver, Jordi, delivered us to our…ummm…lovely apartment?  Let’s just say it’s a little smaller and more rustic than the pictures on the internet indicated (wonder what the ones in France and Italy will look like??) and the neighbourhood is a bit questionable. 

Anyway, we were just in time for dinner – at a great little cafe right across the street.  We had tapas! and sangria!  It was fabulous!  Mainly because it was tapas! and sangria! in Barcelona!!!  By the time we finished it was 11:00 pm and we were practically comatose – even the baby screaming blue murder through the paper thin walls couldn’t keep us awake.

Yesterday was all about Gaudi – the Sagrada Familia, La Pedera/Casa Mila, and Park Guell – all brilliantly fantastical creations by a creative genius (I am in love – too bad he’s dead).  The crowds were incredible too – can’t imagine what it’s like here in high season!  Had lunch in another cafe – the pain (bread) and cafe con leche here are divine – especially when eaten and drunk outside.  Ahhhhh I want to live like this ALL the time!

 

Dinner was in the same cafe across the street (we were all too tired to go anywhere else and the waiter is our new friend except we don’t know his name yet).  This time we had paella – with “meat” – which here means “cow” and fresh mussels and clams and langostinas mmmmmmmmmm accompanied by dos bottelas of vino for 15 euros each (in the super-mercat you can get a bottle for 2 euros!!!).  By the way, the super-market (super-mercat) is a tiny little hole in the wall run by Asians.

Today, we go to the Barri Gothic (the old section) and Santa Maria del Mar and end our day with the flamenco dance show at the Poble de Espanya.  Could life BE more good??  I don’t think so.  We may not come home.

Adios!

(PS – the company has been great – we’re all having a great time together and co-habiting well.  Except for Kim – he’s been really obnoxious : P)